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The 2007 Wharton Economic Summit ::
Keynote Speakers
W. Frank Fountain
W. Frank Fountain is senior vice president of External Affairs and Public Policy (Auburn Hills) for DaimlerChrysler Corporation and president of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund. Mr. Fountain is the highest-ranking African-American within DaimlerChrysler, one of the world’s largest automotive, transportation, and service enterprises, with more than 362,000 employees, manufacturing facilities in 34 countries and product sales in 200 countries.
He was appointed senior vice president in November 1998 and is responsible for developing and executing the company’s legislative agenda and political strategy with state and local governments for the United States. Mr. Fountain advocates the company’s public policy positions and all political issues involving the Chrysler Group, Mercedes Benz USA, Freightliner (Commercial Trucks) and all other subsidiaries of DaimlerChrysler, A.G.
Mr. Fountain also serves as president of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, the company’s philanthropic organization that supports the company’s leadership in corporate social responsibility for the U.S. and global activities.
Mr. Fountain spent the first two-thirds of his long career with DaimlerChrysler in finance. Since joining Chrysler Corporation in 1973 as an investment analyst, he held positions of increasing responsibility in finance and controlling — raising in the ranks to assistant treasurer for corporate finance and assistant controller for corporate financial control and reporting. In 1993 he left finance to become the executive director of Washington Affairs.
Mr. Fountain is highly involved in international and local industry and civic affairs with his leadership on fourteen boards of business groups and professional organizations including:
- The Corporate Council on Africa, Chairman
- Michigan Manufacturers Association, Chairman
- Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Chairman
- Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair
- Detroit Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vice Chair
Mr. Fountain also manages the company’s global corporate social responsibility efforts and represents the company on eighteen Boards that further education, diversity, and community vitality including:
- Hampton University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Africare, Chairman
- University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Board of Overseers
- United Way for Southeastern Michigan
- Museum of African American History
Mr. Fountain holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Hampton University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Bengal, India. In addition, he holds an honorary doctorate degree of public service from Central Michigan University.
Mr. Fountain currently lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with his wife Sharma (Wharton MBA ‘72).
