40 Under 40: Alves, Auslander, Bundy, Denton, Dinesh, Ekern, Evans, Feulner, Fishler

June 1, 2011

multipage

As in the past, we have reached out to retailers, vendors, distributors, buying groups and software developers to submit their best young talent. While we're familiar with many of the choices, we're delighted with some of the people who haven't been on our radar. Stay tuned throughout the next two weeks for more 40 Under 40 inductees, as well as some outtakes we’ve compiled from their interviews.

Vince Alves, 35

Executive Vice President, Scosche Industries, Oxnard, Calif.

Years in Industry:11 (not counting family dinner conversations and summers on the production line)

Education:B.S. in Economics, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Career History and Accomplishments:Alves has been instrumental in expanding his family’s business and product offerings. He spearheaded the development of Scosche’s new CE division, which competes in some of the toughest markets in the industry. Since he joined Scosche full time after college, Alves’ mission has been to grow its CE accessories line. “That’s been a rocket ship ever since,” he said.

Alves now fields a Scosche consumer technology line that includes freeKEY Bluetooth wireless keyboard for iPad, the flipSYNC II Keychain Charge and Sync Cable for iPod and iPhone, plus speaker docks, cases, skins, earphones, cables and accessories integrated with apps.

Beyond keeping the company on top of the newest CE technologies, Alves also handles national accounts. “I’m on a plane every other week telling
our story,” he said. “Its been really paying off.”

Proudest Achievement:“That we’re able to compete and grow our company in probably one of the most competitive markets on the planet—the iPod Apple accessory business—and at the same time maintain balance in the company, not losing sight of our core roots: the 12-volt stereo accessory business.”

Hobbies:“A few years ago the sales department all got into dirt bikes and they took me out once. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Ben Auslander, 32

Business Development/New Product Launch Manager, OnStar; Detroit, Mich.

Education:Michigan State, Bachelor’s Degree in marketing; MBA in global management/business development from Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, Ariz.

Years in industry:10

Career History/Accompishments:Auslander joined GM/OnStar after finishing undergraduate studies. Early on in his career, he served as GM’s Global Source Liaison in Seoul, South Korea, where he performed supplier evaluation, identifying and building a strong South Korean supplier base capable of providing high-quality, cost-effective engine-transmission components across GM’s global product line. Other positions at GM include senior buyer for OnStar and global development manager, a position he accepted after receiving his MBA.