WHO WE ARE
Who We Are
NorthStar Vision's mission is to provide superior product strategy, strong business development guidance, and marketing insights to connect our clients with the right decision makers in Detroit, Stuttgart, Shanghai, and Silicon Valley. We provide customized strategies and advisory services to enable our partner clients to navigate the rapidly evolving automotive industry and most importantly win business.
Our team's background and experience ranges from high level vehicle engineering requirements (OEM perspective) to component level Tier 1, 2, and 3 experience in Product Planning, Product Development, Testing, Quality, and Manufacturing. We have experience with a wide range of Exterior systems including Lighting, BIW/Impact and Safety systems, Grilles/Bumper/Fascias, and we are highly specialized in sensing solutions for ADAS, AVs and how to integrate them into the vehicle.
We offer C-Level insights to macro decision making at the OEM and Tier 1 level, product development, application services, and a thorough understanding of the ADAS/AV Safety and Regulatory process to ensure your resources are most efficiently expended.
Give us a call today and see what we can do for you.
Our Leaders
Industry experts with a combined 75+ years of experience
We have an exceptional leadership team with a rich knowledge of the automotive and regulatory climate.
We’re committed to solving your unique challenges by making key connections, recognizing innovative new technologies, and helping implement your vision into the macro automotive environment.
Bill Grabowski
Bill has 30+ years with FCA, DaimlerChrysler and AMC/Jeep as a Product Development Sr Executive with experience in Planning, Manufacturing and Quality. For the past five years he has been involved at the Tier 1 level primarily in Lighting and sensing technologies. He most recently led the Innovation and Scouting activities for Magneti Marelli/Automotive Lighting and was involved in M&A as well as overall business development.
Celeste Monforton, Dr.PH, MPH
Dr. Monforton is an industry expert and extremely well versed in the US policy making. She has been active in dozens of rulemaking proceedings convened by federal agencies; provided technical assistance on the legislative and regulatory process to public advocacy groups; and testified on four occasions before Committees of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representative. A well known public health expert, she has been interviewed and quoted by numerous major media outlets including: National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Washington Post, Bloomberg Business, The New York Times.
Pete Grabowski
Since his addition to the NorthStar Vision team, Pete has been of tremendous help facilitating the continued success of the company. His exceptional hands on engineering skill set, deep understanding of the evolving connected mobility space paired with practical technical knowledge and creativity in problem solving has inspired the future Vision of NSV.
Account Executives
At NorthStar Vision, we understand that every company faces a unique set of challenges when expanding into new markets. That's why we take our time to carefully match your team with a principal that can best assist in accomplishing your goals. Our expansive network of highly qualified experts are ready to help you develop and implement strategies for not only surviving, but thriving in the automotive industry.
Meet the Executives
Senior Advisor
Raj Kawlra
Raj brings over 30 years of automotive industry experience, with significant contributions at Stellantis, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and General Motors. His most recent role was as the Head of Global Manufacturing Benchmarking & Innovation at Stellantis. Raj's expertise lies in global manufacturing, data analytics strategy, and lean manufacturing principles. His innovative approach and leadership have led to numerous successful initiatives throughout his career.
PhD, Industrial and Operations Engineering - University of Michigan
Master's Degree, Industrial Engineering - University of Illinois
Master's Degree, Mechanical Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Senior Advisor
Joe Kubina
Joe has 36 years of OE automotive experience in the areas of Chassis, Powertrain, and Program Management. Joe most recently led several performance SUV programs as Chief Engineer / Model Responsible for SRT Engineering. Joe has received 7 US Patents, and was awarded the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award for design of a new Jeep 4WD architecture.
Senior Advisor
Mike Bazzy
Mike has 20+years with FCA, DaimlerChrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Consultancy and Tier 1 suppliers including product development, business development, procurement and supply.
Mike is an outstanding asset to our organization and brings a wealth of expertise - both from the technical level as well as sales and procurement.
