Metro

Turn-Around Expert

Delphi CEO sees Detroit at a crossroads, but remains optimistic.

Don Cohen
Special to the Jewish News

I

t was the logical question to ask the

man who had just described his
current job as chairman and CEO of
Troy-based Delphi Corporation as "taking
another industrial train wreck through a
restructuring process."
Would he devote his energies to bring-
ing Michigan through its rough times?
The answer was quick and delivered
with a slight smile.
"No:' said Robert "Steve" Miller.
But who's to say, after hearing how
many times Miller had planned to return
to his native Oregon but instead gone to
work turning around Waste Management,
United Airlines, Aetna, Bethlehem Steel
and the Southfield-based Federal Mogul.
Miller's Michigan connection goes
back to the late 1960s and 1970s with
Ford Motor Company. Then his rising star
shone brightly as the 37-year-old that Lee
Iacocca called on in 1979 to put together
the Chrysler bailout that brought together
the U.S. government and 400 banks
around the world to save the company and
countless Michigan jobs.
"This is the epicenter of the transfor-
mation of our work force," Miller told
the Federation Forum lunch audience
on Feb. 9, describing the challenge fac-

ing Michigan. A program of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the
forum connects the Jewish business com-
munity with the economic, social and cul-
tural developments of the greater Detroit
community.
Miller said Gov. Jennifer Granholm is on
the right track.
"The governor is doing the right thing:'
he said, applauding the effort to retool tax
policy and attract tech centers to the state.
"The knowledge jobs are the future,"
Miller said, while acknowledging what you
don't have to be a turnaround expert to
understand: "Getting from here to there
will not be easy"

Determing Our Future
"Detroit is really at a crossroads" he said,
noting that the "New York banks are bet-
ting on Chapter 11" for both General
Motors and Ford Motor Company.
"The decisions to be made in the next
six months will get them back on track or
consign them to the dustbin of history;'
he said, before giving them his vote of
confidence.
"The companies that have fallen on
hard times are not populated by bozos,"
Miller said, calling their leadership "com-
petent professionals?'
"New leadership and direction can turn
them into an incredible fighting machine

Robert 'Steve' Miller

he said.
Miller also addressed his work at
Delphi, once the world's largest automotive
supplier with 50,000 employees in the U.S.
and 185,000 worldwide, saying, "despite all
the noise, we are proceeding:'
He said the Delphi employees are "hon-
est, loyal, hardworking people who played
by the rules!'
"I don't blame them for being nervous,
upset or even angry," he said.
"I expect a continuing heavy barrage for

my role in this, but I will not turn away,"
he said, referencing criticism in the news
media.
Several times he emphasized the same
advice that Jewish parents have long
understood and passed on: "If you want
your kids to live well and be in charge of
their destiny, get them a good education. "
Crediting his own "great education:'
which included graduate degrees from
Harvard (law) and Stanford (business), he
counseled, "Get them as much education
as they are able to take. Make sure they
get it ... The world pays for knowledge and
knowledge workers?'
Norman Bash of West Bloomfield
thought Miller's talk was "outstanding"
calling him "one of the real important
industrial players in the 21st century. He's
a fascinating guy and his experience is
amazing:' Bash said.
"He did a great job of talking about
how he's brought a whole array of busi-
ness experiences to Delphi," said Joshua
Sherbin of Bloomfield Hills. He said Miller
painted "a very optimistic picture," adding
that he is looking forward to reading his
book.
Miller said the book should be out in six
months. The working title is Not Worth
A Buck, based on what he said was a
worker's reaction to his official Delphi sal-
ary of one dollar.

❑

Andy Levin In Lansing

Former State Senate candidate to help Michigan's unemployed.

By Harry Kirsbaum
Special to the Jewish News

U

ndeterred by losing by a narrow
margin to John Pappageorge in
a hotly contested campaign for
the 13th District Michigan State Senate
seat, Andy Levin has found a way to serve
in Lansing.
Approached by Gov. Jennifer Granholm,
Levin, 46, accepted a position as deputy
director of Michigan's Dept. of Labor and
Economic Growth (DLEG). He'll head up
the state's efforts to transform Michigan's
workforce for the jobs of the 21st century
and to help all Michiganders displaced in
the turbulent economy.

DLEG also leads the Michigan
"We had several discussions
Opportunity Partnership, which
about her vision to create the
matches unemployed workers
best workforce development
with existing job vacancies, has
program in the nation; and
retooled Michigan's job training
when I was convinced she
programs and proactively steers
was serious and committed, I
unemployed workers toward
eagerly took the position," he
' high-demand career fields.
said. "I see it as a great chal-
"The program is a key element
lenge."
of Granholm's comprehensive
DLEG, one of the largest
Andy Levin
plan to help the state's economy,"
cabinet departments with 4,200
Swanson said. "Through the part-
employees and a $1.2 billion
nership, we've received more than
budget, funds Michigan Works!
Agencies that offer such programs as career 76,000 job pledges from employers and
filled more than 58,000 job openings?'
counseling, job search assistance and sup-
Swanson said that although he didn't
portive services designed to help job seek-
know Levin prior to his appointment,
ers, said DLEG director Robert Swanson.

Levin's extensive labor and business expe-
rience is an asset.
"His first day on the job, Andy hit
the ground running by attending the
Ann Arbor town hall meeting with Gov.
Granholm and Ann Arbor area leaders': he
said of the Jan. 29 meeting to announce
the formation of the Pfizer Strategic
Working Action Teams, funded with $1
million from DLEG, to aid displaced work-
ers from Pfizer Inc.'s Ann Arbor campus.
On Jan. 22, Pfizer Inc. announced the
closing of its Ann Arbor research facility
and 2,410 job cuts in Michigan
"Andy brings a wealth of experience in

Andy Levin on page 20

February 15 2007

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