Faces of GM

Marisol: I’ve been around the world, but there’s no place like Detroit

January/7/2010 at 9:40 am

Marisol: ready for Trick or Treating

Marisol McCormick, Operations Manager, Brownstown Assembly Plant

On my iPod: My iPod is pretty much a modern-day juke box. I like a little bit of everything, but lately I’ve been listening to Lady Gaga, Iyaz, Jordin Sparks and Boys Like Girls.

And, we’re off!: One of my favorites things to do is to just start driving with no real destination in mind. I’ll pack up the family and go on a search for an eclectic restaurant or the biggest ball of yarn – anything, as long as we don’t have a schedule. 

Giddy-up: Give me some boots and chaps and I’m one happy woman. Horseback riding is such a fun thing to do with my family. In fact, I’m teaching my daughter, Mackenzie, how to ride. She’s only two, but she’s already developed my love for horses.

Sweat it Out: Whether I’m on the treadmill or sashaying on the dance floor, I love being active and getting the blood flowing!

I was born and raised in West Africa, so when people ask me if I always knew I’d wind up working in the auto industry, the answer is no! My family moved to the U.S. when I was 15 and my parents began working in the auto industry for, dare I say it, a GM competitor. That’s when I realized I wanted to become an engineer. I’ve always loved math and I’m a real people-person, so I thought industrial engineering was a good fit for me. It would allow me to collaborate with people to do the work I love.

I received my bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering (with a minor in mechanical engineering) from Purdue University in Indiana. While I was in school, I became a member of the Society of Women Engineers, a non-profit group that empowers women to succeed and advance in the field. As part of one of our fundraisers, we were required to pull together engineering resume books and deliver them to companies across the region. I was dumbfounded when I received a call from GM saying they wanted to interview me. I was sure they had the wrong person, but I agreed to an interview anyway – it was a once in a lifetime opportunity!

I’ve been with GM for about 11 years now and have dabbled in a few different departments including industrial engineering, quality control and production supervision. I began my career working in a metal fabrication plant in Marion, Ind. After three years, I was offered an opportunity to go to Lansing, Mich., to start up a new stamping plant. With the knowledge I gained in lean manufacturing and quality, I was given the opportunity to become the Operations Manager at the Brownstown assembly plant, my current position.

We’re working fast and furious to build the battery that will be used in the Chevy Volt and it’s my job to maintain the safety of the plant while streamlining operations so that our customers get a quality product, on time. It’s a really exciting time for us because we’re the pioneers in this space. We’re working with new technology and new equipment – there’s nothing like it yet in this industry.

When I’m not working, I’m very active in the community as well as my church. I feel very blessed to be where I am today, so whether it’s working at a food shelter or running a clothes drive, I like to give back any way I can. In fact, this past holiday season, instead of exchanging gifts at work, I encouraged everyone to chip in and support a local family. We went to our local Chamber of Commerce and were given the information for a family in need. We were able to provide them with many necessities over the holiday season including clothes, food and toys for the little ones.

To think of how far my family and I have come over the last few decades is truly amazing. They couldn’t be more supportive of me and my work. In fact, my dad can’t even talk about it without his eyes welling up with tears. How lucky am I?