GM official praises fundraisers for success in tight economy

By William K. Alcorn

The 2007 campaign raised $2.8 million — $100,000 short of its goal

BOARDMAN — “I can’t commit to any new product” for the Lordstown General Motors complex, said Mark R. LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing.

But LaNeve, the featured speaker at Thursday’s Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way annual meeting, said the consumer trend toward buying more fuel-efficient vehicles is good for the Lordstown plant.

Lordstown makes the fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cobalt, of which 18,636 were sold in April, 25 percent more than in April 2007; and the Pontiac G5, which also saw an 11 percent increase in sales in April 2008 over the same month in 2007.

“I can say that with the change in the market, our intent is to strengthen our position in fuel-efficient cars and crossover vehicles and at the same time defend our truck business,” which LaNeve said is suffering because of high fuel prices.

The entire U.S. auto industry is challenged by high fuel prices and the housing industry credit problem, which is negatively affecting consumer confidence, said LeNeve, who grew up in nearby Beaver Falls, Pa., the son of a steel worker.

He said GM’s business is booming globally, in such countries as Brazil, Russia, India, China and Korea. But, he said, “we have to make sure we build things in America and to keep our country strong.”

“Our greatest challenge is to change the incorrect perception that GM does not make quality, fuel-efficient vehicles,” LeNeve said.

He congratulated the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way for raising $2.8 million during its 2007 campaign in a tough economy, and praised Douglas Sweeney, chairman of the campaign, for having the dealership with the second-best sales in the U.S. among stores with all three GM franchises, and for having Chevrolet franchise sales that consistently rank among the top 40 in sales in the U.S.

Sweeney said that though the 2007 campaign fell $100,000 short of its $2.9 million goal, he was “satisfied we worked as hard as we could,” and thanked the volunteers and United Way professional staff for their efforts.

Donald Cagigas, United Way president, introduced Walter “Buzz” Pishkur, president of Aqua Ohio, as the 2008 financial campaign chairman.

William J. Besnahan of Hynes Industries was elected chairman of the Community Corporation and chief volunteer officer for the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way. The outgoing chairwoman is Mary Novak.

alcorn@vindy.com