Norm Bafunno ’83 A Career Leading New Initiatives

Norman Bafunno ’83 has been honored as a Significant Sig for the success he has achieved in his professional career with Toyota, as both a Plant President and Corporate Senior Executive, while also serving in various community roles at the local, state and national level. Common to both has been Norm’s exceptional “people first” attitude, energy and enthusiasm, sincere desire to help others, and natural ability to bring people together.

A Career Serving Company and Community

Norm is currently Senior Manufacturing Executive with Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) in Plano, TX, where he oversees all TMNA Powertrain Manufacturing plants, and also serves as an advisor on the company’s manufacturing transformation strategy.  In 2018 Norm was promoted to Senior VP, Unit Manufacturing and Engineering, where he oversaw all of TNMA Powertrain Manufacturing plants as well as the company’s Safety, Environmental, Facilities, and Internal Plant Logistics teams. In this role Norm led Toyota North America’s expansion into an electrified future through his responsibility for Toyota’s first battery cell manufacturing plant located in Liberty, NC. Norm was quoted in Yahoo Finance August 31, 2022: “This marks another significant milestone for our company. This plant will serve a central role in Toyota’s leadership toward a fully electrified future and will help us meet our goal of carbon neutrality in our vehicles and global operations by 2035”.

In 2016 Norm became part of the team that combined all Toyota Manufacturing North American business functions for the first time. Norm was named Chief Competitiveness Officer, leading a team of four regional executives representing R&D, Sales and Marketing, Planning and Finance, and Manufacturing in creating and implementing actions to improve Toyota North America’s global competitiveness.  Prior to assuming this role, Norm served as President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI), located in Princeton IN. He first joined TMMI in 1997 as General Manager Production, as part of the Indiana plant startup team. He was team member #48 at the site. He was named President of TMMI in 2010, and at the time became the first American President of this Toyota Manufacturing Operation. Norm led the expansion of this plant from an initial 1300 employees to more than 5000. Through 2016 this plant produced 4.3 million vehicles, with cumulative $4.3 billion in plant investment.  Prior to being named TMMI President in 2010, Norm served as VP Production Engineering at Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing in Erlanger, KY. Before joining Toyota, Norm spent 14 years with GM in their Truck Manufacturing Group.

Service to Country and Community

Norm currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Foreign Trade Council in Washington DC, and for the North Texas American Red Cross in Dallas, TX. He is a past Chairman of the Board of the Indiana Manufacturer’s Association, The American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana, the Evansville Sports Corporation, and a past President of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.

Norm also was on the board of the University of Evansville and was an advisor for their engineering/business programs. Norm served on the Wellborn Baptist Foundation Board and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, 100 Men Who Cook, Clean Up the Banks on the Ohio River, and for the WFIE Channel 9 Public Television Station Auctions.

Brother Bafunno has been recognized with Purdue University’s Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Alumni Award in 2023; the State of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 2016; inducted into the Evansville Indiana Regional Business Hall of Fame; as the Boy Scouts Buffalo Trace Distinguished Citizen; and as a member of the Parkway Hall of Fame in Chesterfield, MO.

A Sig’s Reflections

On being selected a Significant Sig, Norm remarked, “Sigma Chi Fraternity is an incredible organization that attracts and initiates talented young men with incredible potential.  To be honored as part of this outstanding group is an amazing and humbling feeling.  When I was an undergraduate, I remember looking at the library wall of Delta Delta Significant Sig portraits and learning about the positive impact and leadership they provided in their accomplished careers. Truly men of distinction.  I believe a successful leader creates and develops inclusive teams, that in turn, achieve amazing results.  As I reflect on this award, my career accomplishments and community contributions were always made possible by talented teams of men and women who offered me the engaging opportunity to learn and work alongside them.”

Norm continued, “Our Fraternity principles are anchored by important lessons that have guided me throughout my professional career.  Both the Jordan Standard and the Sigma Chi Creed teach behaviors and attributes to which we should always hold ourselves accountable.  These important lessons do not diminish in relevance over time, but indeed, act as a North Star of life guiding principles.  I am fortunate to have learned from the many actions of my pledge brothers and upper classmen the values of a Sigma Chi.  And actions deliver a much greater impact than words alone!  In summary, the experience as a Delta Delta Sigma Chi created a foundation for my professional and personal life based on RESPECT FOR PEOPLE.”

Family

Norm and his wife have three grown children. His son, Nicholas, is a Delta Delta Sig Class of 2014. Norm noted, “It is amazing to have a great son and to also be his brother!”