EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aura Systems Inc, (OTC: AUSI) announced today that its Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of board members from five to seven. In addition, the board unanimously approved the appointment of two recognized outside industry experts as new members. The two new board members will serve until the next annual meeting at which time they will be subject to reelection by the shareholders. At the last annual shareholders meeting held in October 2011, the previous board was reelected with the exception that Dr. Maurice Zeitlin retired and Mr. James Marvin Simmons was elected to replace him.
James Simmons - is a Chartered Financial Analyst with approximately 40 years of experience in investing and a long time Aura shareholder. He has been a member of the board of directors of various for-profit and nonprofit companies and is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of ICM Asset Management, Inc. He is the managing member of Koyah Partners, LLC, an investment partnership that emphasizes venture investing in small cap companies, both public and private.
The two new appointed board members are Dr. Lon E. Bell Ph.D., and Mr. Roger L. Howsmon.
Dr. Lon E. Bell - earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1968 from the California Institute of Technology. He has authored more than 40 publications in the areas of thermodynamics of thermoelectric systems, automotive crash sensors, and other electronic and electromechanical devices. He has been granted over 100 patents for his inventions. Five clusters of Bell's inventions have gone into mass production, and dominated their target markets, generating over one billion US Dollars in sales. Currently in addition to Aura, he serves on the boards of Amerigon Incorporated, Mahindra-Reva and Dais Analytic Corporation.
Roger L. Howsmon - has long and broad-based experience in manufacturing, distribution, strategic planning, tactical execution, sales and marketing with emphasis in the trucking industry. He was an equity partner and senior executive of Blue Bird Bus Corporation, Executive Vice President and senior officer of Fleetwood Enterprises Inc, Chairman/CEO/Owner of Sierra Detroit Diesel Allison in San Francisco, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for a billion-dollar plus division of Paccar, President of Perkins Engines Inc., and Vice President, North American Sales and Service for Cummins Engine. Mr. Howsmon currently, in addition to Aura, is an advisor to Blue Bird Corp., and serves on the Board of Directors of Maxwell Technologies Inc.
Mr. Melvin Gagerman, Aura's CEO, and Chairman of the Board said, "On behalf of Aura’s Board and shareholders, we welcome Mr. James Simmons, Dr. Bell and Mr. Howsmon to the Aura family. Their long and broad experience will definitely enhance our board. With Mr. Simmons and the two newly appointed board members we now have, out of seven members, five outside independent board members. As your CEO, I believe this strong board will provide advice and guidance as well as assistance in helping the Company access market segments previously unavailable to it at a high level. ”