Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) President and CEO Anne Belec joined the board of directors of WestStart-CALSTART. She will serve as the first auto industry representative on the board of North America's primary transportation technology organization.

"Anne has a well-deserved reputation at Volvo for knowing what customers want, including safety and care for the environment," said John Boesel, the President and the CEO of WestStart-CALSTART. "Her automotive marketing and operational expertise will contribute greatly to WestStart-CALSTART's support of the clean vehicle industry."

Before joining Volvo Cars, Belec held positions like Director of Sales Planning and Distribution for Ford Motor Company, Network Business Development Manager and General Marketing Manager at Lincoln-Mercury Division and Worldwide Marketing Plans Manager at Ford. Additionally, she was famed as an exceptional auto manager. In 2005, she was nominated by Automotive News as one of the "100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry."

"Volvo has had a long and trusted relationship with WestStart-CALSTART," Belec said. "Both organizations are committed to protecting the environment while also providing consumer-oriented mobility options. I look forward to advancing the relationship between our organizations by joining the Board. Environmental sustainability is a core value for Volvo, and I will bring our strong interest in new fuels and technologies that promote sustainability, energy security and safety."

Belec holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. She also holds two BA's from the University of Ottawa - one in business administration and another in marketing. She has also served as Honorary Chair of the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction in Chicago, Co-Chair of "Volvo Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle" and hosts the annual Volvo for life Awards which recognizes hometown heroes.

VCNA, based in Irvine, Calif., is a subsidiary of the Volvo Car Corp. of Goteborg, Sweden. The VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the US, and oversees Volvo operations in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The company is famous in the manufacture of durable and safe product lines. As a fact, the automaker's parts accessories including Volvo 240 parts have etched milestones in the auto industry.

WestStart-CALSTART, a participant-supported organization, is composed of about 140 firms and organizations worldwide that is dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air. This group also creates jobs and bolsters energy efficiency.

The VCNA and the WestStart-CALSTART have had joint ventures for more than a decade. They have worked to promote knowledge about the highly successful Swedish biomethane program to industry and government leaders in California. VCNA's Science Officer has also served on the WestStart-CALSTART Technical Advisory Committee for about a decade.