Will Cooksey Announces Retirement from General Motors

[Rob]

Will Cooksey Announces Retirement from General Motors

Posted: 12:17 PM Nov 14, 2007
Last Updated: 7:53 PM Nov 14, 2007
Reporter: Ryan Dearbone
Email Address: ryan.dearbone@wbko.com

VIDEO: http://vettetube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=df51aa2a5306b0f53320

Soon, the Bowling Green Assembly Plant will have a new manager for the first time in 15 years.

Current Plant Manager Wil Cooksey is set to retire next March.

Under Cooksey's leadership, the plant's received numerous national accolades and awards such as "Best Sports Car" by Money Magazine and "America's Best Automobile Of The Year" by Automobile Magazine.

Its a dream fulfilled for plant manager and long-time Corvette enthusiast, Cooksey.

"I just envisioned how fun it'd be. I was looking at it in a fun standpoint, like a kid in the candy store. You're looking at your favorite car you want... all the different colors and combinations," recalls Cooksey.

Yet, after nearly 15 years at the plant's helm, Cooksey's hitting the dusty trail.

He says he's leaving the plant at its peak of productivity.

"You start thinking about where your organization is and where you want it to be as a plant manager, and I'm where I want it to be," Cooksey says.

His departure comes at a time when many are questioning the future of the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green.

In the current GM contract, there's talk of possibly moving manufacturing of certain car models... like the Corvette and Cadillac XL-R from their present plants.

While Cooksey can understand all the speculation, he says current production should be the focus here... not a possible move.

"Right now is not the time. We're not far enough along to be really worried about when all of this is going to take place," says Cooksey.

But he does believe that General Motors and the Bowling Green Assembly Plant will have a relationship long into the future.

"I think the chances of new products coming to our location is quite high," Cooksey notes.

So when he begins the process of cleaning out his office next march... Cooksey will be reminded of what he's told other GM retirees on their last day on the job.

"I always tell them there's life after General Motors, and that's what I'm telling myself," Cooksey says with a smile.

Cooksey will not be away from Corvettes for too long.

He'll be the "Chairman Of The Board" for the National Corvette Museum starting next year.

His replacement at the Bowling Green Plant is Paul Graham, who is currently the plant manager at the Fairfax Assembly Plant.

Graham has worked at a number of GM facilities around the country and in Mexico.

He will become plant manager in January.

 

[Zippy]

Wil has done an outstanding job, not only as the plant manager, but also as a wonderful spokesperson and good will ambassador the the Corvette marque.

Wishing him the very best in his retirement.

 

[Rob]

Wil has done an outstanding job, not only as the plant manager, but also as a wonderful spokesperson and good will ambassador the the Corvette marque.

Wishing him the very best in his retirement.

I agree. I never had much of a chance to interact with Wil until he came to our CruiseFest a couple years ago in Bowling Green with two other engineers to speak to our members.

He was personable, informative and at time, humorous with some of the stories he was telling us.

I'm going to miss him and I hope that he stays involved in the Corvette hobby and continues to make appearances at Corvettes at Carlisle every year.

 

[W i l l]

I wonder if flogging a new Z06 in the burnout contest at Carlisle this year had anything to do with his "retirement"?

Will

 

[XLR8]

I wonder if flogging a new Z06 in the burnout contest at Carlisle this year had anything to do with his "retirement"?

Will

You're kidding, right?

The test car Will "flogged" at Carlisle was subsequently returned and analyzed from one end to another, I'm sure.

I enjoyed meeting him at CF06 and like Rob, I hope he continues his involvement with the Corvette community.

Well done, Will! Happy retirement to you, sir!
Jane Ann

 

[W i l l]

I enjoyed the show. Proobably half the people were smiling and half were shocked. Just saying there are a lot of conservative stiffs in GM upper management (read "beancounters") that probably were not pleased.

 

[jrose7004]

We wish him well!

 

[Rob]

Paul Graham Appointed Plant Manager

Source: Bowling Green Performance Press

Wednesday, November 14, Plant Manager Wil Cooksey announced his effective retirement date of March 1, 2008.

The same day, General Motors announced that Paul Graham, currently assistant plant manager of its Fairfax Assembly plant, has been appointed plant manager of the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant, effective January 1, 2008.

Graham began his GM career in 1980 as a college student intern at GM Truck and Bus in Flint, Michigan. In 1986, he became an associate manufacturing engineer at the plant. He then moved on to become a supervisor of production in 1987 at the GM Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana. In 1992, Graham moved on to GM Baltimore Assembly in Maryland to assume an assistant superintendent of maintenance position, and over the years held positions of increasing responsibility at the plant before returning to GM Fort Wayne Assembly in 1995 to become an area manager of the body shop. In 1997, Graham expatriated to Guanajuato, Mexico to assume a platform program manager position with GM of Mexico. In 2000, he returned to the United States and was appointed assistant plant manager of the GM Shreveport Assembly plant in Louisiana. In 2005, Graham was appointed assistant plant manager of the GM Oklahoma City facility. He was appointed to his current position in 2006.

