GM Employees Earn Top Honors at Automotive News 2025 Awards
The automotive industry is in the midst of its award season, and General Motors (GM) is making a strong showing. At the 2025 World Congress, Automotive News—one of the most respected publications in the global auto sector—recognized four GM employees for their outstanding contributions, innovation, and leadership. The honors ranged across manufacturing, digital engagement, product development, and executive leadership, demonstrating the wide scope of talent inside the automaker.
Rising Star: Theo Lavergne
Among the honorees was Theo Lavergne, plant executive director of Flint Assembly, who received the 2025 Automotive News Rising Star Award. Flint Assembly, based in Michigan, is home to the production of GM’s heavy-duty pickups, including the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD.
Lavergne has been instrumental in managing significant upgrades to the plant. Most recently, Flint Assembly underwent a massive transformation in its electrical architecture—a task that might typically require production downtime. However, under Lavergne’s leadership, the switch was completed without halting vehicle production. This achievement underscored his ability to balance innovation with operational efficiency.
His results speak for themselves. According to Automotive News, under his direction, the Flint facility is producing trucks nearly 9% faster, all while maintaining high levels of quality. Lavergne, who started his GM journey as a college intern over two decades ago, emphasized the people-first culture that has shaped his leadership. “We have to be the best at building,” he told Automotive News. “For me, it’s doubled down on my belief in people, and being rooted in people and their abilities when we come together collectively and work for one common goal.”
Digital Storytelling: Amanda Kerber and Ben Bushen
Another fascinating story comes from the world of digital media. Amanda Kerber, now a content creator on GM’s Social team, earned the 2025 Automotive News All-Star Award alongside her former coworker Ben Bushen.
Kerber initially made her mark while working at Mohawk Chevrolet in upstate New York. In 2024, she launched a quirky, humorous TikTok series inspired in part by the sitcom The Office. The content struck a chord with viewers, offering a behind-the-scenes look at dealership life with a comedic twist.
One standout video, “Mohawk Goes to Corporate,” featured a surprise cameo from GM CEO Mary Barra—an appearance that hinted at Kerber’s future within GM itself. What began as a small local project soon went viral, garnering millions of views and attracting national attention.
By 2025, Kerber had officially joined GM, where she now produces digital storytelling across the company’s major brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick. She credited Bushen, who handled much of the filming and editing, for helping bring the project to life. Reflecting on the unexpected success, Kerber told Automotive News, “We had no expectations of this blowing up or going past the local community.”
Her journey highlights how modern automakers are embracing new ways of connecting with audiences, showing that social media creativity can sit alongside traditional engineering as a driver of industry recognition.
Innovation Leader: Adam Rodriguez
The 2025 Automotive News All-Star Award also went to Adam Rodriguez, GM’s executive director of product and autonomous vehicles. Rodriguez plays a critical role in leading GM’s work in autonomous technology, overseeing projects ranging from Super Cruise, the company’s hands-free driving assistance system, to efforts aimed at achieving higher levels of autonomy.
Rodriguez’s career path is anything but typical. Before joining GM in 2024, he held key roles in the tech sector. While working at Google, he helped develop the now-ubiquitous USB-C connector. Earlier in his career, he worked at a nonprofit organization, building solar-powered electric systems for rural communities in Cambodia.
Despite his diverse background, Rodriguez has always been passionate about cars. A graduate of Stanford University in mechanical engineering, he once spent a course dismantling and reassembling a Corvette LS1 V-8 engine. His time at Waymo, Google’s self-driving unit, gave him industry-leading experience in autonomous driving before he ultimately chose to move to GM.
“This is where I want to be, actually building vehicles,” Rodriguez said in his interview with Automotive News. “I get to sit in meetings, talk about what’s happening on new cars … It’s a happy place to be.”
His recognition reflects GM’s commitment to advancing technology while staying grounded in the excitement of vehicle design and performance.
Centennial Award: Mary Barra
The evening’s most prestigious honor went to Mary Barra, GM’s Chair and CEO. To mark its 100th anniversary in 2025, Automotive News introduced the Centennial Award, designed to honor individuals and families whose vision and leadership have shaped the industry in profound ways. Barra was among the inaugural recipients.
Her tenure at GM has been defined by bold leadership through transformative periods. Barra has guided the automaker through massive changes, from pushing electrification and autonomous driving to navigating global supply chain challenges and economic headwinds.
GM President Mark Reuss praised her ability to lead with both resilience and foresight. “Whatever hardship or challenge in a very challenging business—arguably one of the most challenging in the world—we always were aligned around creating opportunities out of that, instead of playing defense,” he told Automotive News. “And people don’t talk about that enough. That’s a defining characteristic of her.”
The award underscores Barra’s legacy as one of the most influential leaders in the modern automotive era, cementing her place in industry history.
A Moment of Recognition for GM
Together, these four stories—spanning manufacturing, digital creativity, cutting-edge technology, and executive leadership—paint a vivid picture of General Motors’ talent. From factory floors in Michigan to TikTok feeds, from groundbreaking engineering labs to the top corporate office in Detroit, GM employees are shaping the future of mobility.
