Detroit Chassis LLC celebrated 20 years in business with a formal program on Friday, December 13, 2019, featuring VIP guests and a delicious luncheon. The company also celebrated 32 associates who achieved 20-year work anniversaries, along with culmination of the 2019 model year, launching of the 2020 model year, and the Christmas holiday! Detroit Chassis is proud to be an automotive manufacturing partner of Ford Motor Company, through production of the Ford F-53 motorhome chassis and the F-59 step van stripped chassis.
Michael and Carlton Guthrie, Co-Chairmen shared their personal mission statements and spoke about the journey and Detroit Chassis’ future in manufacturing with optimism. Thank you to everyone who attended. We realize that there are many demands on your time, but you prioritized your schedule so that you could be at Detroit Chassis for this momentous event.
20 YEAR CELEBRATION
The following Associates were recognized for the milestone achievement of 20 years of service:
Victor Johnson
Reginald Debold
Gregory Scott
Will Bass
Ronnie Alexander
Pete Vasquez
Rozita Stewart
Jeffrey McCoy
Winston Dennis
Brandon Johnson
Deirdre Dudley
Cynthia Sanders
Karana Harrell
Deborah Jones
Michael Smith
Tamara Johnson
Sharon Humphrey
Gregory Miller
Odell Vaughn
Chuck Watts
Janice Johnson
Willie Harris
Frank Thrasher III
Betty Jones
Prozo Green
Leonard Sanders
Debbie Morris
Linda Casaigne
Juliette Grifn-Tyus
Brenda Trice
Avis Wallace
LaShandra Williams
Guests in attendance from Ford Motor Company were:
Gary Johnson, Chief Manufacturing and Labor Affairs Ofcer
Steve Pintar, VLD C Segment Vehicles, NA LVEA Segment, PDC
Tim Young, Director of Manufacturing
John Scholtes, Chief Engineer Commercial Vehicles (retiring)
Michael Pruitt, Chief Engineer Commercial Vehicles
Fred Hallway, Commercial Vehicle Program Manager
Mike Shashlo, Forward Model Optimization GVP,
Manufacturing and Labor Affairs
Prashant Javkar, Manufacturing Business Manager
Emcee Anthony Neely, CEO of Neely Media Group, shared his early experience of meeting the Guthries in the 1990s. Tim Young from Ford provided uplifting comments, and John Scholtes noted that the Detroit Chassis team makes an amazing chassis. John noted that the event would be his last ofcial meeting at Detroit Chassis, due to his retirement on December 23, 2019, after 36 years. John has worked closely with us for several years to deliver the best engineered and best built product on the market. We wish you well in retirement. John indicated that Michael Pruitt will succeed him as Chief Engineer. Michael was introduced and waved to everyone. We look forward to his support and leadership as we move into 2020 and beyond.
John Ritchie, Chassis Control Manager, Thor Motorized Vehicles, requested an opportunity to participate and was a welcomed representative of motorhome body manufacturers. In his statements, John shared positive sentiments about Detroit Chassis, based on his experience as a 20-year customer and purchaser of the F-53 chassis.
Other guests included Aubrey Lee and Julius Readus of Merrill Lynch, Stephanie Fries of the Michigan Economic Growth Corporation, Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, Executive VP, and Lauren Strickland, Business Retention Manager of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Duana King, President, and William Verdier, Jr. Financial Secretary and International Servicing Representative of UAW Local 155, Pastor Shelby Hunter, Kingdom on Earth Ministries, Pastor Lance Pittman and Lance Pittman II, First Praise Pentecostal Church, Ed Prentice, CEO of YEP Nation, Keith Beasley, CEO of Channel One Productions, Tanisha Bronaugh, WorkBased Learning Placement Coordinator of Breithaupt Career and Technical Center and 350 Detroit Chassis Associates.
Rachel Adenaas, Mrs. Michigan 2019, was also in attendance and was a gracious participant throughout the luncheon. She took photos with Associates and greeted guests. Rachel praised Detroit Chassis Associates for demonstrating a great work ethic and team spirit. She said that in her visits to manufacturing sites, she had never witnessed such enthusiasm, nor had she experienced the family atmosphere that exists at Detroit Chassis.
Thank you to all of the suppliers that provided services for the event, particularly Creative Marketing Solutions, Gary’s Catering, G&C Equipment Rental, and Party Paradise. Your timing, class, and professionalism were second to none, and your creativity turned our production entrance into a beautiful dining hall.
