The 12th Annual Urban Wheel Awards is just a few weeks far from now. Recently, the finalists for the event was proclaimed after an independent panel of judges – made up of 15 automotive journalists from multicultural, automotive trade, and general market media – cast their votes for the qualifiers.
According to Randi Payton, President and CEO of On Wheels, Inc. and founder of the awards, “The Urban Wheel Awards brings together top leaders in the auto industry with the multicultural community which represents their true customer base … Inclusion of all its customers in critical to building bridges to the multicultural community and to recognizing the contributions of minorities in the industry.”
The Urban Wheel Awards are being presented in categories, including Company of the Year, African-American, Asian and Latino automotive executives of the year, as well as minority Supplier of the Year. There will also be the Diversity in Motorsports awards – to acknowledge the commitment to diversity recognized in the racing arena. New to the program is the Urban Dealer of the Year award.
The finalists for the 2008 Urban Wheel Awards are as follows (courtesy of autochannel.com):
- Bennie Fowler
VP, Quality
Ford Motor Company
- Marshilia Snoddy
Zone Manager for Process Improvement, Southwest Zone
American Honda Motor Company
- Ed Welburn
VP, Global Design
General Motors Corporation
Asian Executive of the Year
- Takeshi Abe
Henry Ford Technical Fellow
Ford Motor Company
- Ray G, Young
Group VP, GM Global Finance
General Motors Corporation
Latino Executive of the Year
- Dave Mondragon
General Manager, Ford Motor Company Southwest Region
Ford Motor Company
- Victor Nacif
VP Design, Business Aspects
Nissan Design America
Supplier of the Year
- Detroit Chassis
- Ewie Co. Inc.
- Pinnacle
Company of the Year
- Chrysler
- Ford Motor Company
- General Motors
Car of the Year
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Honda Accord
- Mercedes-Benz C Class
Truck of the Year
- Buick Enclave
- Chrysler Town & Country
- Infiniti EX 35
Diversity in Motor Sports Finalists
- National Hot Rod Association
- STAR Motorsports
- Urban Youth Racing School
Urban Dealer of the Year
- Bill Perkins Automotive Group
- Mike Pruitt Honda
- Southaven Pontiac/Buick/GMC
The awards will be given at the Fox Theater in Detroit on January 15, 2008 – in conjunction with Press Preview Week of the North American International Auto Show.
