Dykema and Towers Watson Host 2nd Annual Women In Automotive Industry Event: Cocktails, Classic Cars And Charity

BLOOMFIELD HILLS—Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that the firm's Women in Automotive Group and Towers Watson, aleading global professional services company will host the 2^nd annual industry networking event, "Cocktails, Classic Cars and Charity" on Friday, August 19.

The event will feature a special presentation by Focus: HOPE, a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization based in Detroit dedicated to intelligent and practical solutions to the problems of hunger, economic disparity, inadequate education, and racial divisiveness. Its three main areas of focus are a food program, career training programs and community development initiatives.

Since its initiation in 1968, Focus: HOPE has grown to become a high-tech training hub for the automotive industry. In 1981, the organization opened the Machinist Training Institute to create career opportunities for minorities and cultivate young industry professionals. As an extension of the training programs, Focus: HOPE launched a manufacturing operation in 1982, becoming a Tier I automotive supplier, achieving ISO quality certifications.

Members of Focus: HOPE's Board of Directors also share deep ties to the automotive industry; and include Lewis Booth, CFO of Ford Motor Company along with Peter Brown, publisher of Automotive News. The group's advisory board is chaired by Lloyd Reuss, the retired president of General Motors, and also includes the Detroit 3's purchasing chiefs: Tony Brown of Ford, Dan Knott of Chrysler, and Bob Socia of General Motors. In addition, William Jones, former Chief Operating Officer of Chrysler financial currently presides as the CEO of Focus: HOPE. Eleanor Josaitis, cofounder of Focus: HOPE, recently passed away on August 9.

"Dykema's Women in Automotive Group is excited to host this unique event for the second year in a row," said Aleksandra Miziolek, director of Dykema's Automotive Industry Group. "We look forward to meeting with others dedicated to the automotive industry to talk about ways in which we can join together to strengthen the automotive community. We are also honored to feature Focus: HOPE, an important organization that has made such strong contributions to the automotive industry over the past 40 plus years."

Dykema has one of the most extensive automotive legal practices in the United States, regularly representing automotive companies headquartered throughout the world. Its Automotive Industry Group counsels key industry players including Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs in mergers and acquisitions, in a broad array of automobile product liability, commercial and supply chain management litigation, in class action litigation in the most challenging jurisdictions, and before the U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA and other federal and state departments and agencies.

Towers Watson is a leading global professional services company that helps organizations improve performance through effective people, risk and financial management. With 14,000 associates around the world, Tower Watson offers solutions in the areas of employee benefits, talent management, rewards, and risk and capital management.

The August 19 networking event coincides with the Woodward Dream Cruise, the world's largest one-day automotive event, drawing 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe. "Cocktails, Classic Cars and Charity will be held on the patio of Dykema's Bloomfield office, beginning at 5:00 p.m.