Society of Automotive Analysts

SAA Motoring Minds Featuring Motor Trend's Frank Markus
2026-08-11 13:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit)
Join SAA Motoring Minds, a free series for automotive professionals and enthusiasts. Each session explores the latest industry trends and innovations with expert-led discussions. This is a Zoom event, but a recording will be available.
Motoring Minds is hosted by Adam Bernard, SAA President and Founder of AutoPerspectives (Adam Bernard | LinkedIn). The next episode will feature Frank Markus, who will discuss the hottest and coolest automotive technologies, from super-efficient electric motors to innovative HMI solutions.
Adam’s special guest:
Frank Markus
Technical Director, Motor Trend
Frank received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1985 and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan in 1987. He spent six years with the Chrysler Corporation, in Vehicle Development engineering and Advance Vehicle Packaging engineering. Frank has no formal journalism training, but his love of cars and travel led him to join Car and Driver magazine in April 1991 as Technical Editor. In 2003, Frank joined the staff of Motor Trend Magazine as Technical Director, working out of the Detroit area and responsible for editing all magazine content for technical accuracy.

Attendance is free, but please let us know you are joining us.

Precision Laser-Timed Autocross Competition and Dinner: Take the Wheel -- You're the Driver
2026-08-27 16:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | M1 Concourse, 1 Concourse Drive, Pontiac, Michigan, 48341, United States
The most popular (and fun) YPN event of the year returns on August 27th when YPN members will get a chance to compete and network at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, MI — the ultimate destination for automotive enthusiasts and Michigan’s premier motorsports and entertainment venue.
Attendees will compete in a laser-timed Autocross Competition, a precision driving challenge held on the facility’s massive 2.5-acre asphalt “Arena.” Drivers weave through a cone-marked, technical course to compete against the clock and their peers. Click here to watch the Autocross Experience.
Following the Autocross Competition, YPN members will meet at Tom McDonald’s garage for networking and dessert.
Schedule of activities:

4:30 pm – Arrival
5-7 pm – Autocross Competition and Dinner
7-8 pm – Networking and Dessert at Tom McDonald’s Garage

Sponsored by:

No fee for YPN Members. Click here to become a member.

Coffee Break: AI in Auto -- Navigating the Path Forward
2026-09-08 11:00 - 11:15 (America/New_York)
As pressure to adopt AI continues to grow, automotive leaders are working to separate hype from practical application. Join the experts from Plante Moran on September 8 for a brief discussion
on where AI adoption stands today, how organizations are assessing readiness, and what it means to build a purposeful AI strategy.

What are SAA Coffee Breaks?
We know your time is limited and valuable. SAA’s Coffee Breaks are 15-minute presentations on timely and relevant topics. SAA Coffee Breaks are free and open to the industry.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

The Road Ahead – Scaling Innovation in an Evolving Landscape
2026-09-17 07:30 - 11:45 (America/New_York) | FORVIA North America, 2800 High Meadow Circle, Auburn Hills, MI, 48326, United States
Hosted and held in partnership with:

The Road Ahead with FORVIA convenes senior leaders from FORVIA and the VC mobility community to examine how the global supplier is investing in emerging technologies to move them from innovation to scale, and how capital, partnerships, and transactions shape that journey.
Agenda
7:30 a.m. — Registration, Breakfast & Startup + Capital Showcase
8:30 a.m. — Welcome Remarks
Adam Bernard
SAA President and Founder of AutoPerspectives

Francois Tardif
EVP, FORVIA North America

8:45 a.m. — Panel 1 — Identifying and Investing in Automotive Innovation
From Prototype to Platform: How Industrial Technologies Are Funded and Scaled
Moderator:
Jamie Butters
Founder of Butters Bureau and host of Autotown

Panelists:

Colleen Haley
President, Seating North America, FORVIA

Andrew Bates
Vice President, Automated Driving, FORVIA HELLA

Ben Cohen
Vice President, HELLA Ventures

Chad Durkee
Technology Scouting Director, North America, Faurecia

9:45 a.m. — Refreshment & Networking Break
10:00 a.m. — Fireside Chat — M&A, Investments, Exits and Scale
This session covers evolving buyer and investor dynamics, technology investment criteria, common industrial M&A pitfalls, and how early capital decisions shape eventual exits.
Moderator: Jamie Butters, Founder of Butters Bureau and host of Autotown
Panelists:

Chris Stallman
Fontinalis – Early-stage Venture Capital Investor

Nancy Philippart
General Partner and Co-Founder, BELLE Funds

TBD, Private Equity Fund Investor

10:50 a.m. — Financing the Industrial Technology Lifecycle
A conversation with the startups and manufacturing innovations that FORVIA is investing in.
Moderator:
Tom Kelly
CEO of Automation Alley

Panelists:

Kevin Mull
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Bedrock Detroit

Maxwell Reeder
Account Executive, Inbolt

Francis Beauchamp-Verdon
Co-Founder – VP & Chief Business Officer, AWL-Electricity

11:30 a.m. — Closing Remarks
Free for SAA members and media; $49 for non-members
