By Abbi Gabli, intern, GM News
April Rios started her career at General Motors the old-fashioned way – right from the beginning. Now a quality operations manager at the company’s Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, Rios has spent her entire career at GM. And it all started with an internship in 2003.
“Getting an opportunity with GM was a culture shock—but in a good way,” says Rios. “It made me realize there are other things out there.”
In that first experience at GM more than two decades ago, Rios worked in GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, in the general assembly area. She helped build job boards, laying the groundwork for standardized work on the line. “It was really cool because that’s the foundation for quality production,” she says.
That experience was followed by two more GM internships. And in 2006 she accepted a full-time role, turning an opportunity into a lasting career shaped by curiosity and growth.
The internship experience
Rios still laughs about her orientation day at New Mexico State University, where she studied industrial engineering. Before classes even started, her mother was bragging about her to anyone who’d listen. One of those people was Rosemary, the university’s scholarship coordinator.
“My mom’s just going on and on about how great I am. I’m not even sure she realized who she was talking to, but I was still embarrassed,” Rios says. “Still, Rosemary got some kind of impression about me.”
Two weeks into the semester, Rios got an email from Rosemary inviting her to apply for a scholarship. Within a month, she was awarded a General Motors scholarship. A few months later, an email arrived that would change everything for her: an offer for a GM summer internship with paid relocation and housing.
“A paid internship? In my freshman year? Sign me up,” says Rios.
So that summer, she was off to Fairfax Assembly, supporting the launch of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. She managed documentation and created job boards - an experience that gave her early insight into plant operations.
When she returned the following summer, her role shifted to the paint shop.
Her third internship brought a surprising turn. Rios had expected to land a full-time industrial engineering role at Fairfax after graduating in 2006, but there were no openings. Instead, she was assigned that final summer to the product development quality team at the GM Global Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. That experience gave her a fresh perspective on the company.
As Rios planned her move to Michigan, one piece of advice from her very first boss at Fairfax stuck with her: “No matter what, never forget this: that team member that’s on that assembly line, doing that job every day, day in and day out, they are your subject matter expert. Not the engineer. Not the group leader or supervisor. No one will know it better than that person. So never forget that if you want to know the real answer and know what the real problems are, go talk to that team member on the line.”
Career growth and flexibility
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Rios entered college with dreams of becoming an astronaut, but everything changed when she discovered her love for something closer to the ground: cars.
When offered a full-time role at GM after graduation, the company offered her some job options. And she chose to pursue a role on the plant floor, attracted by the hands-on, fact paced environment.
After starting as a quality systems engineer in stamping operations, Rios moved into leadership positions - quality systems coordinator at Flint Metal Center, quality group leader at Lansing Grand River, and quality assurance manager at Orion Assembly. Each role brought new challenges, growth, and a deeper understanding of the company.
Rios has reached a role she once dreamed about, playing an important role in assembly, and balancing her work and family life.
Driving impact at Lansing Grand River
In her current role at Lansing Grand River, Rios blends strategic planning with hands-on leadership, while spending most of her time on the plant floor.
“If somebody’s describing a problem, I have to see what the problem is because if I can see it, it’s easier for me to make a decision on a fix,” says Rios.
For Rios, the biggest reward is seeing the results play out in real time.
“The most fulfilling thing for me,” she says, “is knowing whether I had a successful day at work. Did we make our numbers? I can walk away with instant gratification.”
Giving back
Early in her career, Rios returned to her roots - mentoring interns, helping them onboard, and giving them a real view of GM’s operations.
It was a way to give back; to open doors for the others the same way hers had been opened.
Her advice for current and future interns?
“If you’re able to, don’t say no,” she says. “And don’t be scared of the plants. They are the heart of what we do at General Motors.”
“Stepping up” highlights former interns who’ve taken on full-time roles, offering a glimpse into how careers can evolve over time at GM.
April Rios started her career at General Motors the old-fashioned way – right from the beginning. Now a quality operations manager at the company’s Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant, Rios has spent her entire career at GM. And it all started with an internship in 2003.
“Getting an opportunity with GM was a culture shock—but in a good way,” says Rios. “It made me realize there are other things out there.”
In that first experience at GM more than two decades ago, Rios worked in GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, in the general assembly area. She helped build job boards, laying the groundwork for standardized work on the line. “It was really cool because that’s the foundation for quality production,” she says.
That experience was followed by two more GM internships. And in 2006 she accepted a full-time role, turning an opportunity into a lasting career shaped by curiosity and growth.
The internship experience
Rios still laughs about her orientation day at New Mexico State University, where she studied industrial engineering. Before classes even started, her mother was bragging about her to anyone who’d listen. One of those people was Rosemary, the university’s scholarship coordinator.
“My mom’s just going on and on about how great I am. I’m not even sure she realized who she was talking to, but I was still embarrassed,” Rios says. “Still, Rosemary got some kind of impression about me.”
Two weeks into the semester, Rios got an email from Rosemary inviting her to apply for a scholarship. Within a month, she was awarded a General Motors scholarship. A few months later, an email arrived that would change everything for her: an offer for a GM summer internship with paid relocation and housing.
“A paid internship? In my freshman year? Sign me up,” says Rios.
So that summer, she was off to Fairfax Assembly, supporting the launch of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. She managed documentation and created job boards - an experience that gave her early insight into plant operations.
When she returned the following summer, her role shifted to the paint shop.
Her third internship brought a surprising turn. Rios had expected to land a full-time industrial engineering role at Fairfax after graduating in 2006, but there were no openings. Instead, she was assigned that final summer to the product development quality team at the GM Global Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. That experience gave her a fresh perspective on the company.
As Rios planned her move to Michigan, one piece of advice from her very first boss at Fairfax stuck with her: “No matter what, never forget this: that team member that’s on that assembly line, doing that job every day, day in and day out, they are your subject matter expert. Not the engineer. Not the group leader or supervisor. No one will know it better than that person. So never forget that if you want to know the real answer and know what the real problems are, go talk to that team member on the line.”
Career growth and flexibility
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Rios entered college with dreams of becoming an astronaut, but everything changed when she discovered her love for something closer to the ground: cars.
When offered a full-time role at GM after graduation, the company offered her some job options. And she chose to pursue a role on the plant floor, attracted by the hands-on, fast paced environment.
After starting as a quality systems engineer in stamping operations, Rios moved into leadership positions - quality systems coordinator at Flint Metal Center, quality group leader at Lansing Grand River, and quality assurance manager at Orion Assembly. Each role brought new challenges, growth, and a deeper understanding of the company.
Rios has reached a role she once dreamed about, playing an important role in assembly, and balancing her work and family life.
Driving impact at Lansing Grand River
In her current role at Lansing Grand River, Rios blends strategic planning with hands-on leadership, while spending most of her time on the plant floor.
“If somebody’s describing a problem, I have to see what the problem is because if I can see it, it’s easier for me to make a decision on a fix,” says Rios.
For Rios, the biggest reward is seeing the results play out in real time.
“The most fulfilling thing for me,” she says, “is knowing whether I had a successful day at work. Did we make our numbers? I can walk away with instant gratification.”
Giving back
Early in her career, Rios returned to her roots - mentoring interns, helping them onboard, and giving them a real view of GM’s operations.
It was a way to give back; to open doors for the others the same way hers had been opened.
Her advice for current and future interns?
“If you’re able to, don’t say no,” she says. “And don’t be scared of the plants. They are the heart of what we do at General Motors.”
“Stepping up” highlights former interns who’ve taken on full-time roles, offering a glimpse into how careers can evolve over time at GM.