DETROIT, Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors will
encourage Hispanic students to pursue engineering careers with the
automaker when it welcomes the annual conference of the Society of
Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) to Detroit from Nov.
5-9 at Cobo Center.
SHPE is the leading national organization aimed at motivating
Hispanics to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM). GM is the Visionary Sponsor for the conference, the
largest annual Hispanic STEM technical and career event in the
country.
"We are thrilled to welcome SHPE to Detroit as it celebrates 40 years serving as a
vital resource for Latinos in STEM," said GM President Dan Ammann. "GM wants to be the employer of
choice for Hispanic engineers and this conference is a great
opportunity to strengthen our relationship with this important
community."
The four-day conference is expected to attract more than 5,000
engineering professionals, students and corporate representatives
for unique program workshops, featured guest speakers, award
ceremonies, technical competitions and a Career Fair and Graduate
School Expo. The conference is an opportunity for companies to
recruit top talent from SHPE membership and provides educational,
technical and career opportunities for professional and student
engineers.
The conference places Detroit
and the automotive industry front and center before the
fastest-growing segment of the population, pointing young students
to opportunities that can help propel the industry and positively
impact Detroit.
Chevrolet donated a 2014 Chevy Spark to be raffled in support of
the organization's goal to raise more than $250,000 for the SHPE Foundation. Ticket sales
close Nov. 7. The winner will be
announced in Detroit on Nov.
8.
"In GM we have a committed partner that is helping us empower
the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential," said
Barry Cordero, SHPE Interim CEO. "GM
has embraced the values of our 'SHPE-familia,' joining students,
sponsors and supporters of SHPE and all those Hispanics in STEM
across the country who share common goals and dreams. Our
appreciation goes out to our Visionary Sponsor and to Chevrolet for
its tremendous support."
GM was named Company of the Year during last year's SHPE
conference for its effort to advance STEM education in the Hispanic
community and for enhancing the achievements of its Hispanic
employees. In 2013, GM deployed 40 employees to recruit top talent
at the SHPE Career Fair, resulting in the hiring of 26 Hispanic
engineers. These new employees are now referred to as "SHPE-mates,"
a term that unites these young people as part of a new generation
of talent at the company.
"At GM, our workforce thrives on diversity," said Ken Barrett, GM chief diversity officer. "Our
goal is to continue to create opportunities for Hispanics and
others to take their performance to the next level with careers
that fit their skills and ignite their passion."
Throughout the year, GM leverages its partnerships with key
Hispanic organizations to engage with Hispanic talent around the
country. One of these is Great Minds in STEM™ (GMiS) which
recognized Grace Lieblein, GM vice
president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, as the 2014 Engineer
of the Year during the 26th Annual HENAAC Conference in
New Orleans earlier this year.
About General Motors
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX:
GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the
company has leadership positions in the world's largest and
fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint
venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac,
Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling
brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries,
including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and
information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
About SHPE
The Society of Hispanic Professional
Engineers offers a network of more than 400 chapters nationally.
SHPE's mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic
community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world
through STEM awareness, access, support and development. SHPE
provides a variety of programming and resources including hosting
the largest annual Hispanic STEM conference in the nation.
For more information, visit www.shpe.org.
SOURCE General Motors