MIDLAND, MI — Northwood University’s annual International Auto Show returns Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, bringing hundreds of unique and rare vehicles for display to the mid-Michigan campus.
The 60th annual auto show on Northwood’s campus in Midland, billed as the largest outdoor student-run car show in North America, will feature more than 500 vehicles from over 65 manufacturers, vendors and private owners, according to a Northwood University news release.
This year, attendees will see a wide range of cars, including rare multi-million dollar hypercars curated from the Winkleman Collection that is owned by a Northwood alumnus and long-time supporter, a classic Corvette recently donated to Northwood by Dianne and Michael Morey of Mount Pleasant, and cars from the private collection of Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Automotive Group.
The theme for this year’s event is “connect.”
“We we want to inspire others to come together and connect with students and car fanatics from all different places,” General Chair Cole Briggs, a graduate student from Port Huron, said in a statement.
“Plenty of business opportunities and friendships are started with their first connections and the building of a network, and we wanted to incorporate Northwood’s role in that by connecting students and businesses alike; and bring people together at our positive family-friendly event.”
More to know before you go
The 2023 auto show will also feature multiple signature events, sports games, interactive booths and an opportunity to meet with Northwood’s student volunteers who run the show.
The opening ceremony is from 11:30 a.m. to noon Friday. The day show takes place from noon to 6 p.m., followed by the night show from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Auto Show Gala takes place Friday evening at the Midland Country Club.
Also on Friday, a VIP panel is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Northwood’s DeVos Graduate School of Management. It will feature Paul Bearden, regional manager of Honda; Nikki Paschall, marketing lead at Michigan CAT; Collin Shaw, chief operating officer for Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association; Lori Wittman, president of retail solutions at Cox Automotive; and Mike Schwab, president and CEO at NGK Spark Plugs USA Inc.
“The panel consists of a unique set of professionals who come from various backgrounds and have all found their own paths through their love of their industries,” Signature Events Chair Pietro Vitale, a Northwood student from Woodhaven, said in a statement. “Attendees will be empowered and inspired by these leaders — and our students will make new connections to help them succeed in their future.”
A Women in Automotive Roundtable is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Saturday in the McNair Center located in the Plaster Free Enterprise Center on Naegele Drive. The panel is sponsored by CDK Global and will be moderated by Northwood First Lady Mary-Ellen MacPhee.
The panel will feature “some of the most influential female leaders in the automotive industry,” including Susan Michaels, OEM & Partners Development executive for CDK Global; Alicia Thomas, vice president of acquisitions at Capital Automotive; Rita Bragg, vice president of acquisitions at Capital Automotive; Sarah Vantine, vice president of sales at Quantum5; Lisa Kusey-Rechsteiner, Graff Chevrolet partner/owner-operator; Heather Sattler, OEM sales at CDK Global; Jen Cole, vice president of OEM Business at CDK Global; Kathy Gilbert, senior director at CDK Global; Tammy Horner, OEM director of sales at CDK Global; and Diane Schmidt, program manager at CDK Global.
“Attendees will be able to connect and discuss business strategies along with market trends impacting the ever-changing automotive market,” Sydney Rizo, a Harrison Township student who is this year’s Auto Show signature events vice chair, said in a statement.
For guests ages 21 and up, alcohol will be served at Tavern 59 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at a stand at Northwood’s Hantz Stadium during the football game, and then from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Four Seasons space on the Mall Walk. That space will feature live music and a wood-side grill on Saturday. There also will be food trucks in the specialty lot.
The weekend-long event concludes with a Cars & Coffee to will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in the Hach Parking Lot.
Click here for a complete schedule of events.
More info
Northwood is a private, nonprofit, accredited university that specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at its full-service, residential campus in Midland. Northwood Online is offered in multiple states and online for students with transfer credits and work experience who are looking to complete their undergraduate degree.
In addition, the DeVos Graduate School of Management offers MBA and Master of Science degrees in Finance, Business Analytics, Human Resources and Organizational Leadership with day and evening, and online delivery options. And the Doctor of Business Administration program is delivered online, with a differentiated focus on leadership and business analytics using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. International education is offered through study abroad and at International program centers in Switzerland, China, United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka.
For more information about Northwood University and the 2023 auto show, visit auto.northwood.edu or find the Northwood University International Auto Show on Facebook.
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