Leadership:

Daron Gifford, Managing Director

Daron has over 35 years of experience in the automotive and manufacturing industries in operating management roles and management consulting with over 25 years in leadership roles with large, global consulting practices including A.T. Kearney, KPMG, Deloitte Consulting, and ABeam Consulting (formerly Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting), where he was responsible for building industry and regional practices from small localized businesses into large consulting services organizations capable to serve complex global companies. 

He has worked extensively throughout the automotive and manufacturing industry with OEMs, suppliers, retailer and service channels in roles ranging from executive management to consultant to investor.  His “hands on” management expertise in industry has provided deep capabilities to support management in assessing the operational, commercial market and financial viability of numerous manufacturing and automotive companies for lenders, investment entities and corporations.  Over the past 2+ years, he has worked primarily with the U.S. Department of Energy on assessing the commercial capabilities of advanced technologies to support alternative energy creation, storage, distribution and mobility (especially in vehicles).

Daron has a M.B.A. – General Management, University of Virginia, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration; a Bachelor of Industrial Administration – Production Management, General Motors Institute; Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM); and Certified in Electroplating and Surface Finishing (CEF).

Daron is a member of numerous professional organizations including SAE, SME, Engineering Society of Detroit, Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Association for Capital Growth (ACG), and Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA).  He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy in Pontiac, Michigan.