 

[Electronc5]

Cooksey retirement

Wills' retirement, I'm sure, will be filled with many happy moments..It was great to have a real Vette enthusiast at the helm. I can only hope his successor will be as personable and informed. You made us proud both as a Vette guy and as an example of what intelligence and hard work can do to overcome odds.

 

[MarkP]

’Vette plant boss to retire


Leader says it’s good to go out on top


By AMEERAH CETAWAYO, The Bowling Green Daily News, acetawayo@bgdailynews.com/783-3246
Thursday, November 15, 2007 12:10 PM CST


Wilmer “Wil” Cooksey, general manager of the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant, will retire in March.

Paul Graham, who is currently assistant plant manager of GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kan., will succeed Cooksey on Jan. 1.

Beginning his career as an assistant professor in industrial engineering at General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich., Cooksey rose through the ranks of several GM facilities. He took over as Corvette plant manager in February 1993, following the tenure of Paul Schnoes.

Cooksey said now is the best time to leave - following the successful implementation of GM’s new global manufacturing system at the plant, as well as recent negotiations with the United Auto Workers union that secured local jobs and future production of the Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac XLR.

“It’s great to go out when you’re on top (rather) than when you’re struggling,” he said. “Basically when I look at where I am today, my plant here in Bowling Green is in the best position than it’s ever been in.”

Looking back at 1993 - when Cooksey was brought in after serving in Fairfax, Doraville and St. Louis assembly plants - he saw an operation that needed a reality check or was otherwise on the verge of closing.

Before everyone was acutely aware that changes had to be made, Cooksey rolled up his sleeves to address the concerns from upper management - concerns many employees weren’t even aware of.

“You would be amazed at some people’s thoughts that some people thought everything was fine or OK and not really realizing what home office thought,” Cooksey said.

Under Cooksey’s leadership, the plant saw $30 million in changes before the Corvette C5 was launched. A new cleaning room apparatus and auto storage retrieval system decreased painting defects and cut down the time it took to fix cars with paint problems. Cooksey also started using the concepts of “lean manufacturing” in 1994 to revamp workplace standards and was met with some opposition.

But what was once a pocket of resistance to implementing GM’s concepts of lean manufacturing - eliminating waste, keeping costs in line and other values - ended up being a shining star for both Cooksey and the plant.

A recent corporate audit that gauged employees’ level of understanding on operating in a global manufacturing system showed 83 percent proficiency - better than all of GM’s other plants in North America, he said.

“We ended up being number one in the corporation right here in Bowling Green, Ky.,” Cooksey said. “We’re looking at being 100 percent next go-round. You never go back, you keep focusing forward. We don’t have the low hanging fruit anymore, you have to go way up high on the tree.”

Cooksey said what he will miss the most is the people he’s worked for and with.

The Fort Worth, Texas, native describes himself as a tolerant leader who listens to people and makes decisions based on loads of information he gathers.

When Cooksey noticed many of the employees were driving cars made by GM’s competitors, he established a parking lot for non-GM vehicles in the back of the plant. He wanted to send a message.

“Somehow, I had to give them some awareness on how serious it is to support the company.”

Eldon Renaud was bargaining chairman for UAW Local 2164 when Cooksey arrived. Now in his role as president of the union, he said the future is brighter because of Cooksey’s efforts.

“I think he’s a pioneer in the automobile industry. He worked closely with the UAW to build a world-class work environment in Bowling Green,” Renaud said.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Hizer said that within the GM family, the Corvette has been a true success story - just as it’s been for Bowling Green and for much of southcentral Kentucky.

“Much of that success is due to the family and team atmosphere that Wil has brought to the Bowling Green facility, and I can say that those of us at the chamber will miss working with him very much and we wish him well in his retirement,” Hizer said. “If this facility here grows as some are predicting, then that would be a fitting legacy for Wil.”

Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker, meanwhile, said Cooksey is a man who “brings people together to achieve” and is committed to the local community.

“He encourages his people to excel,” Walker said. “We’re going to miss him.”

Cooksey said he will remain in Bowling Green and continue serving in leadership positions for several local organizations, including the boards of the National Corvette Museum, Greenview Hospital, Tennessee State University’s Foundation Board of Trustees (he completed his undergraduate work there in 1965), Western Kentucky University’s School of Business Advisory Board and the WKU College of Education and Behavioral Science.

Cooksey can also be seen as GM’s representative for ads in Ebony and Essence magazines in support of the company’s diversity efforts.

In retirement, Cooksey plans to increase his pursuit of his hobbies, which include drag racing and flying airplanes. Although he plans to squeeze in 25 days of vacation before he officially hangs up the reins in March, he said he looks forward to spending much more time with his wife, Elizabeth, a professor at WKU, his two children, David and Crissy, and three grandchildren, J.D., Katrina and Kieara.

— A retirement celebration will be held March 7 at the Sloan Convention Center for Cooksey and his family.

 

[catbert]

There comes a time when it's best to walk away. I hope retirement is kind to him.

 

[hzl6cm]

Paul Graham has been the Assistant Plant Manager at the Plant where I work (GM Fairfax assembly in Kansas City, KS) for several years and has been a good guy to work with, he should do well at Bowling Green. As an interesting note, Wil Cooksey was also the Assistant Plant Manager at Fairfax right before transfering to Bowling Green.