Sheri Hickok '00 is the recipient of the 2015 Kettering University Management Achievement Award. Hickok is the Chief Engineer at Next Gen Full Size Truck for General Motors. The Management Achievement Award recognizes graduates who have made specific contributions with positive and lasting effects in the field of management. The 2015 Alumni Awards Banquet will be held at the Troy Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48084. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the awards ceremony will follow at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person and table sponsorships, which include 10 seats, are available for $900. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Laura DiFilippo in the office of alumni engagement at 888-884-7741 or ldifilip@kettering.edu.

Sheri Hickok ‘00 didn’t originally come to Kettering University to become an engineer. Instead, she traveled 40 miles west from Imlay City to Flint looking for a stepping-stone towards her ultimate goal of becoming an architect.

“I was very interested in architecture but at the time, engineering was a thriving industry so my counselor recommended Kettering prior to architecture school,” Hickok said.

Hickok visited the campus, but started looking at other engineering schools, despite encouragement from her counselor and mother. So, she created a compromise with her mother, Hickok placed a “pie-in-the-sky” bet with her to help guide the decision. The bet: if she was selected by General Motors (GM) for a co-op position, then and only then, would she go to Kettering.

“I have no automotive background in my family,” Hickok said. “I just felt that it was a longshot that wouldn’t happen. It was a big name with a huge impact. Why would they hire me?  I was also in love with my 1992 white Chevrolet Beretta, so that may also have had some influence.”

The longshot became a reality, as GM was the first co-op employer to make Hickok a job offer and now, almost 20 years later, her career has taken-off and she remains with GM.

Combining Business and Engineering

Hickok graduated from Kettering in 2000 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She completed her co-op at multiple GM locations every year until graduation including the Mid-Size Car Division. She rotated from the test labs in Warren to the proving grounds in Milford. In addition, she has spent time in Germany, Belgium and the European Corporate Headquarters in Switzerland.

Between her multiple co-op positions, Hickok had the opportunity to work on testing the latch on the roof of the Corvette, designing bumper systems for mid-size cars, developing manufacturing tools for the Doraville Assembly plant, and validating European compliance regulations required for importing American vehicles into Europe. Hickok was able to combine all these experiences in her thesis. as she tied together the business and technical sides of engineering.

“My thesis was focused on how we take design, development and validation requirements and integrate them better from a timeline perspective,” Hickok said. “It helped me see how the business runs in addition to the individual technical design execution. This experience helped solidify for me the desire to work for such a large and complex company.”

Hickok joined the Validation Department after graduating, followed by stints in quality engineering, release engineering and development. In 2006, Hickok became the program manager for GM’s SAE “A World in Motion” program where she coordinated over 1,200 volunteers nationwide, including retirees, who went to third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms to design and implement hands-on STEM projects.

“Getting to work with volunteers, students, and the community was a phenomenal experience,” Hickok said. “This gets back to my passion for architecture. It was a very creative role that combined strategy and program management, in addition to the technical aspects of engineering.”

From there, Hickok was named the business manager for the Vice-President of Global Engineering, followed by Director for Global Noise and Vibration Center, Chief Engineer for the Cadillac XTS and Executive Director for Global Supplier Quality. Currently, Hickok is the Chief Engineer for Next Generation Full-Size Trucks.

“I’ve never set my goal on the next job. For me, it has more to do with being in a challenging assignment that provides growth opportunities, while positively impacting people and the business,” Hickok said. “The next job isn’t necessarily anticipated and sometimes is unexpected, but I have benefited tremendously with each change – personally and professionally. My best fits have been where I can combine strategy, technical learning and motivating a team to drive key areas of our business.”

Reflecting on Kettering

Hickok is the Alumni Reunion Chair for the Kettering graduating class of 2000, a leadership role that she never anticipated having as a senior in high school. Reflecting back on her time at Kettering, Hickok describes it as “foundational” for her professional pursuits.

“In thinking about what a student graduating college today would need or want from the seat I am in today, I can honestly say that Kettering provides an awesome opportunity,” Hickok said.

Hickok remembers Kettering for three specific things: opportunities provided by the co-op program, as it allows students to sincerely understand what they enjoy and don’t enjoy in the workplace; the career-enabling professional network that results from co-op; and the tight-knit campus community at Kettering that fosters personal, academic and professional growth.

“The long-term relationships you form with friends and peers is amazing,” Hickok said. “For example, Dr. Henry Kowalski was as much of a father figure to me as a professor. Kettering’s setup offered me a unique experience in a way that I am forever grateful for.”