About

Dave Barthmuss is the Group Manager for General Motors’ Western Region, Environment & Energy Communications team. Dave has served in various communications functions at GM for nearly 20 years, covering several product marketing, sales and issues management communications positions before assuming his current role in Thousand Oaks, California. As head of communications for the automaker’s largest region in the United States, Dave is responsible for a wide variety of public relations assignments, including engaging GM and its brands with key stakeholder groups to help communicate the company’s environmental, technology and policy initiatives. Dave also serves as the official spokesperson for GM throughout its Western Region. Working closely with GM’s global headquarters in Detroit, and its Western Region executive staff in Southern California, Dave provides strategic guidance to help raise awareness of and credit for GM’s cutting-edge products and alternative fuel, hybrid and electric vehicle technology programs, including the launch of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt – GM’s new electric vehicle with extended range, now available in California and six other launch markets and available in all markets by the end of 2011, and Project Driveway – the largest “real world” test fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles in history. Prior to moving his family to California, Dave coordinated GM’s Environment, Energy & Sustainability communications activities at its global headquarters in Detroit, working closely with the company’s Chief Environmental Officer and its Public Policy Center staff. He has also held senior-level positions at one of the world’s largest public relations agencies, worked for the Michigan State Legislature and began his professional career as a newspaper reporter. Dave earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Political Science from Michigan State University.