February 2009 - Alabama Germany Partnership

Volume VI  Issue 1: Feb. 2009
Editor: Anne Marie Seibel, Managing Editor: Patricia Coghlan, Assistant Editor: Julia Boehm-McKay
Executive Committee
Chairman
Joachim Hofmann, MBUSI
Vice Chair/Chair Elect
Arndt Siepmann, City of Auburn
Vice President Education
Dr. Anna Gramberg, Auburn University
Vice President Business Development
Greg Barker, Alabama Power Company
Vice President Communication
Anne Marie Seibel, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Vice President Culture
Gerhard Graf, Ashford Advisors, Inc.
Vice-President Membership
Alan Wood, SS Nesbitt and Co. Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer
Lamar Smith
Immediate Past Chair
Al Reisz, Reisz Engineering
Honorary German Consul
J. Bruce Jones
Board of Directors
Judy Benson, CRH North America
Grey Brennen, Ala. Bureau of Travel & Tourism
Michael Brooks, Ala. International Trade Center
Victor Brown, Birmingham Regional Ch. Of Com.
Billy Joe Camp, World Business Advisors, LLC
Al Cook, Opelika Economic Development
Dr. Thomas Fox, University of Alabama
Ed Gardner, Jr., St. Clair County Eco. Dev. Council
Ethan Hadley, Huntsville / Madison Cty Ch. of Com.
Michey Harbin, AT&T
Andreas Hackstedt, ISE Innomotive Syst. US, Inc.
Rita Powell, FDSK
Glen Pringle, Retirement Systems of Alabama
Jim Robertson, Rödl and Partner
Jim Schmalz, Regions Bank
Mark Sheppard, Alabama State Port Authority
Tom Stroud, Moreson Conferencing
Ted vonCannon, Metropolitan Dev. Board
Dr. Robert Weigel, Auburn University
Bryan Winter, Adcox Lewis Smyth & Winter, PC
Past Chairs
Rex Lysinger, Bill Mathews , Don Erwin,
Dr. Phillip Crunk, Lamar Smith, Dara Longgrear,
Dr. Jane Stanfield, Dr. Clara Gerhardt, Jim Robertson
Executive Director
Patricia Coghlan, AlabamaGermany Partnership
AGP welcomes New Chairman
On October 28, 2008
Joachim
Hofmann,
Manager - Supplier
Quality Engineering at
Mercedes-Benz U.S.
International, Inc. in
Vance, took over as
chairman of the AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) at the
annual membership meeting. Hofmann
began his career with Mercedes-Benz as a
Management Trainee in 1997 in Stuttgart,
Germany where he held numerous posi-
tions within the purchasing group of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. He moved to
Alabama with MBUSI in 2004 as an assistant
manager in finance and was responsible for
supplier bankruptcy management, material
budget planning and tooling cash-out management. He has served in his current position for 6 months and oversees the supplier
quality group for the M-, R-, and GL-class
built at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance.
Chairman Hofmann has served on the AGP
board since 2005. He is married to Christine
and they have two daughters, Olivia and
Emily.
AGP Event Outlook
AGP Event Review
Opening Ceremony
Berlin Airlift Exhibit
On Friday, February 27,
2009 the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift
Exhibit opening ceremony will take place at
the Southern Museum
of Flight. Berlin Airlift
Veterans living in Alabama will be honored.
The German Consul General from the Atlanta office, Col. Wolfgang Samuel, USAF
(Ret), author of German Boy, and other
special guests and dignitaries will be present. The overall aim of the project is to
raise awareness of the Berlin Airlift, one of
the greatest humanitarian efforts of all
time. The Airlift made friends out of former
enemies when the Americans and their allies, Great Britain and France, saved more
than two million men and women in the city
AGP HR Summit
Alabama Germany Partnership successfully
held its 1st Human Resource Summit on
February 13, 2009 in the World Business
Center in Birmingham, AL. The summit was
moderated by AGP Vice President of Education Anna Gramberg (Dean of the College of
Liberal Arts, Auburn University). Presenters
included Devin Dolive (Burr and Forman,
LLP) Dagmar Rick, Esq., (Law Office), Anne
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued on page 3)
AGP Event Outlook
2009 Annual Dinner
and Business Forum
This year’s AlabamaGermany Partnership
Annual Dinner and Business Forum will take
place April 23 - 24, 2009 in Montgomery at
the Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Please reserve the date,
and if you or your company are interested
(Continued on page 4)
IN THIS ISSUE
New Chairman - Joachim Hofmann 1
Opening Ceremony Berlin Airlift 1, 3
Event Review: Human Resources Summit 1, 2
Annual Dinner/Business Forum 1, 4
Member Spotlight: ZF Lemforder Corp. 3
Member News: Judy Benson 3
Event Review: St. Nicholas Party 3
Germany Trip 2008 3
Member News: inGenics Corp. 4
New Members 4
Dates to Remember 4
Volume VI  Issue 1: Feb. 2009
Flag Sponsors 2008
AGP Event Review
AGP Human Resource Summit
(Continued from page 1)
Black Level
Red Level
Gold Level
Yuengert (Bradley Arant Boult Cummings,
LLP), James Kimbrough, III (Hofmann Services, Inc.) and Bettina Byrd-Giles (The
Bird’s Nest LLC). They shared the latest
information on the American With Disabilities Act 2008, Visa and Immigration
Laws, Top 10 Reasons for Employment
Lawsuits, Necessity of a Staffing Agency
for Foreign Owned Companies and Managing Diversity in a Gobal Business Culture.
