44 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP GARY L. CONVIS MANAGING OFFICER OF NORTH AMERICA MANUFACTURING (RETIRED) Toyota Motor Corporation Bainbridge, WA Gary L. Convis is a retired automotive executive who has celebrated over six decades of success. During his time in the industry, he played a key role in the expansion of Toyota Motor Corporation into the North American market in the 1980s and 1990s. His initial interest in manufacturing led him to the automotive industry, and he joined General Motors as a quality controller in 1964. He subsequently spent four years with Buick before beginning a 16year career with Ford in 1968. Mr. Convis made significant achievements at Ford, eventually becoming the youngest assistant plant manager in company history at that time. Mr. Convis left Ford in 1984 to become the general manager of New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors (GM). Driven by changes in the oil and gas industry that made small, fuel-efficient cars a market priority, he helped to restart a closed factory in California to fill a gap in General Motors’ existing lineup. Toyota then moved into this re-established plant, creating a new base for its American supply chain. Mr. Convis remained with the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. project until 2000, playing a key role in Toyota’s expansion and the establishment of its market presence and quality control processes in the United States. In 2001, Mr. Convis was named the president of Toyota’s Kentucky plant, becoming the first American president of the largest assembly plant for the company outside of Japan, an honor he considers to be a career highlight. His dedication to the company and embrace of its corporate ethics and high standards for quality led to him accruing additional responsibilities, including North American quality assurance, managing a new manufacturing plant locations team, and serving on the leadership selection and mentoring team. Recognizing his importance to the company’s growth over several decades, Mr. Convis ultimately became the managing officer of North American manufacturing operations in 2003. Building on his unique industry perspective and global manufacturing expertise, Mr. Convis went on to become the chief executive officer
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