Additional contributing suppliers helped us give away 61 gifts valued at a total of $3,329. We could not have done this without you: Sigma Pac, Unifrst, MSC Direct Supply, Safety Source and Marco Net.
Kudos to members of the Detroit Chassis management team: Mike Hinton, VP HR, Pamela Edwards, Controller, Paola Cabrera, Purchasing, Paul Levandowski, Senior Manager Business Development, Jaavon Hairston, BAMM Intern and Dr. Linda Ratliff-Watkins, Director Community Support and Ministry, Senior Manager Customer Service—all of whom served as the initial Project Planning Committee. The extended committee included: Dennis Edwards, President, Jerome Huddleston, Plant Manager, Phillip White, Operations/Continuous Improvement Manager, Vernon Butler, Engineering Manager, Paul Grech, Manufacturing Engineer/Maintenance Manager, and Quinten Harris, Facilities. Nicole Gordy, Accounting Manager, Toni Siders, HR Generalist, Michelle Taylor, Accounting Analyst and Inecia McKinney, Accounts Payable assisted with decorations.
Kudos to the entire Team for inspiration, vision and tenacity, and in the words of Tim Young, Director of Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company: “Here’s to another 20 years!” The Best Motorhome Chassis is Built in the Motor City!
Michael and Carlton Guthrie Recognized at the 6th Annual Sankofa Black Business Awards Gala
DETROIT, MI – Detroit Chassis LLC, an automotive manufacturing company of niche vehicles, Motorhome and Commercial Truck chassis, celebrates being named the 2018 Black Business of the Year by the National Business League at its 2018 Sankofa Awards Gala held at the Motor City Casino November 17, 2018. Detroit Chassis was among 3,000 businesses nationwide who were considered for this prestigious award. Detroit Chassis was recognized for its vision driven, innovative and proactive approaches to economic and community development and employee empowerment and well-being.
Owners Michael and Carlton Guthrie accepted the Award on behalf of Detroit Chassis. Their strategic business plan returned skilled manufacturing jobs from Mexico to inner city Detroit through collaboration with the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan and Ford Motor Company. Detroit Chassis developed a greenfield State-of-the-Art Chassis assembly plant, worked with the UAW to design an innovative collective bargaining agreement that enhances flexibility and competitiveness, and embraced Vision, Mission, and Values that drive “World Champion” performance and Customer Joy. The Guthries have exercised transformative leadership positions in several industry, community and charitable organizations at local, state and national levels.
The Guthries, raised in Gary, IN were valedictorians of their high school senior graduating classes. (Michael – Edison HS ’68 and Carlton – West Side HS ’70). They along with their three siblings (Sheryl – Edison HS Salutatorian ’67; Cynthia – West Side HS ’73 Valedictorian; and, Joseph – West Side HS ’74) are lifetime Gary Alumni Pathways to Students (GAPS) members and are instrumental in the leadership of this organization of which Carlton is Chairman. GAPS connects current students to alumni through programs that create pathways for career and personal success.
Michael and Carlton Guthrie are Co-Chairmen and sole shareholders of Spectra LMP LLC, a Detroit, Michigan based holding company with several automotive manufacturing and engineering subsidiaries. Spectra’s subsidiaries and affiliates include: Detroit Chassis LLC, an assembler of running Class A RV and commercial truck chassis; Detroit Chassis Avon, a tier 1 provider of axles and tire & wheel assemblies to the medium-duty commercial truck industry located in Avon, OH; Detroit Custom Chassis, LLC, a provider of custom up-fits and alternative powertrain conversions for commercial truck chassis and HealthCure, LLC, a provider of infectious disease mitigation, prevention, consulting and remediation services and products that prevent nosocomial infections in healthcare facilities utilizing a patented anti-microbial and proprietary database headquartered in Charlotte, NC.
This year’s Gala was presented by Ford Motor Company and featured keynote speaker, Rosalind Brewer, COO and Group President, Starbucks, and was hosted by WXYZ Anchor, Glenda Lewis and NBL CEO Dr. Kenneth L. Harris, Ph.D.
About Detroit Chassis LLC
Detroit Chassis (detroitchassis.getbiz.net) is a subsidiary of Spectra LMP LLC, a concept to customer provider of niche vehicle manufacturing solutions owned by Michael and Carlton Guthrie. Spectra also owns Detroit Custom Chassis (www.detroitcustomchassis.com) a provider of custom up-fits, alternative powertrain conversions and complex sub-assemblies to a variety of automotive, Motorhome, commercial truck and transit industries. Detroit Chassis has been recognized by Quality Magazine on the Quality Leadership 100 list, and as “Supplier of the Year” by the National Minority Business Development Council and by On Wheels, Inc.
