01greygt
May 9th, 2010, 10:56 PM
http://www.carsforgirls.com/index.php/notable-women-in-the-automotive-industry-barb-samardzich-vice-president-powertrain-engineering/
Ford Motor Company has only three female corporate officers. Barb Samardzich happens to be one of them and has paved a very clear path of success. Since joining Ford Motor Company in 1990, Samardzich has served as vice president, Powertrain Operations and executive director, Small FWD and RWD Vehicles in addition to various other roles. Not only has she held multiple high powered positions within the company, but she was also responsible for the design, engineering and development of nine key Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles, including the 2005 Mustang.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “powertrains is where she’s made her name at the company, both as an engineer and, since 2005, as the vice president of powertrain product development. As chief engineer for automatic transmissions 2000-20002, Samardzich was charged with improving both quality and customer satisfaction.” She told Design News in 2005, “We had a horrible reputation, no durability, nor fuel economy.” As a female consumer, it’s remarkable to see a woman in the industry not only making her mark on the world but also concerned with consumer satisfaction.
She was recently named an Automotive News All-Star for 2009 and was also acknowledged in 2007 as one of the Most Influential Women by Crain’s Detroit Business. Samardzich has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and two masters’ degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering management.
Currently, Samardzich is responsible for engine and transmission engineering worldwide and is focusing on Ecoboost technology so that three more Ecoboost engines will be in production at Ford by the end of this year.
Ford Motor Company has only three female corporate officers. Barb Samardzich happens to be one of them and has paved a very clear path of success. Since joining Ford Motor Company in 1990, Samardzich has served as vice president, Powertrain Operations and executive director, Small FWD and RWD Vehicles in addition to various other roles. Not only has she held multiple high powered positions within the company, but she was also responsible for the design, engineering and development of nine key Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles, including the 2005 Mustang.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “powertrains is where she’s made her name at the company, both as an engineer and, since 2005, as the vice president of powertrain product development. As chief engineer for automatic transmissions 2000-20002, Samardzich was charged with improving both quality and customer satisfaction.” She told Design News in 2005, “We had a horrible reputation, no durability, nor fuel economy.” As a female consumer, it’s remarkable to see a woman in the industry not only making her mark on the world but also concerned with consumer satisfaction.
She was recently named an Automotive News All-Star for 2009 and was also acknowledged in 2007 as one of the Most Influential Women by Crain’s Detroit Business. Samardzich has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and two masters’ degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering management.
Currently, Samardzich is responsible for engine and transmission engineering worldwide and is focusing on Ecoboost technology so that three more Ecoboost engines will be in production at Ford by the end of this year.