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Mike Pennington's Lifetime of Achievement Recognized by TWNA

Louisville, KY, March 27, 2008 – D. Mike Pennington, ArvinMeritor's Senior Director of Global Marketing Communications & Industry Relations for Commercial Vehicle Systems, was awarded this year's Lifetime Achievement Award by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) at the group's annual banquet at the 2008 Mid-America Trucking Show. This is the highest award bestowed by TWNA.

After earning a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis, Pennington began his trucking industry career on the editorial staff of Memphis-based Southern Motor Cargo, a regional trucking magazine. He rose to the top editorial position of that publication where he quickly earned the respect of his fellow editors and, more importantly, learned what is needed by trade press editors as they develop articles about the trucking industry and the equipment used by truckers.

Pennington still enjoys the highest respect of the entire trucking trade press industry, both publishers and editors alike. He continues to utilize his understanding of editorial needs to not only satisfy, but anticipate, the needs of trade press editors as they develop articles related to ArvinMeritor products and the company's business philosophies.

Pennington left the editorial ranks in 1985 and joined ArvinMeritor, when it was still Rockwell Automotive, as manager of product publicity and business relations. He rose over the years to be the Director of Marketing Communications-Americas before he was appointed to his present position. He is currently responsible for the company's Commercial Vehicle Systems (both commercial truck OE production and aftermarket) strategic marketing communications initiatives around the world. Under his direction are all media relations and publicity, speech-writing, advertising, trade shows and exhibits, sales promotion and collateral materials.

Although it is only one of the many hats he wears, that of media relations and publicity is one he wears with unique distinction. Among trucking journalists, when they chat about corporate public relations managers, it's he who is the standard. Everyone else needs to be qualified by the question, "Is he or she as good as Mike?" Since few, if any, have ever been rated better, it seems everybody is comfortable looking, or striving, to be second best.

While this is the first time TWNA has awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to anyone but a working journalist, there has been wide spread agreement in the selection of Pennington's. Bob Deierlein, the recipient of the first Lifetime Achievement Award, said, "If anyone deserves this award it's Mike. His devotion to both his work and his family makes him head and shoulders over anyone in the industry."

Tom Gelinas, a co-founder of TWNA, said, "Mike is the personification of a professional. You can be confident knowing that he will do what he says he will do. He will also tell what he can't do. That's not common in this industry."

In addition to excellence in journalism and service to TWNA, recipients of the TWNA Lifetime Achievement Award have a well-established record of working with other industry organizations, and of sharing their knowledge, skills, contacts and resources for the general improvement of trucking industry communications.

TWNA is an organization of professionals who are involved in gathering, writing and reporting news and information about trucks, trucking and the trucking industry. Membership is composed of writers, editors, freelance journalists, public relations and communications specialists, sales and marketing personnel, and others involved in the business of producing information related to the world of trucking.

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