Speaker's Name
Donna Bell

Title
CTO Chief of Staff, Director Research Operations

Company Name
Ford Motor Company

Bio

Donna Bell has been with Ford Motor Company for 25 years. She is currently chief of staff to Ford’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Ken Washington, and the director for the Research and Advanced (R&A) Engineering Business Office. In this newly created role, Donna is responsible for all operational aspects of Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering organization, globally. Donna will also be responsible for Ford’s university strategic alliances, STEAM strategy, and strategic external partnerships which includes lead interface to USCAR (U.S. Council for Automotive Research), US industry OEMs, and other agencies to support the mission of USCAR, which includes “…accelerating the development of enabling automotive technologies that address the personal transportation needs of society, while contributing to the national economic security and safeguarding of the environment”.

Prior to Donna’s role as CTO chief of staff, she was most recently the Director of Operations at Ford’s Research and Innovation Center in Palo Alto, CA where she was responsible for ensuring the continued growth and operation of Ford’s Palo Alto research and innovation lab, and connecting new technologies and innovations that are created in Silicon Valley with Ford Motor Company products and services. Most of Donna’s career at Ford has been spent in the Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering (EESE) Organization within Product Development, where she has held various technical and leadership roles in body module electronics design, electrical systems design and analysis, purchasing for driver information components, quality as the 6-Sigma Project Champion Electrical systems, and the Electrical Program Module Team (PMT) leader launching key Ford vehicles and technologies. Donna was also the Global Product Development Quality Manager for Electrical at Ford Motor Company where she is responsible for Electrical and Electronic Systems Quality globally. Prior to Ford, Donna spent the first stages of her engineering career at Dow Chemical Company where she tested and built process control computers.

Donna has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University (Southfield, MI), a Master of Science degree in Electronics and Computer Control Systems and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). She is currently enrolled in the Global Executive Track Ph.D. Program at Wayne State University, where she is currently researching the intersection of innovation and quality.

Donna was recently the president of the Lawrence Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors where she was responsible for establishing scholarships and programs for LTU students and alumni. She has been a member, including president, of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – Detroit Professionals. And has supported and ?been a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Engineering Society of Detroit. Donna makes it a point to "give back" to the community, by participating in programs such as ?the NSBE’s Pre-College Initiative and the Society of Women Engineers Girl's Engineering Exploration Day. Donna is also an active member of Ford's African Ancestry Network (FAAN), where she is Vice president of Operations. She is also a member of Ford's Professional Women's Network and mentors as much as she can to aspiring engineers. ???

Session List

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! Managing Groups and Cultures When You Are Not in Charge
Friday, February 08th 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM Room: Maryland Suite C- Lobby Level