Keynote Speaker - Susann Kazunas

Susann Kazunas

Primary Title: Vice President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Toyota Texas)

Susann Kazunas, is Vice President of Manufacturing at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Toyota Texas), located in San Antonio, exclusive home of the full-size Tundra truck and all-new all-hybrid Sequoia SUV.

In this role, Kazunas oversees the management of all manufacturing areas including the production assembly line and operations of the weld, stamping, paint and plastics shops.

Kazunas began her career with Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky, in 1998, where she served in a variety of roles at TMMK, primarily in the stamping and weld area. In 2012, she transferred to a production engineering role overseeing North American stamping activities related to new model and manufacturing improvement initiatives.

Prior to her current assignment, Kazunas worked in Toyota City, Japan at the Toyota Motor Corporation Commercial Vehicle Company. In her role, she led production engineering activities related before North American truck business. Kazunas became Vice President of Manufacturing at Toyota Texas in the summer of 2019.

Kazunas grew up in central Kentucky and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky. She later received a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Midway College. Kazunas was recognized as a 40-Under-40 emerging leader by Automotive News in 2014 and she received a Women in Manufacturing STEP Award from the Manufacturing Institute in 2015. This award recognizes excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and production.

Kazunas resides in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and youngest daughter. Kazunas is active in the community, serving as an honorary commander at Joint Base San Antonio and as a member of the advisory board for SA WORX, an organization focused on workforce development.