OREANDA-NEWS. General Motors North America Manufacturing Vice President Gerald Johnson received the Black Engineer of the Year Award at the organization's science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, conference.

Some 3,000 conference attendees - students, educators and industry representatives - watched as recently named GM CEO Mary Barra, a strong supporter of STEM education, presented the BEYA career achievement award to Johnson, the first African-American to lead manufacturing at that level at GM.

Also at the 28th annual conference, retired GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson was honored with the BEYA President's Award, a tribute given only occasionally.

The three-day conference focused on networking and emphasized hiring of military veterans, a cause that Akerson, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, supported during his GM tenure.

GM's support of the BEYA STEM conference dates to 1988.