About the National Business League
The National Business League, Inc. (NBL) is the oldest trade association in America, founded on August 23, 1900, by Booker T. Washington, as a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian, commerce-driven institution dedicated to the economic empowerment of Black businesses, communities, and people with access to 2.6 million Black businesses across the country. Through its value-add programmatic initiatives and partnerships, it supports Black-owned businesses locally, regionally, nationally, and throughout the Pan-African Diaspora.
DETROIT, MI – Detroit Chassis LLC, an automotive manufacturer of niche vehicles, RV and Commercial Truck chassis celebrates 20 years in business. The company owned by brothers Michael and Carlton Guthrie is located on Detroit’s eastside and employees over 250 Associates.
The first F-53 RV chassis rolled off its assembly line in 1999. Since that time there have been many enhancements, launches and upgrades to this product. It has evolved into multiple wheel base and GVW options to suite customer needs. The company began production of the F-59 commercial truck chassis in 2010 and volumes have greatly increased due to enthusiastic customer acceptance. Detroit Chassis has shipped more than 190,000 F-53 and F-59 chassis since its initial launch in addition to thousands of low speed electric vehicles, postal trucks and shuttle bus chassis.
The 2020 model year brings more exciting features for both the F-53 RV and F-59 commercial truck chassis including Ford’s latest electrical architecture, its Collision Avoidance and Driver Support System (CADS) option. New offerings feature forward collision mitigation (FCM), lane departure warning (LDW), auto-high beam, and the all-new 7.3-L V8 engine.
“Detroit Chassis has prepared for disruptive changes in the transportation and mobility sectors by identifying growth opportunities and also by augmenting its senior management team and technical resources. These additions bring decades of experience in RV and commercial truck product development and manufacturing. A growing demand for commercial trucks powered by alternative energy and delivering better fuel efficiency and zero or lower emissions has once again created intriguing niche opportunities.” Michael Guthrie, Co-Chairman.
“It is exciting to celebrate this milestone achievement with so many of our Associates who will also celebrate 20 year work anniversaries this year. We have a dedicated, highly-skilled workforce and I expect that Detroit Chassis will continue to provide “Joy” to its customers by delivering outstanding performance in the heart of the city of Detroit.” Carlton Guthrie, Co-Chairman.
Detroit Chassis is actively working with technology developers of low-emission and zero-emission systems to integrate, install and market their packages on a scaled-down version of the F-59 chassis later this year. The company expects that every innovation will solidify its hard-won reputation as a valued collaborator for OEM and aftermarket clients.
About Detroit Chassis
Detroit Chassis is a subsidiary of Spectra LLC, a concept to customer provider of niche vehicle manufacturing solutions also owned by Michael and Carlton Guthrie. Spectra owns Detroit Custom
Chassis, www.detroitcustomchassis.com, a provider of custom up-fits, conversions and complex sub-assemblies to a variety of automotive, commercial truck and transit industries, and Detroit Chassis Avon provider of axles and tire & wheel assemblies to the medium and heavy duty truck industry located in Avon, OH.
DCP ASSOCIATES CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN STYLE AT THE HOTEL ST. REGIS
Detroit Chassis celebrated the season in style with two Christmas Celebrations in 2017. The 1st was at The Hotel
St. Regis in Detroit Saturday, December 16, 2017 and the 2nd was at DCA in Avon, OH the following week. Attendees
at both events had a marvelous time celebrating the spirit of the season.
Co-Chairmen Michael and Carlton Guthrie were in attendance with their lovely wives Valorie and Dawn Marie at the Detroit event. Also in attendance were Dave Taylor and his wife Helen, John Scholtes and his wife Rebecca and John Ruppert and his wife Andie. It was so nice to have some special time to interact with everyone.
We are happy to report that we were able to award 53 prizes between the two events amounting in value to more than $5,000 with the assistance of a few key suppliers.
The gracious staff of The Hotel St. Regis provided great support throughout the entire evening. Thank you Oz for the personal attention.