The HR Summit was attended by AGP Vice
President of Culture Gerhard Graf
(Ashford Advisors, Inc.), AGP Vice President of Membership, Alan Wood (SS
Nesbitt and Co. Inc.), Evelyn Neunzig
(Formel D USA, Inc.), Carolyn Turner
(Alabama International Trade Center),
Tamara Moriya (Japan America Society of
Alabama), Alexander Maier (Hofmann
Services), Andrea Taylor (Merrill Lynch),
Ashley Davis (Merrill Lynch), Amy Myers
(Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker LLP),
Cassandra Spencer (Alabama Technology
Network), Angela Wilson (Moreson Conferencing Inc.), Kimberly Couch
(Hoerbiger Automotive Comfort Systems
Inc.), Trent Cotton (SourcePointe), Mark
Love, Brooks Wilbourn (Kuehne + Nagel),
Trish Coghlan (AlabamaGermany Partnership),
Julia
Boehm-McKay
(AlabamaGermany Partnership).
(L-R) Mark Love, Julia Boehm-McKay, Andrea Taylor, Devin
Dolive, Dagmar Rick, James Kimbrough, III, Kimberly Couch,
Alexander Maier, Trish Coghlan.
(L-R) Dagmar Rick, Devin Dolive
(L-R) Mark Love, Carolyn Turner
(L-R) Cassandra Spencer, Anne Yuengert, Bettina Byrd-Giles,
Trent Cotton
(L-R) Devin Dolive, Alexander Maier, Andrea Taylor, Cassandra
Spencer, Amy Myers, Gerhard Graf, Trent Cotton
A SPECIAL THANKS
TO OUR SPONSORS!
2
(L-R) Tamara Moriya, Alexander Maier
The AlabamaGermany Partnership was founded in 1998 to foster ties and serve as
a resource for members and others interested in a strong
business and cultural relationship between Alabama and Germany.
For additional information, please visit our website at www.AlabamaGermany.org.
Volume VI  Issue 1: Feb. 2009
AGP Member News
AGP Member Spotlight
Judy Benson
ZF Lemforder Corporation
The plant opened in 1997 with 115,000
square feet of manufacturing space on 46
acres. A 39,000 square foot expansion in
2003 provided the back drop for the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz MClass, R-Class and GL Class. Currently
there are 300 employees at the facility.
ZF Lemforder Corporation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
ZF Lemforder Corp is the car chasis division
of ZF – one of the world’s largest suppliers
of driveline chasis technology. The company employs approximately 58,000 people
at 120 locations in 25 countries. Their sales
totaled $16.4 billion in 2007. Within ZF
Lemforder North America, there are five
components manufacturing plants and
three axle system assembly plants.
The ZF Tuscaloosa site produces complete
front and rear axle assemblies in broadcast
sequence for MBUSI. The plant has approximately four hours lead time after receipt of
order from MBUSI to produce and ship the
axle assemblies.
The Shingo prize, established in 1988 to
promote awarness of Lean Manufacturing
concepts was awarded to ZF in 2007. The
award is named for Japanese industrial
engineer Shiego Shingo, one of the world’s
leading experts in improving manufacturing processes.
AGP Board Member Judy Benson, CRH
North America was named Rotarian of the
Year for 2007-2008 by the Rotary Club of
Chilton County.
AGP Event Review
St. Nicholas Party
AGP’s St. Nick Family Party at the FDSK German Club, Birmingham was attended by
many members and children who were eager to meet St. Nick. The day was filled with
fun activities for children and a reception
that included German treats such as Stollen
and Gluehwein.
(L-R) Dagmar Rick, Alan Wood, Richard Suhr (ZF Lemforder
Corp.), Meg Lozner, Trish Coghlan at a plant visit on April 30,
2008.
AGP Event Outlook
60th Anniversary Berlin Airlift
(Continued from page 1)
of Berlin, which had been blockaded by the
Soviet Union.