Senior Advisor
Mark Pagliaroni
Mark Pagliaroni is an automotive veteran with over 35 years automotive experience at American Motors, Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler and Beijing Benz DaimlerChrysler where he spent three years on assignment in Beijing China as General Manager of Procurement, Quality & Supplier Management. Mark is well-versed in automotive procurement and supplier management practices having overall responsibility for Chrysler Powertrain Purchasing and Mopar Purchasing during his tenure at Chrysler. He has vast experience with automotive consulting, sales & marketing support, global procurement, B2B ventures, mergers & acquisitions and post M&A integration efforts. Working extensively in Asia, Mark has gained a diverse practical knowledge of Asian business policy, strategy and practice.
Senior Advisor
Duane Spytman
Duane is dedicated to improving America’s ability to compete in a rapidly changing world. Through his work guiding Innovation in Action significant
growth, he has also managed thousands of innovation workshops for industry wherein the participants learn systematic innovation tools and apply them to their daily work. Duane's past responsibilities were at the Senior Management level for DaimlerChrysler and FCA in Product Development Engineering - Chassis and Body Engineering. He has also been on the faculty at University of Detroit Mercy.
BSME - Oakland University
MBA - University of Detroit Mercy
Senior Advisor
Bill Fedelem
35 years of Automotive Product Design Experience at Ford, GM and FCA involved in fuel management systems and chassis electronics. Most recently he spent four years as a business development specialist for Mubea Automotive.
BSME - University of Michigan Dearborn
MBA - University of Michigan Dearborn
Senior Advisor
Jeff Coote
Jeff Coote has 30+ years developing and deploying automotive electronics. For the past 15 years he has been focused on developing products that support Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD) including RADAR, LiDAR,Vision, and Compute Platforms for both traditional and non-traditional OEMs. Jeff has led global projects and has had assignments in the UK and Korea. Jeff has experience in global project management, extensive customer support: from business opportunity discovery through production launch and support, technology scouting, product roadmap development and maintenance, strategic technology partner management, M&A: due diligence through integration of acquired business.
Senior Advisor
Partha Datta
Partha has 28+ years with Stellantis, FCA, DaimlerChrysler,
Chrysler and Vinfast. He has held leadership roles as a
Product Development Sr Executive with experience in
Product Engineering, Design and Development, Vehicle
Integration, Global Engineering and Quality. Partha was the MD and CEO for India Operations for FCA before becoming the Senior Vice President of Engineering and R&D for Asia Pacific region and the Deputy CEO in charge of Global Quality for VINFAST. He has held leadership roles in Sales and Marketing, Planning, Global Engineering, been on Joint Venture Boards, network development, business development and has led a global Quality organization. He has worked in the US, China, India and Vietnam and led large multicultural global teams in legacy OEMs as well as a start ups.
Senior Advisor
Mark Nelson
Mark is an automotive product development professional with over 40 years of experience in Design Engineering, Program Management, and Product Development. At FCA, Mark held several engineering management roles including the Lead Engineer for the Dakota, Durango, and Aspen vehicle programs. His experience includes VP of Engineering for a Tier 1 supplier where he led the organization with Engineering Design Centers in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Puebla, Mexico, and São Paulo, Brazil to support existing customers as well as to develop new customers in North America and Europe. Recently, Mark supported electrical vehicle development and ADAS demonstration events in North America, Europe, and Japan.
BS Electrical Engineering Michigan State University
MSA Business Administration Central Michigan University
Senior Advisor
Tim Rogers
Tim has nearly four decades of experience in the automotive industry, has worked with leading OEMs including Jeep/Chrysler, Daimler, Mitsubishi, FCA, and Stellantis, excelling in product development and lifecycle management from concept to production. His expertise spans cooling systems, fuel systems, and body exterior, emphasizing quality, cost efficiency, and process improvement. A skilled leader, Rogers excels at team building and collaboration across various sectors to secure business opportunities.
