Ford's Barb Samardzich Represents Inspiration and Role Model; Autodesk Funds Grant to Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering

CHICAGO, National Design and Engineering Show, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, is proud to sponsor the 21st Annual Design News Magazine "Woman in Engineering" award. This year's honoree, Barb Samardzich, is Executive Director of small front- and rear-wheel-drive vehicles at Ford Motor Company. As part of the sponsorship, Autodesk is funding a grant in Samardzich's name to the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, the engineering school of her choice. The award presentation will take place today at the National Design and Engineering Show in Chicago.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/SFTH083LOGO )

"At Ford, engineering is a team effort and I am surrounded by very talented engineers who strive to do what is best for our customers. It's great to work in such an environment, and to be recognized by Design News and the sponsor, Autodesk," said Barb Samardzich.

"Increasing women's roles in technology and providing opportunity are essential to a healthy economy," said Carol Bartz, CEO of Autodesk, Inc. "It is an honor to sponsor Barb Samardzich for her ingenuity, enthusiasm, and outstanding contributions. I hope the award inspires other women to seek education in technical fields."

    Since joining Ford in 1990, Barb Samardzich's accomplishments include:
    -- Being named executive director with responsibility for nine Ford Motor
       Company cars, minivans and compact SUVs;
    -- Setting the vision for the engineering teams that will launch the
       all-new, next generation 2005 Ford Mustang this fall; and
    -- Transforming the engineering processes behind Ford's transmissions,
       including development of the Shift Quality Health Chart customer
       satisfaction test.

"We are pleased and proud of Barb Samardzich's latest accolades and her pioneering work at Ford, and we very much appreciate Autodesk's generous donation in her name," said Adnan Akay, head of the mechanical engineering department at Carnegie Mellon University. "Role models are an integral part of inspiring our students to grow and succeed in today's competitive job market, so Barb's success is a wonderful benchmark."

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk and Autodesk Inventor are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Sarah Singleton of Fleishman Hillard, +1-415-290-8045, or singlets@fleishman.com, for Autodesk.

SOURCE  Autodesk, Inc.
    -0-                             02/24/2004
    /CONTACT:  Sarah Singleton of Fleishman Hillard, +1-415-290-8045, or
singlets@fleishman.com, for Autodesk/
    /Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/SFTH083LOGO
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    (ADSK)

CO:  Autodesk, Inc.
ST:  Illinois
IN:  CPR STW MLM MAG PUB AUT
SU:  PER TDS

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6424 02/24/2004 14:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com