Denise Gray received the Technologist of the Year Award at the 2017 Women of Color Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference in Detroit, Michigan. The annual STEM awards are presented to women who create innovation, opening opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields for those underrepresented in scientific and technical careers.

It's an honor to be selected for this prestigious award," Ms. Gray said in 2017. "LG Chem Power Inc's goal is to be the North American center of excellence for vehicle and energy storage applications. It's an honor to be named personally, and as an organization, to such an elite list."

Located in Troy, Michigan, at the heart of the automotive industry, LG Chem Power Inc. is a North American subsidiary of LG Chem Ltd., one of the world's largest producers of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and commercial, military, conversion, and portable equipment applications.

LG Chem Power Inc. was formed in 2000 in the United States as a local source for the research, development, engineering, design, and packaging of lithium-ion batteries. As president of LG Chem Power Inc. (LGCPI), the North American subsidiary of lithium-ion battery maker, LG Chem (LGC), Korea, Ms. Gray has overall responsibility for the strategic direction, engineering, and business development activities of the business.

Prior to joining LGCPI, she served as vice president of electrification powertrain engineering at AVL List, GmbH, where she was responsible for AVL's Electrification Business Unit.

Ms. Gray earned industry-wide respect as the director of global battery systems engineering at General Motors (GM), where her team successfully developed and launched the lithium-ion battery system used in the Chevrolet Volt, working closely with the LG Chem team.

She earned a master's degree in engineering management of technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University.