His career highlights include leading the Engine Cooling Product Development Team, introducing innovative technologies that enhanced efficiency, reduced weight, and minimized noise. In Body Exterior, he pioneered the integration of sensors into windshields, balancing aesthetics with functionality, and spearheaded the adoption of high-powered brushless motors for cooling fans, setting new industry standards for cooling capacity and energy efficiency. Rogers is known for his strategic approach to product launches, navigating the complexities of innovation while adhering to proven practices and managing risk effectively.
Senior Advisor
Terry Gillay
Terry has 30+ years experience as a senior leader at Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, and FCA in Product Development responsible for the engineering/design, launch and maintenance of core vehicles as the RAM 1500/2500/3500. He is credited with bringing advanced software tools to PD by leading Dassault to enable Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) parametric rule-based design automation within CATIA. Terry has extensive background in Body, Chassis, vehicle architecture, benchmarking, Technical Cost Reduction, and Quality/Dimensional Control, and led these activities for Chrysler/FCA. In his last position for Stellantis, he was responsible for the advance engineering of all Body-on-Frame (Truck) vehicles.
Terry is a highly capable senior executive with great insights into the global OEM and Tier 1 automotive space and has a tremendous professional network around the world.
Senior Advisor
Bernhard Hoffmann
Bernhard Hoffmann is a visionary leader in the field of innovation and product development. With extensive experience in the automotive, aerospace, industrial packaging, and steel industries, Bernhard has a proven track record of driving large-scale transformations and product launches. His expertise includes program and project management, strategic planning, and financial management, with a strong focus on developing customer-focused solutions and intellectual property strategy. At United States Steel Corporation, Bernhard was instrumental in material development innovations, significantly reducing time-to-market and earning recognition from industry leaders like Toyota. He also transformed Dura/Shiloh Industries' engineering department, contributing to substantial company growth. Bernhard's leadership skills are further evidenced by his ability to build and mentor high-performance, multi-disciplinary teams. His education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona and postgraduate work at Technische Universitaet Graz, Austria. Bernhard's extensive experience and dynamic approach to engineering and technology make him an invaluable asset to our team.
Senior Advisor
Aaron Sudds
Aaron is an experienced Automotive Engineer and Business Development Director with 30 years in the industry, rooted in a family-owned AMC/Jeep/Renault dealership in Canada. Aaron is a self-confessed gear head with practical and theoretical engineering acumen. His engineering expertise spans electrical, electronics, manufacturing, testing, and mechanical roles, with a specialization in Plastics & Rubber technology. Aaron is skilled in advanced processes like Blow Molding, Injection Molding, and Extrusion, making significant contributions to SAE Detroit and SPE Detroit, and is on the planning committee for Plastics in Motion.
Focusing on Thermal Management and High Voltage EV technologies for the past eight years, Aaron has excelled in onshoring Asian Tier 1/2 companies to the USMCA region, transforming sales from zero to forecasts in the hundreds of millions. His knowledge extends to supporting custom magnetics, motors, pumps, thermostats, valves, clamps, and seat comfort systems, showcasing a broad capability in automotive innovation.
Subject Matter Experts
At NorthStar Vision, we recognize that navigating the complexities of the automotive industry requires not just broad strategies but also specialized knowledge and expertise. That’s where our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) come into play. With a meticulous approach to understanding the intricacies of your business, we connect you with seasoned professionals whose technical expertise and industry experience are most relevant to your specific challenges.
Our SMEs are not only veterans of the automotive sector but also innovators in their fields, bringing with them the insights and foresight necessary to guide your company through its unique journey. Whether it's engineering, market analysis, regulatory compliance, or emerging technologies, our network is equipped to provide deep dive consultations and strategic solutions that ensure your venture isn't just competitive but a step ahead.
