Tennessee Auto Manufacturers Association names new board members for 2010
TAMA helps strengthen Tennessee’s automotive industry, react to it’s challenges in global marketplace
The Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association (TAMA) has named their 2010 Board of Directors. The 2010 officers of TAMA are Patrick Higgins, president; Keith Updike, vice president; and Kevin Hunsinger, treasurer.
Higgins is managing director for Marsh. He began his career with Marsh in 1976 and is a licensed insurance agent in all 50 states. His background and training has been focused within the insurance risk management practice, specializing in the commercial property, casualty and financial products with an emphasis on sophisticated risk financing, especially as it relates to the global/international business community. Higgins is a member of the Governor’s U.S. Southeast/Japan Association, former Board of director for Exchange Club, member of Society of International Business Fellows, former member of the Hartford Insurance Company Producers Council, Independent Agents of Tennessee, as well as Board of Director for the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) and participating member of the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA).
Updike, TAMA vice president, is managing director for BBK Nashville, providing BBK clients with extensive expertise in world-class manufacturing practices and continuous improvement methodology — targeting improvement in the areas of manufacturing, quality, supply chain and materials management. He is an experienced operations executive, having managed multiple facilities, union and non-union workforces and in public and private companies. Updike is a member of the Japan-American Society of Tennessee and the Turnaround Management Association.
Hunsinger, TAMA treasurer, is a senior manager in audit and enterprise risk services for Deloitte and Touche LLP, in Nashville. He has served multinational clients primarily in the manufacturing industry, including Bridgestone Americas Inc., Nissan North America, Saturn Corporation and Denso Manufacturing of Tennessee. Hunsinger also serves on the Finance Committee of Family and Children’s Service.
Other 2010 TAMA Board of Directors include: Thomas Brewer, director, South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance; Phil Carver, sales consultant, Advanced Sales & Engineering LLC; Joe Conner, managing shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Andre Gist, president and chief executive officer, Manufacturers Industrial Group; Bill Holt, warehouse operations manager, Continental Machinery Movers; Christine Karbowiak, chief administration officer, Bridgestone America Holding, Inc.; Thomas Loafman, director of purchasing, Volkswagen Group of America; Lorie Shaunteé, national recruitment specialist, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; Rick Youngblood, director and plant manager, Nissan North America-Decherd. Brannan Atkinson, president of Atkinson Public Relations, serves TAMA as executive director.
TAMA was founded in 1987 in response to Tennessee’s rapidly growing automotive manufacturing industry led by Nissan North America and Saturn Corporation. TAMA is a membership organization created to strengthen and expand Tennessee’s automotive industry. It helps Tennessee automotive companies react to the challenges of the global automotive marketplace.
TAMA’s 132 diverse member companies include primarily Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers as well as government agencies and professional services organizations that have specializing expertise in the automotive industry. Membership consists of both in- and out-of-state businesses.
