2008 Women of Color Honorees
Professional Achievement
Kim Harris Jones
Senior Vice President
Corporate Controller & Auditor
Chrysler LLC
BBA–Accounting, University of Michigan, MBA–Finance, University of Michigan
Like most sectors, the auto industry has been hit by declining profits and high gas prices. “The job is hard
enough,” says Kim Harris Jones, senior vice president, corporate controller and auditor at Chrysler LLC.
“But I believe I have some responsibility to help lead.”
As the first black female to be named a vice president in Chrysler’s history, Harris Jones has made inroads
into an industry whose executive ranks have traditionally resembled an all-male club. Chrysler vice chairman and
president, Tom W. LaSorda, said he was “thrilled and proud” to see Harris Jones rise to corporate leadership. She does what
chief controllers do plus a lot more — financial analysis and planning, accounting and reporting, volume planning and internal
audit. Her organizational chart in corporate finance features 6 direct reports and more than 400 employees.
Her father was a General Motors assembly line worker and “a perfectionist,” she says. “He was so proud when I got my MBA.
He would expect that I would solve the auto industry financial crisis,” she says. Armed with grit, financial acumen, (and the faith
of her parents) Harris Jones is on a mission to help Chrysler escape the auto market’s doldrums and control costs over the next
year.
Research Leadership Research Leadership
Afrachanna Butler
Quynhgiao Le
Research Physical Scientist
Technical Fellow, Material & Process Technology
US Army Engineer Research & Development Center
Commercial Airplanes, The Boeing Company
Department of the Army
BS, MS–Chemistry, University of Washington
BS, MS–Biology, Jackson State University
PhD candidate–Environmental Sciences, Jackson State University Quynhgiao Le’s journey started in
Using plants is a big part of
South Vietnam. In 1975, her father,
Afrachanna Butler’s research to
a South Vietnamese military of-
prevent contaminants from spent
ficer, arranged for the family to
ammunition on firing ranges
flee days before Saigon fell. Aged
seeping into the soil. Butler’s
11, Le arrived in the United States,
work helps the Army maintain
where she learned English and
training schedules for soldiers,
discovered her math and science
and keeps contaminants out of
skills. Today, she heads a team
drinking water. Her three-year
that devises how to protect com-
study in the field of phytore-
mercial planes from electromag-
mediation — using plants that
netic effects, including lightning strikes.
clean up soils by absorbing the
“People in our field often focus on technical strengths and
compounds — has earned her
you need that,” Le says. “But key components of effective
the 2008 Research Leadership Award. Butler hopes to com-
research and development are skills like management, ac-
plete her doctoral degree requirements by 2009, and plans to
counting, and mentoring.”
publish an article in a scholarly journal. Writing isn’t easy for
a [self-described] lab rat, she says, “But I’m getting better.”
Supervisors cite her role as principal investigator on a project
To date, she has authored or co-authored four peer-reviewed
to protect the 787 from lightning. “She learned what she
articles and presented at several professional conferences.
needed, built a successful cross-functional team, and worked
Butler, 30, discovered her inner rodent in high school science
hard as a contributor and program manager,” wrote Diane
classes in Mississippi. In 2000, she graduated from Jackson
Heidlebaugh, senior manager, electromagnetic effects tech-
State University, and soon began work as a contract student
nology, Boeing Phantom Works.
and researcher for the US Army Engineer Research and De-
Le makes special mention of a project to replace cleaning
velopment Center in Vicksburg. Butler also mentors college
solvents containing Freon [DuPont’s trade name for a refriger-
students at work. “I make them feel comfortable about asking
ant product] with alternatives that complied with Environmental
questions, and strive to lead by example,” she says. And
Protection Agency laws. “The work made me proud because
when she has the opportunity, Butler mentors college and
of its impact on the environment, on people, and the industry,”
community dance teams.
says Le.
www.womenofcolor.net WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2008 35
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