A heart-felt thank you is extended to everyone who made this event possible:
Michael and Carlton Guthrie for hosting the 2017 Christmas Celebration
Curtis Evans (JT Curtis/Curtis Industrial Services) for generously donating prizes amounting to 50% of the prizes for the raffle drawings and continuous support of DCP sponsored events
Air Center, ComSource, Creative Marketing Solutions, Granger, Kamar Office Express, Sigma Pack, for their generous contribution of prizes
Paul Levandowski for hosting attendee registration throughout the evening
Keith Beasley (Photographer and DJ) for accommodating our audio needs and special requests
The 2017 Christmas Celebration Focus Group and Planning Committee for your ideas and suggestions. The dancers were a nice touch.
Your time and efforts blessed us tremendously and helped us make a difference in the lives of DCP families.
May your 2018 be graced with goodness from Heaven and may you experience the BEST throughout the entire year!
Detroit Chassis Appoints Dennis Edwards as President
Additional Talent Added to the DCP Lineup!
Detroit Chassis is committed to aggressively expanding our capability to better serve our customers while
delivering Customer Joy. You are seeing the results of our investments in facilities, processes and technology.
We are also strengthening our Leadership team’s ability to not only support these efforts but also to advance them to
the next level! Several recent recruits are already helping to make a difference.
Our new President, Dennis Edwards, Jr. joined us on November 13, 2017. He will attend the upcoming November F5X VQR Meeting.
Dennis reports to Carlton Guthrie, Detroit Chassis Co-Chairman and is responsible for managing all Detroit Chassis activities including operations, business development, program launch and support functions.
Dennis has had extensive executive and senior management experience in leading global enterprises. He has highly regarded proficiencies in lean manufacturing, process engineering, capital/tooling acquisition, manufacturing, supply chain management, program management and plant management. He has had responsibility for global operations, program and launch management for major multi-national automotive suppliers. Dennis has a BA and MBA.
Carlton Guthrie stated: “Mike, I and the entire Detroit Chassis team are very excited about Dennis coming aboard as President. He brings a level of expertise, professionalism and vision that will positively affect our organization’s growth and success.”
Pradeep Kashyap has recently joined the Company as VP Engineering and Program Management. Pradeep reports Dennis Edwards, President and he is responsible for all Engineering and Program Management.
Pradeep has more than 20 years’ experience in senior engineering management roles with responsibility for global program and launch management for major automotive suppliers such as Tokai Rubber and TRW. He also has more than 10 years of entrepreneurial experience as a CEO/Principal of his own company that provided automotive components, engineering services and supply chain management to North American, European and Asian automotive customers.
Pradeep has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Industrial Technology.
Michael Hinton has joined our team as Director of Human Resources, reporting to Dennis Edwards, President.
Mike Hinton has 25 years of cumulative experience in Human Resources and Automotive Manufacturing. He has a strong background in Human Resources Management, Organizational and Leadership Development, Performance Management and Labor Relations. In addition, Mike has extensive experience in Operational Management and Manufacturing Processes.
Mike Hinton has a Masters in Human Resources Management and a B.S. in Public Law & Government. He is a certified ISO14001/2015 Lead Auditor and experienced with TS16949.
Bruce Bonn, Quality Engineer has had several senior quality management roles with Ford Motor Company, such as Quality Engineer – New Products at Ford’s Sharonville Transmission Plant, Quality Supervisor and Industrial Engineer. Bruce also gained extensive experience with Tier 1 automotive suppliers throughout his career and he has worked in the following positions: STA Engineer; Quality Manager; Sr. Manager – Business Operating Systems; Certifications, Manager – New Site Support Quality Operating Systems; Departmental Supervisor – Quality Systems and Administration Services; Senior Quality Engineer, Manufacturing Operations and Corporate Manager – Quality Program Development.
Bruce has a B.S. in Business Management and is a ISO/TS 16949 Certified Lead Auditor.
Andre Humes has joined our team as Environment Health and Safety Manager. He will report to Michael Hinton, Director of Human Resources and will be responsible for developing strategies and leading efforts to restoring and sustaining Detroit Chassis’ World Champion performance in Safety.
Andre Humes comes to Detroit Chassis with more than 17 years of cumulative experience in Environmental Health & Safety in the Renewable Energy and Automotive Manufacturing industries. He has a strong background in Ergonomics, Accident Prevention, Maintenance, Operations, Industrial Electricity and Power Generation.
Andre Humes is a U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran with over 12 years of service. He is a certified ISO14001 and TS16949 auditor.
Detroit Chassis operated 131 consecutive days without a recordable injury throughout the 1st quarter of 2017. Current performance reflects 66 days with no occurrences and counting. Permanent corrective actions have been
implemented and proactive measures instituted to address the recordable injuries that occurred in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
We need to continue our focus on reducing recordable injuries by proactively identifying hazards and implementing strategies to ensure a clean and Safe working environment for everyone.
