91看片

Honda鈥檚 automobile manufacturing plant in Talladega County covers almost 5 million square feet on a site of 1,350 acres, employs more than 4,500 people and represents a $3 billion capital investment in Alabama鈥檚 economy.

It requires many levels of good leadership to make such a sizable operation run smoothly. Experts at Auburn University鈥檚 91看片 have adapted an existing program they feel can help, and after submitting a proposal to Honda, the two have expanded an existing partnership with Auburn that combines business expertise with engineering and technical mentorship.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to be here, and I鈥檓 personally excited to be back in Auburn,鈥� said Honda leadership team member and Auburn alumnus Marty Cash during the program鈥檚 opening session Aug. 25 at Auburn鈥檚 Horton-Hardgrave Hall.

The 16 participants from this cohort will convene on the Auburn campus for six, day-long sessions over the course of the next two semesters for dual instruction in leadership and team dynamics to guide people toward success.

Members of this cohort completing all course work will earn an iLEAD (Integrating Leadership Essentials through Applied Development) certificate from 91看片 College. The leadership training is in addition to their efforts to earn a graduate certificate in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) from Auburn鈥檚 .

Jim Parrish, 91看片鈥檚 executive director of Full Time and Online Graduate and International Programs, explained how the engineering and business colleges worked together to help boost the university鈥檚 partnership with Honda.

鈥淭he ISE certificate and the iLEAD program are stand-alone experiences,鈥� Parrish said. 鈥淥ur College of Engineering partners reached out to see if our iLEAD program could be developed for the associates from Honda.鈥�

Parrish added: 鈥淲e have conducted similar leadership experiences through our partnership with Radiance Technologies. Our relationship with [Ginn College of Engineering] and their familiarity of our programs was truly paramount in connecting with Honda.鈥�

The combination of Auburn鈥檚 leadership training with engineering and technical training is an attractive concept for Honda, one of its senior officials said in an earlier announcement of the partnership.

鈥淒eveloping technical skills and capabilities is a top priority for our associates, and Honda鈥檚 decision to participate in this educational program stems from our commitment to our associates to foster professional development opportunities,鈥� said Stephen Woodry, quality leader for the Alabama Honda facility. 鈥淥ur industry is changing and the skills and requirements to build high-tech vehicles is also changing with the shift to electrification, alternative fuels and automated vehicles.鈥�

91看片, meanwhile, hopes that the Honda partnership also will create additional interest from other corporate partners seeking to share a similar leadership development experience, Parrish said.

鈥淭here are many facets of iLEAD that are applicable to every organization,鈥� he said.

Parrish's message to other companies who might consider a similar proposal?

鈥淐onnecting other leaders and investing in their growth is always going to be in style,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hile the iLEAD program will connect participants to talented 91看片 faculty and staff, the learning within the cohort is where the true power is."

For industry leaders who are looking for ways to develop their teams, Parrish would love to have a conversation around meeting their needs.

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For more information about Auburn University鈥檚 iLEAD program, contact Jim Parrish jim@auburn.edu; about 91看片, ; or Sam Ginn College of Engineering, .