By Jenn McKeogh, senior manager, GM News
If you work in the automotive business, you know the importance – and status – that comes with the role of chief engineer. These professionals lead the charge in the development of new vehicles and technologies, ensuring high standards and groundbreaking advancements.
At General Motors, the engineering team behind Chevrolet’s entire all-electric vehicle portfolio is led by four talented women. Together, they exemplify how women in science, technology, engineering, art, and math – or STEAM – are shaping the next generation of automobiles.
Marisa Cullens: Blazer EV
Michigan native Marisa Cullens began her automotive career at Kettering University, formerly the General Motors Institute, where she first experienced what a GM career at GM could be.
“My grandfather worked for GM as a chief engineer, and also went to GMI,” she says. “Growing up, my dad always told me about my grandfather’s rewarding GM career. I don’t think he ever had any idea how closely I would be following in his footsteps.”
Cullens went on to earn both a master's degree in engineering science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business, setting her up for a diverse career with roles in body and exterior engineering, safety performance, and validation, as well as corporate accounting.
She joined GM's program team in 2019, where she spent time living in Shanghai, while traveling frequently to Yantai, Seoul, Ramos, and San Luis Potosi to launch GM's vehicles. In 2022, she took on her current assignment: chief engineer for the Chevy Blazer EV.
Kristin Cermak: Equinox EV
Born and raised in Michigan, Kristin Cermak has deep family roots in the automotive industry stemming from her mom and grandparents. Her 17-year career at GM includes three summers as an intern while earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in global automotive manufacturing engineering at the University of Michigan. She later earned her MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Cermak has held numerous roles across manufacturing engineering, operations, product engineering and GM’s aerodynamic and climatic wind tunnels. She’s supported vehicle launches across the Chevy portfolio, including the Chevy Volt, Silverado, and Corvette C8.
“It’s so rewarding to see a vehicle you worked on driving down the road and know you had a part in bringing it to the customer,” Cermak says. “Our customers are the reason I do what I do every day.”
In 2021, Cermak became chief engineer in global electric propulsion systems, working on GM’s EV battery platforms. A few years later, she accepted her current position as chief engineer for the Chevy Equinox EV.
Joan Petit: Chevy BrightDrop 400 and 600
An Indiana native, Joan Petit earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue before adding a master's degree in energy systems engineering from the University of Michigan. While she hadn’t originally envisioned herself working at an automaker, Petit says she’s always had an interest in consumer products - and that led her to a career at GM.
“It amazes me how much coordination and teamwork it takes to develop, build and launch a vehicle – and they keep getting better and more advanced,” she says. “Figuring out what our customers want and how to delight them is what excites me every day.”
In her 17 years at GM, Petit has held positions in transmission engineering, program engineering, and quality management. She supported the launch of the all-electric Cadillac LYRIQ before taking her current role as chief engineer for the Chevy BrightDrop 400 and 600 electric delivery vans in 2024.
Kathy Gillespie: Silverado EV
A Michigan native born into a GM family, Kathy Gillespie was drawn to the work at the company after seeing the “cool cars” her GM employee dad brought home. She joined GM in 1990 as a summer intern and has held engineering positions across many different product teams ever since.
Over her long career at GM, Gillespie has played many roles: integrating GM's first adaptive cruise control system; integrating high voltage batteries on the Chevrolet Volt; and serving as chief engineer at BrightDrop. In 2023, she became chief engineer for the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
Just last month, Gillespie took on a new challenge: she’s now chief engineer for Cadillac CELESTIQ, an ultra-luxury, hand-built electric sedan
"Having the opportunity to work on different vehicles and technologies continues to fuel my curiosity to this day,” Gillespie said. “The teams I've worked with have so much talent and passion, it’s no surprise that we deliver such captivating products.”
Learn more about careers in GM engineering at careers.gm.com.
If you work in the automotive business, you know the importance – and status – that comes with the role of chief engineer. These professionals lead the charge in the development of new vehicles and technologies, ensuring high standards and groundbreaking advancements.
At General Motors, the engineering team behind Chevrolet’s entire all-electric vehicle portfolio is led by four talented women. Together, they exemplify how women in science, technology, engineering, art, and math – or STEAM – are shaping the next generation of automobiles.
Marisa Cullens: Blazer EV
Michigan native Marisa Cullens began her automotive career at Kettering University, formerly the General Motors Institute, where she first experienced what a GM career at GM could be.
“My grandfather worked for GM as a chief engineer, and also went to GMI,” she says. “Growing up, my dad always told me about my grandfather’s rewarding GM career. I don’t think he ever had any idea how closely I would be following in his footsteps.”
Cullens went on to earn both a master's degree in engineering science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business, setting her up for a diverse career with roles in body and exterior engineering, safety performance, and validation, as well as corporate accounting.
She joined GM's program team in 2019, where she spent time living in Shanghai, while traveling frequently to Yantai, Seoul, Ramos, and San Luis Potosi to launch GM's vehicles. In 2022, she took on her current assignment: chief engineer for the Chevy Blazer EV.
Kristin Cermak: Equinox EV
Born and raised in Michigan, Kristin Cermak has deep family roots in the automotive industry stemming from her mom and grandparents. Her 17-year career at GM includes three summers as an intern while earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in global automotive manufacturing engineering at the University of Michigan. She later earned her MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Cermak has held numerous roles across manufacturing engineering, operations, product engineering and GM’s aerodynamic and climatic wind tunnels. She’s supported vehicle launches across the Chevy portfolio, including the Chevy Volt, Silverado, and Corvette C8.
“It’s so rewarding to see a vehicle you worked on driving down the road and know you had a part in bringing it to the customer,” Cermak says. “Our customers are the reason I do what I do every day.”
In 2021, Cermak became chief engineer in global electric propulsion systems, working on GM’s EV battery platforms. A few years later, she accepted her current position as chief engineer for the Chevy Equinox EV.
Joan Petit: Chevy BrightDrop 400 and 600
An Indiana native, Joan Petit earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue before adding a master's degree in energy systems engineering from the University of Michigan. While she hadn’t originally envisioned herself working at an automaker, Petit says she’s always had an interest in consumer products - and that led her to a career at GM.
“It amazes me how much coordination and teamwork it takes to develop, build and launch a vehicle – and they keep getting better and more advanced,” she says. “Figuring out what our customers want and how to delight them is what excites me every day.”
In her 17 years at GM, Petit has held positions in transmission engineering, program engineering, and quality management. She supported the launch of the all-electric Cadillac LYRIQ before taking her current role as chief engineer for the Chevy BrightDrop 400 and 600 electric delivery vans in 2024.
Kathy Gillespie: Silverado EV
A Michigan native born into a GM family, Kathy Gillespie was drawn to the work at the company after seeing the “cool cars” her GM employee dad brought home. She joined GM in 1990 as a summer intern and has held engineering positions across many different product teams ever since.
Over her long career at GM, Gillespie has played many roles: integrating GM's first adaptive cruise control system; integrating high voltage batteries on the Chevrolet Volt; and serving as chief engineer at BrightDrop. In 2023, she became chief engineer for the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
Just last month, Gillespie took on a new challenge: she’s now chief engineer for Cadillac CELESTIQ, an ultra-luxury, hand-built electric sedan.
"Having the opportunity to work on different vehicles and technologies continues to fuel my curiosity to this day,” Gillespie said. “The teams I've worked with have so much talent and passion, it’s no surprise that we deliver such captivating products.”
Learn more about careers in GM engineering at careers.gm.com.