The campaign celebrates the legacy of
friendship with the motto: “Friends Always”. Sponsors of the 60th Anniversary of
the Berlin Airlift Exhibit are:
“Operation Vittles”
ISE Innomotive Systems U.S., Tuscaloosa
German Consulate - Atlanta
Hofmann Services, Atlanta
“Operation Little Vittles”
Friends of German Culture, Huntsville
Knights of Columbus Assembly 02408
Joseph H. Hardy
“Friends Always”
Nellie and Dieter Tietz, Al Cook, Anne Marie
Seibel, Rita Powell, Glen Pringle, Gerhard
Graf, Otto and Gail Mueller, Trish Coghlan,
Alabama State Port Authority, TCIDA,
Freunde Deutscher Sprache und Kultur,
Birmingham; and anonymous benefactors.
The photo exhibition “The Berlin Airlift - A
Legacy of Friendship” will be at the museum
through March 14, 2009. Other activities
include a Special Family Activity on March
7th from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. free with
museum admission. Free
tours of the exhibit will
be offered for school or
church groups. (Call the
museum for scheduling
(205) 833-8226.)
AGP Germany Trip
Germany Trip Summer 08
AGP Executive Director Trish Coghlan spent
12 days in Germany last summer and visited
Roedl & Partner in Munich, inGenics AG in
Ulm, Aluminum Technology Schmid GmbH
in Korb, Mercedes-Benz in Singelfingen, CR
Hammerstein (CRH) in Solingen and
ThyssenKrupp Nirosta GmbH in Krefeld.
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Volume VI  Issue 1: Feb. 2009
NEW MEMBERS
Corporate Regular
Kronospan
Springer Equipment Co.
WKW Erbsloeh
Service 1st Bank
Corporate Associate
Forklift Systems, Inc.
Dekalb County Econ. Development Agency
Jackson County Econ. Development Agency
Alford and Associates, LLC
Hofmann Services
Educational Institution
Samford University, Brock School of Business
Educational Professional
Erika Hille Rinker
Non-Profit
Rocket City United Foundation
Individual Family
Chad and Lauren Goodson
Robert and Elisabeth Graham
Pete and Marion Cox
Heinz and Evelyn Neunzig
Individual
Liane Scott
Jeff Wilkes, Graham and Co.
David Graham, Community Development
Foundation
AGP Event Outlook
2009 Annual Dinner and
Business Forum
AGP Member News
inGenics Corp. Atlanta
(Continued from page 1)
in sponsoring the event please contact
Bryan Winter via phone at (205) 553-5353
or via e-mail at bwinter@lswattorneys.com.
If you would like to donate an auction item
for the Silent Auction, please contact
Gerhard Graf via phone at (205) 982-9938
or via e-mail at
gerhardgraf@ashfordadvisors.net.
The AlabamaGermany Partnership is seeking nominations for the 2009 Rainer Bauer
Award and Education-Culture Award to be
presented at the AGP Annual Dinner.
The 2008 Rainer Bauer Award was awarded
to Governor Bob Riley, the Education Award
to German Teacher Edith Phillips of Huntsville and the Culture Award to Pete Cox,
President of Friends of German Culture Huntsville. Please send nominations no
later than March 2, 2009 by e-mail
(director@alabamagermany.org), fax (205943-4780), or regular mail (500 Beacon
Parkway West, Birmingham, AL 35209).
(L-R) Stephan Reithmann (Vice President inGenics Corp.,
USA) , Dr. Lutz Goergens (German Consul General), Joerg
Herkommer (President inGenics Corp., Germany)
AGP Member and German business consultancy, inGenics Corporation of Atlanta celebrated its move into its new office at 2839
Paces Ferry Road, Ste 1045, GA 30339 on
October 6, 2008. inGenics, who has developed a LeanOffice System to support customers of all types for lean transformations
in their offices, held a “Lean Office Seminar”
in cooperation with Ashford Advisors, Inc.
on May 15, 2008 in Birmingham. inGenics
also donated its consulting services to help
the AGP office to “go lean”.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, February 27, 2009
Opening Ceremony 60th Anniversary Berlin Airlift Travelling Photo Exhibit
Time: 4:00 pm, Location: Southern Museum of Flight
February 27 through March 15, 2009
60th Anniversary Berlin Airlift Exhibition at the Southern Museum of Flight
Go to the Member Directory on these and all
other members at www.AlabamaGermany.org.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Special Young Flyer Family Activity, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., www.southernmuseumofflight.org
March 11 through March 13, 2009
AlabamaGermany Partnership Executive Directors Trip to Mobile
To become a member of the
Alabama Germany Partnership,
please visit our website at
www.AlabamaGermany.org
Thursday, April 23, 2009
AlabamaGermany Partnership 11th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction in Montgomery
Friday, April 24, 2009
AlabamaGermany Partnership Business Forum “Continuous Improvement” in Montgomery
Visit our website at www.AlabamaGermany.org/events
for more details on these and other events.
CONTACT INFORMATION
AlabamaGermany Partnership
Trish Coghlan, Executive Director
director@alabamagermany.org
4
500 Beacon Parkway West
Birmingham, AL 35209
phone: (205) 943-4772
fax: (205) 943-4780
web: www.AlabamaGermany.org