Leveraging our extensive network of experienced engineers and executives, NorthStar Vision offers unparalleled access to wisdom and experience that can help bridge the gap between traditional automotive frameworks and the innovative approaches required by today's startups. Let our Subject Matter Experts be the catalyst for your success, helping you to not only adapt but excel in new markets.
Subject Matter Experts
SME
Rob Rudzewicz
Rob has over 35 years of automotive design experience at FCA with a primary focus on electrical engineering including electrical architecture, systems requirements, networking, diagnostics, and software at the senior manager level. His experience also includes work within the powertrain space regarding controller hardware development and most recently global controls program management. Rob is a certified Black Belt in Design For Six Sigma and an inventor/co-inventor on 9 US patents.
BSEE and MSCE – Wayne State University
MBA – Oakland University
SME
Mike Tonietto
Mike Tonietto, is a manufacturing engineering and operations executive with 37 years experience with the last 23 years as a Director, Plant Manager, and Global Manufacturing Vice President. Support and analysis skills in assembly, metal stamping, injection moulding, processing , quality and operating systems.
Mike has worked globally with assignments in Germany, Italy, and the UK and Canada with FCA, General Motors, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing.
SME
Henry Ziaja
As a Certified Reliability Engineer, Henry has 35+ years of experience in Automotive Quality and product design with FCA and DaimlerChrysler. His most recent assignment was as Director of North America Quality at Comau LLC. He is exceptionally proficient in program management, engineering design, manufacturing and quality systems, and has expert competency in root cause analysis, problem solving, and problem prevention methodologies. He is a proven leader in establishing and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement and is dedicated to the execution of APQP and PPAP processes. Henry has served as an adjunct professor of engineering at Lawrence Tech University.
BSCE – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
MBA – Ross Business School, Ann Arbor
SME
Gary Pitt
Joe has 36 years of OE automotive experience in the areas of Chassis, Powertrain, and Program Management. Joe most recently led several performance SUV programs as Chief Engineer / Model Responsible for SRT Engineering. Joe has received 7 US Patents, and was awarded the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award for design of a new Jeep 4WD architecture.
SME
Daryl Trate
Daryl Trate was born and raised near the Detroit area. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Wayne State University. He recently retired from the auto industry after spending 32 years working for Chrysler. Daryl spent his entire career working for Stellantis (formerly Chrysler and FCA) in the area of glass and glazing. Daryl started his career working as the technical support laboratory for Chrysler's own glass fabricating division, McGraw Glass. At the end of his career, he was the Technical Fellow within the organization responsible for leading all glazing development for the entire global company. He also held additional roles as Global Product Development Technical Lead for Glazing Product Development and Sr. Specialist for Glazing Materials. Daryl's experience covers all aspects of glass and glazing development ranging from new materials, glazing part design, sourcing and fabricator evaluation, part bending including fabrication and process development, component validation testing and final product launch. This wide range of expertise helped him build deep relationships with glass fabricators worldwide and a wide breadth of knowledge regarding the glazing industry.
Outside his work at Chrysler, Daryl has been a global glazing industry leader. He currently serves as the chair of the ISO committee responsible for glazing test methods and regulations. Daryl formerly chaired the US SAE Glazing Materials Standards Committee responsible for glazing materials and the Auto Innovators working group that provided technical support from the automotive industry on glazing regulations. Daryl has been the US delegate to the UN’s Working Party on General Safety (GRSG), which is responsible for the UN ECE Regulation 43 document and the development of the Global Technical Regulation on Glazing (GTR) #6.
SME
Pablo Valencia
Pablo develops solutions at the intersection of business and technical opportunities. With over 30 years of experience at General Motors his diverse track record includes strategic initiative implementation in manufacturing, product design, and product planning.
His diverse experience includes business turnarounds, technology transfers, and
manufacturing projects in USA, Brazil, China, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, and Mexico. Most recently Pablo led General Motors’ Advanced EV Cell Design and Release, Battery Systems Engineering and Analytics, Battery CAE and BMS Algorithm Development, Battery Service and Recycling, and Vehicle to Grid integration.
