Speaker: Kevin M. Kirbitz, Director – Heritage Operations. General Motors Heritage Center, General Motors Archives, and Durant-Dort Factory One
Monday, Apr. 17, 2023
Durant-Dort Factory One, 303 W Water St, Flint, MI 48503
5:00 PM Social
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Program
Kevin Kirbitz’ engineering expertise, Buick pedigree and deep knowledge of General Motors have converged into an automotive historian’s dream job: witnessing the transformation of the 19th century Durant-Dort Carriage Company Factory One in Flint, Michigan, into a modern community resource that also honors the innovators and risk-takers who helped make GM possible. The newly renovated facility, once one of the largest carriage factories in the world, is considered the birthplace of GM. In addition to Factory One, Kirbitz was also named manager of the General Motors Heritage Center, formerly located in Sterling Heights, Michigan, but now in the process of moving to Grand Blanc, Michigan. The Heritage Center serves as a display location for a portion of GM’s impressive collection of historic experimental and production vehicles along with a large collection of original documents and artifacts spanning the company’s history.
Kevin Kirbitz currently serves as director of the General Motors Heritage Center in Grand Blanc, Michigan, which houses a portion of GM’s extensive collection of historic vehicles as well as the GM Archives, and the renovated Durant-Dort Factory One in Flint, Michigan, once one of the largest carriage factories in the world and considered the birthplace of GM. Kirbitz has put his stamp on the company through more than 43 years in manufacturing, quality, product development, and communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in manufacturing management from General Motors Institute, now Kettering University.