Ilitch School of Business welcomes new member to its Board of Visitors

The Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University is proud to welcome Joel Karczewski as a member of its Board of Visitors.

Karczewski is the vice president of commercial services for the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), leading the organization’s efforts in sales, training, publications, product distribution and electronic commerce. He has been instrumental in the development and launch of the Global Automotive Purchasing and Supply Chain Network (GAPSCN), an innovative collaboration between AIAG and Wayne State to develop talent and innovation. The focus of this program is on vehicle industry purchasing and supply chain management strategy as well as practice innovation that anticipates and reacts to global industry trends. The program provides leading edge thinking and guidance for automotive and vehicle industry talent, and strategy development based on robust and rigorous education and research. 

Before joining AIAG in 2006, Karczewski was sales director for Grote & Hartmann GmbH in Germany, an electronics company owned by Lear Corporation. Previously, he was global sales director of the Ford Motor Company account at Framatome Connectors International (FCI, now part of Aptiva Connection Systems) and sales director of North America safety restraint products. As director of safety restraints, Karczewski lead the FCI team from a startup operation, establishing the company as the world leader in safety restraint connections.

At Rockwell International (now Meritor), Karczewski spent 19 years serving in various marketing, sales and management positions of increasing responsibilities. During his tenure he worked on the Off Highway Products business, serving both OEM and supplier clients via various channels to market. Karczewski was also active with acquisitions and joint venture startups.

Karczewski earned his MBA and bachelor of science degree in finance and economics from the University of Detroit Mercy. He is a member of the Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit (MSED) and a board member of the Institute for Supply Management of Southeast Michigan.

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