Capital Raise Consulting
At NorthStar Vision, we recognize the crucial role of informed decision-making in the success of automotive technology startups. Our team of Investment Experts is dedicated to providing insightful guidance that empowers your strategic planning. While we are not certified financial advisors, our expertise lies in making introduction to potential investors both VCs and family offices, offering comprehensive market insights and investment knowledge, crucial for navigating the complex financial landscape of the automotive sector.
Our Investment Experts come with a rich background in finance and technology, enabling them to identify trends and opportunities that are most relevant to your business. They are skilled in presenting a clear analysis of investment scenarios, helping you understand the implications of various financial decisions. Whether it’s exploring funding options, understanding market dynamics, or assessing potential risks and rewards, our team is here to equip you with the information you need to make well-informed choices.
At NorthStar Vision, our commitment is to support your venture by providing key insights and knowledge that complement your innovative endeavors. Our Investment Experts act as informers and enablers, helping you to confidently navigate through financial decisions, ensuring that your business is not only aligned with current market opportunities but is also geared towards sustainable growth and success.
Capital Raise Consultants
PhD, MBA, CFA
Dr. Jing Ling
Dr. Ling is an expert in the global capital market and an experienced investment professional. Over the last twenty years, he has managed billions in fixed income, equity, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds consequently. Prior to his investment, Dr. Ling was an internationally recognized engineering expert, published over 30 technical papers in various international journals.
Investment Guide
Mark Kudla
Mark is an expert in mobility based funds and fundraising with an eye for spotting startups which have what it takes to make it in the automotive industry. With years of experience in product planning, Mark has been on the other side of the table many times and knows what OEM and tier 1 customers are looking for our of an investment. Mark has the knowledge and skills to guide your company towards success.
Investment Guide
Chet Ricker
Chet Ricker is the managing partner of Chet Ricker 3, LLC, a finance, accounting, and business consulting firm started in 2022. Chet has 25+ years in corporate business, finance and accounting leadership as CEO, President, Managing Director, EVP, CFO, Secretary and Treasurer of various organizations. His responsibilities have included finance, accounting, tax, treasury, legal, IT, purchasing,
facilities, government compliance as Empowered Official and managing the US operation of foreign affiliates.
Before his industry experience, Chet spent 10+ years in public accounting, the majority with Coopers & Lybrand entrepreneurial services group, servicing international affiliates of European companies, and with the mergers & acquisitions and litigation support group.
Additional Support
Client Success Lead
Steve Hull
Steve Hull is the client success lead at NorthStar Vision. With a Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Oakland University, Steve brings strong communication skills and attention to detail to his role at the company. He is responsible for managing deployment of clients products into the market Steve's dedication to hard work and attention to detail make him an invaluable member of the NorthStar Vision team.
AI Systems Quality Engineer
Jacob DeWolfe
Jacob DeWolfe is a highly skilled computer science professional with a passion for problem solving. His expertise in bug finding and reporting, data collection and tagging for AI training, and system calibration make him an invaluable member of our team. Jacob's ability to assist with deployments and proficiency in writing macros to automate testing procedures have been instrumental in ensuring the success of our clients projects. His dedication to his work and attention to detail make him a valuable asset to our company.
Book Keeper
Marge Ricker
Marge Ricker brings 30+ years of business experience to our administrative team. With a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Wayne State University, Marge began the early part of her career in Accounting at Unisys Corporation and MPACT EDI Systems, Inc. After being introduced to business software and the implementation
process, she discovered how much she enjoyed training new users and troubleshooting their issues. As a consultant with Custom Computer Resources, Inc., she implemented and supported both Microsoft Dynamics and Acumatica business software solutions. She brings that same friendly and helpful spirt to our clients regarding billing and financial matters.