Contacts: Anne Klebenow (865) 379-0127 anne_klebenow@denso-diam.com Bridgette LaRose (248) 372-8266 bridgette_larose@denso-diam.com Jack Helmboldt Senior Vice President DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. Jack Helmboldt is senior vice president of DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc., in Maryville Tenn., responsible for the body electronics division. He oversees the instrument clusters manufacturing facility, as well as a new manufacturing facility producing remote keyless entry, auto air conditioning control units, tire pressure monitoring systems and body control modules. Helmboldt joined DENSOÕs Maryville operations shortly after the company opened in 1989, where he began his career as a production manager in the Instrument Cluster Division. During that same time, he also became a member of DENSO Manufacturing TennesseeÕs executive committee. Four years later, he was named to the director position. In 1996, Helmboldt assumed responsibility of the companyÕs Starter/Alternator Division and was named vice president of the division one year later. In 2000, he returned to the Instrument Cluster Division where he helped secure numerous customer awards for quality, delivery and cost. Among the divisionÕs major customer awards: ChryslerÕs Pentastar Award and General MotorsÕ Global Award. In 2007, under Helmboldt Ôs leadership, the instrument cluster division won the nationÕs top lean manufacturing award, the Shingo Prize, for Manufacturing Excellence Ð an award described by Business Week magazine as the ÒNobel Prize for manufacturing.Ó One year earlier, the plant won the state of TennesseeÕs Platinum Shingo Award. The instrument cluster division quality circle teams (called kaizen teams) have produced six top winners in DENSOÕs annual North American Quality Circle Competition (those six winners later - more - competed at the global level, winning one gold and two silver awards). In 2005, the division had 60 kaizen circles with an 80 percent completion rate resulting in major cost savings to the company. The divisionÕs teams grew to more than 87 different kaizen circles with a 100 percent completion rate over the last three years. Prior to joining DENSO, Helmboldt worked with Plastiline, a point-of-purchase sign manufacturer specializing in mass production products for numerous industries, including the automotive industry. Helmboldt earned his bachelorÕs degree in Industrial Management from the University of Tennessee. He is an active member of the Bluegrass Automotive Manufacturing Association, where he served for as vice president for two years and then president for two years (March 31, 2006, to April 1, 2008). As an active participant in the community, Helmboldt has worked with the Special Olympics; numerous Chamber of Commerce committees; an advisory committee for the local Big Brothers-Big Sisters and the local Leadership Blount organization for the county in which DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee is located. He also served as president and vice president for the Knoxville West Hills Jaycees. DENSO Manufacturing TennesseeÕs other manufacturing divisions produce starters, alternators and electronics products, including safety devices. The company employs more than 2,500 people, of which more than 1,300 are in the body electronics divisionÕs two plants. # # # Helmboldt - 2