Local Toyota plant gets new president
Toyota Motor Corp.’s North American division appointed a new president of its vehicle plant in San Antonio, one of two promotions following the retirement of a senior executive.
Susann Kazunas, who had been vice president of manufacturing for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc., steps up as president, replacing Kevin Voelkel, who had been in the role since 2018.
Voelkel, meanwhile, was promoted to senior vice president of vehicle plants, responsible for production across North America, which includes operations in California, Indiana, Canada and Guanajuato, Mexico. He replaces Brian Krinock, who is retiring March 31, having overseen engineering and vehicle assembly across seven North American plants since 1991.
Kazunas will report to Voelkel from the San Antonio plant,
where the Sequoia SUV and Tundra pickup truck are built.
Toyota said in a statement the changes were “designed to drive continued growth” and “advance its commitment to vehicle electrification.”
“Over the past 20 years, I have been fortunate to be part of an amazing work family and community here in San Antonio,” Voelkel said in a statement. “It has been an honor to serve as president of Toyota Texas, and I look forward to the next step in my journey with Toyota.”
Kazunas grew up in central Kentucky and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky. She began her career with Toyota in Georgetown, Ky., in 1998. She began her San Antonio role in 2019 and has held several leadership positions since joining the company.
“When I started my career with Toyota, I immediately felt part of a company who is committed to the success and development of their team members, and that has certainly been my experience over the past 25 years,” Kazunas said in a statement.
Kazunas was recognized as a 40-Under-40 emerging leader by Automotive News in 2014 and received a Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award from the Manufacturing Institute in 2015. Locally, she’s a board member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and on the advisory board for workforce development group SA WORX.
Toyota broke ground on the South Side plant in 2003 and produced its first Tundra there in 2006. Voelkel joined Toyota in 2005 and “played an integral role” in setting up the plant, the company said during his last promotion.
Toyota’s local employee count has more than doubled from its original 1,600-person workforce since it first opened. The campus also houses an additional 5,800 workers employed by parts suppliers.
Toyota’s San Antonio workforce made 126,189 vehicles in 2022. Since vehicles started rolling off the line in 2006, that number totals upward of 3 million.
“I am honored to start this next chapter with our fantastic team of over 3,800 team members at Toyota Texas, and with the San Antonio community which I have grown to love,” Kazunas said.