To improve our performance, the Safety Committee has been expanded to include a designated core team that meets regularly to address immediate concerns. The Safety Committee includes representatives from each department plus the following core team members:
MeShawne Johnson – Change Control Manager
Nayeesha Conway –Materials Associate
Sharon Humphrey – Production Leader
Jimmy Perryman – Production Associate
Curtis Garrett – Labor Relations
Safety and 5S training has been identified as key elements for Team Leader and Production Leader Development
Training and plant-wide walks have been re-established.
A Versatility Matrix that aligns proficiency with job rotations has been developed.
Members of the Safety Committee with be recertified for CPR, First Aid, and receive Blood Borne Pathogen Awareness training.
Plant wide Audit for unauthorized Extension Cord
Usage
Safety Walk Audit for proper Storage Rack Usage
Thank you Detroit Chassis for all of your efforts that are moving us closer to our goal of World Champion Safety performance.
The Safety Committee meets weekly to discuss strategies for improving Safety performance. The Core Safety Team meets more regularly to address immediate concerns.
Important Dates
Manufacturing Day
Friday, October 6, 2017
Manufacturing Day is Awesome!
Detroit Chassis will receive students from the Advanced Technology Academy in Dearborn, MI today for Manufacturing Day. The Advanced Technology Academy is a Michigan public Charter school in partnership with Ford Motor Company.
This is the 3rd consecutive year that Detroit Chassis has participated in Manufacturing Day and volunteers are excited about the opportunity to illustrate the many career opportunities available in manufacturing.
This is but one of the many community activities that Detroit Chassis participates in to support youth and education and it is in alignment with Corporate Value #3 “We are committed to Respect through Diversity and Community”.
White Academy Gets Ready for the 1st Day of School
Detroit Chassis representatives visited White Academy at 5161 Charles St., Detroit, MI 48212 in response to a request from Mr. Blake McGhee, Dean of Students to assist with their Open House.
Faculty was concerned because they had just learned that a sponsor that committed to provide book bags had suddenly cancelled their contribution just 4 days prior to the start of school and they had already been made aware that more than 50% of the students did not have access to resources to get much needed school supplies.
Detroit Chassis Associates and their families were able to step in and provide book bags and school supplies for 250 students along with a contribution to fund a Barber for the day to provide free hair-cuts to the young men.
David Forney, Engineering Manager
Curtis Garrett, Labor Relations
Paul Grech, Industrial Engineer
Quinton Harris, Facilities
Michael Hinton, Human Resources Director
MeShawne Johnson, Change Management Mgr.
Ranson Smith, Quality Manager
The team volunteered several hours to deliver and pass out book bags loaded with school supplies and prepared and distributed refreshments (hot dogs, chips and beverages) to students, their family members and school faculty.
ank you to all of the suppliers that provided services for the event, particularly Creative Marketing Solutions, Gary’s
Catering, G&C Equipment Rental, and Party Paradise. Your timing, class, and professionalism were second to none, and your creativity turned our production entrance into a beautiful dining hall.
Pradeep Kashyap has recently joined the Company as VP Engineering and Program Management. Pradeep reports Dennis Edwards, President and he is responsible for all Engineering and Program Management.
Michael Hinton has joined our team as Director of Human Resources, reporting to Dennis Edwards, President.
Bruce Bonn, Quality Engineer has had several senior quality management roles with Ford Motor Company, such as Quality Engineer – New Products at Ford’s Sharonville Transmission Plant, Quality Supervisor and Industrial Engineer. Bruce also gained extensive experience with Tier 1 automotive suppliers throughout his career and he has worked in the following positions: STA Engineer; Quality Manager; Sr. Manager – Business Operating Systems; Certifications, Manager – New Site Support Quality Operating Systems; Departmental Supervisor – Quality Systems and Administration Services; Senior Quality Engineer, Manufacturing Operations and Corporate Manager – Quality Program Development.
Andre Humes has joined our team as Environment Health and Safety Manager. He will report to Michael Hinton, Director of Human Resources and will be responsible for developing strategies and leading efforts to restoring and sustaining Detroit Chassis’ World Champion performance in Safety.
Detroit Chassis will receive students from the Advanced Technology Academy in Dearborn, MI today for Manufacturing Day. The Advanced Technology Academy is a Michigan public Charter school in partnership with Ford Motor Company.
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