Donald W. Ableson
Donald Ableson is currently serving on the boards and committees of several charitable foundations. He retired on May 1, 2002, as Executive Director, North American Specialty Vehicle Activity, General Motors Corporation. In this capacity, he directed the development and production of over 100 vehicle programs.
Ableson spent his entire career at General Motors, beginning as a student in 1955 with the Fisher Body Division, while attending General Motors Institute (now Kettering University). Upon receiving his BS in Industrial Engineering, he joined the Works Engineering Activity of Fisher Body Division. He held several positions over the next 20 years, including Engineer-in-Charge; he directed the construction of new vehicle assembly plants in North America, South America and Europe, as well as the modernization and expansion of nearly every General Motors vehicle assembly plant and several parts fabricating plants. Ableson earned an MBA from Michigan State University's Advanced Management Program in 1978. He holds a Professional Engineering License in Michigan.
In 1979, he was named General Superintendent of the Livonia Trim Fabrication Plant in metropolitan Detroit, heading a team of over 3000 people.
In 1980, he was appointed General Superintendent of Manufacturing Engineering at Pontiac Motor Division, responsible for the development of all plant facilities and equipment to produce the 1984 Fiero.
In 1985, he was named Plant Manager of the Pontiac "G" Assembly Plant, responsible for restoring a "mothballed" plant to full speed capacity of over 1300 vehicles per day.
In 1986, he took on additional responsibilities as Plant Manager for the Pontiac Metal Fabrication and Axle Plants.
In 1987, he became Plant Manager of the Tarrytown Assembly Plant in New York, responsible for converting the plant to production of the new 1989 plastic-bodied minivan.
In 1990, he returned to Michigan as Program Manager of the Minivan Program; in 1993 Program Manager of International Vehicle Programs; in 1996 Program Manager of the Cadillac Commercial Vehicle Programs; and Director of Specialty Vehicles in 1997.
He retired in 2002 as Executive Director of Specialty Vehicles, where he was responsible for the development of Z-71 Chevrolet trucks, Cadillac limousines, government parade limousines, entertainment vans, and many others.
An active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers for more than 40 years, he is currently President of the SAE Foundation Canada Board of Directors; Chairman of the annual SAE Foundation Banquet; Chairman of the Capital Campaign Committee; member of the Ed Cole and Heinz Prector Awards Boards; and member of the Detroit Section Finance Committee. He is Past President (1999-2000) of SAE International and has served as Chairman of the Finance Committee; Strategic Planning Committee; SAE Foundation; Blue Ribbon Panel; Facilities Committee; Detroit Section; Sections Board; member of the SAE Board of Directors. In 2007, Ableson was elected an SAE Fellow.
Community activities have included:
- Chairman-Birmingham, Michigan Middle School Study Committee
- Member-Birmingham, Michigan Cable TV Study Committee
- Member-Board of Directors, Westchester County Association, New York
- Member-Board of Directors, National Bank of Westchester, Chase Manhattan Bank
- Member-Board of Directors, Westchester Community College Foundation
- Member-Board of Directors, Men's Association, Kirk in the Hills Church, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Chairman-Westchester Community College Foundation, Personnel Committee
- Chairman-Troop 1022, Boy Scouts of America, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Don's special interests include his family: wife Muriel, four adult children and their spouses, and nine grandchildren; skiing, hiking, wildlife photography and gardening, all of which he enjoys at homes on Walnut Lake in Michigan and in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In 2002, he was elected to the Yellowstone National Park Association Board of Trustees, and is currently serving as Secretary/Treasurer.