Faces of GM

Don: a job in the fast lane!

January/19/2010 at 9:43 am

GM history:  I began my career at an Oldsmobile assembly plant in 1973. In 1977 I entered skilled trades, specializing in experimental assembly.  Later I specialized in precision measurement of engineering vehicles. I then moved to the Lansing Grand River assembly plant and was involved with Cadillac quality.  I’ve been at the Wixom, Michigan Performance Build Center (PBC) since 2007 building high performance Corvette engines.

Education:  Skilled trades Journeyman.  Associate’s degree from Lansing Community College in Quality Control. Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Business. Quality Control Engineer certification from American Society of Quality.

Interests:  Looking forward to cross-country skiing in Northern Michigan over the holidays. Also like to bicycle, run, canoe and kayak.  Love to ride my Harley Electra-Glide, especially on those hot summer evenings. And of course I’m into cars, love Corvettes and Camaros.  Favorite car I’ve owned was a 69 Z28!  Serve on the planning commission and board of review for Wheatfield Township, Michigan.                                

My iPod: Might take you from Jimmy Buffett to Marvin Gaye, Radiohead to BTO, Santana to Sinatra, Eminem to Alison Krauss, John Prine to Merle Haggard, the Beatles to the Eagles. 

I communicate with our customers through one of my favorite websites – the CorvetteForum.com.  Following are just a couple samples of comments from the Forum that make my colleagues and I feel pretty good about what we do at the PBC:

• Jeff from Texas: “ZR1 #559, LS9 built by Mike Priest. Thanks for the great piece of work Mike! The engine and car are awesome!”                   
• Brian from Salem, Mass.: “Thank you Rick Dadd for building my engine. Excellent thread and always great to hear about how our cars are crafted”
• Steve from Beavercreek, Ohio: “The engine in my 2007 Z06 was built by Barry Dennis.  It was #7 off the line on Monday, Oct 9th 2006.  It purrs like a kitten until I press the loud pedal. Thanks Barry”
• Jim from Imperial Beach, Calif.: “To Greg Jones who built mine, thanks I just turned 91,000 miles with Zero problems with the motor and zero problems with the whole car. Took delivery Feb 2007 and the only problem is with 9 sets of rear tires I’ve had to buy.”
• A member from Scotland: “Hey Mr. Henry Rose – one of your babies is a long way from home! -and its thriving very well on the Scottish air. Greetings from the land of Hill and Heather!”