Insight_3rd Edition_2_Schunicht

Third Edition | Marquis Who ’ s Who Insight 5 William Keith Cummins General Supervisor (Retired) Delphi Division of General Motors Brookville, IN www.marquistopexecutives.com/2020/07/16/william-keith-cummins How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? I started out as a supervisor, was elevated to a superintendent level and then was raised to a manager. Later, I was offered the opportunity to go to Portugal to run their plant. While I was there, a lot of trouble was happening with the company back in the United States. Due to my experience in Portugal, GM thought that I would do a very good job of going around the world to train people on production efficiency and inventory management, so that’s what I ended up doing. I was in a position that wasn’t affected by the changes in the company, but there were a lot of people who depended on GM that were let down, and that frustrated the heck out of me. What is the most important issue/challenge you are dealing with in your industry right now? My biggest challenge was dealing with some of the people in upper management. The union liked to work with me because I was asked about what went on and they knew that I was fair with people. How do you feel your industry has changed/evolved over time? Things are so different now. I was able to travel and work in Australia, India and China. I really loved meeting people of different nationalities because it opened up my perspective on life. I feel knowledgeable about the world and that has helped to shape my perspective about what is happening in the United States. What excites you the most about your industry? Meeting people across nationalities and getting to know, understand and appreciate different cultures. Alvin N. Eden, MD Pediatrician, Writer New York, NY How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? I continue to read literature and teach medical students, which are the best ways to keep up with what is going on. You have to keep reading because things are always changing. What are two key behaviors/personality traits that allow you to be effective in your role? Compassion and trust that you have to develop with a patient. You have to be sympa- thetic and not arrogant. What is the most important issue/challenge you are dealing with in your industry right now? The fact that HMO fees were never appropriate economically, so it became difficult with all of the different plans and Medicaid. How do you feel your industry has changed/evolved over time? When I started, we were primarily involved with infectious diseases, but over the years, more immunizations have been developed, so now we’re dealing with more behavioral problems. What new innovations or technologies do you feel will shape the future of your industry? I think that remote learning might become more effective. More medical care will be done remotely, too, but I don’t think that is going to be a very effective way to treat patients. Seeing someone physically is still extremely important and medical students who miss that will fall behind. What excites you the most about your industry? I believe that children are our most important natural resource. If I can help a child develop to reach their maximum potential, then I think I’ve done a pretty good deed.