J Ferron
Author, Business Leader, and Innovation Expert
I was raised in an Irish family with five sisters. In high school, I was Editor of the school newspaper. My plan for a journalism career was trumped by an acceptance to the U.S. Air Force Academy. During those years I was an exchange student to the Luftwaffe Academy. After graduation and flight school, I volunteered for two pilot tours in Vietnam.
Life & Career Journey
Early Life & Education
I was raised in an Irish family with five sisters.
In high school, I was Editor of the school newspaper.
My plan for a journalism career was trumped by an acceptance to the U.S.
Air Force Academy.
During those years I was an exchange student to the Luftwaffe Academy.
After graduation and flight school, I volunteered for two pilot tours in Vietnam.
Those were followed by law school.
In D.C., I earned a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University National Law Center night school and simultaneously began a career in the automotive industry.
Early Career
I was an economist with the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA), lobbying and writing testimony and business guides for entrepreneurs.
There I formed consulting businesses as well as a 12-month academy for aspiring entrepreneurs.
I co-authored a global bestselling book, 'Betting on the Franchise - Car & Truck Retailing into the 1990's.' I also served on congressional advisory panels addressing small business tax issues, electric vehicles, and energy issues.
Research & Academia
I worked as a research associate in MIT's International Motor Vehicle Program (IMVP) that led to another global best seller about automotive lean manufacturing, 'The Machine that Changed the World!'.
J.D. Power
Our family was lured west to a small research company J.D Power and Associates where I was soon senior partner and Managing Director of the Tokyo joint-venture company.
I designed and led the company brand management process that quickly made J.D.
Power a trusted brand name around the world.
At J.D.
Power, I wrote monthly columns and published a review of industry practices, 'The Revolution in Auto Retailing' and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Northwood University in 1999.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
I was recruited to join PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) into a partner leadership role.
As America's Practice Leader I consulted with top executives around the world.
For nearly 15 years I led globally dispersed teams on product, manufacturing and distribution improvements.
I was invited to present point of view speeches around the automotive world.
One year I made twenty trips to Asia.
I co-authored two major thought leadership studies identifying the radical changes likely to occur in the automotive industry, 'The Second Automotive Century' as well as 'The Collaborative Imperative,' defining new automotive customer mobility needs.
I was the automotive contributor to several other business books, 'Customer Relationship Management: A Strategic Imperative in the World of e-Business' and 'Meta capitalism,' a best-selling book about the implications Internet driven changes on consumers and business.
Later Career
After retirement from PwC I was selected to be chief judge for the Automotive News PACE Awards for Innovation, the automotive industry's Academy Awards.
In this role, I direct an independent panel of 30 expert judges who annually travel and research to identify and validate the best 'game changing' technical or business model innovations.
I was awarded an 'Outstanding Businessman' in 2007.
I am Chairman Emeritus of the Society of Automotive Analysts and chaired Northwood University Board of Trustees for 4 years.
Present
Now I am leveraging my research abilities and love of history as a writer with two historical fiction novels and a variety of short stories underway.
Lynn and I live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
We travel and entertain between there and Jupiter Hills FL.
We both continue to be involved in local and national charitable efforts.
Between our sons Brady and Kevin, we have 5 grandchildren.
Personal Reflection
In sum, my life experiences were shaped profoundly by two choices.
The high school choice was to go to the Academy.
Then the later choice was to marry Lynn.
All the rest was more luck than any Irish kid from Ohio deserved.