Black-owned auto manufacturer makes parts for Honda at Marion plant In the 1980s, Vinnie Johnson was at the top of his game as the sixth man for the Detroit Pistons. "The Microwave," along with star players Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, were part of the Bad Boys era of the franchise, with Johnson making the winning shot in the 1990 NBA finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring Detroit’s second straight NBA title. Taking his basketball roots with him, Johnson is now the CEO of Piston Group, one of the largest private, minority-owned automotive suppliers in North America. Johnson founded the company in 1995 and became a supplier for large automotive companies like General Motors and Ford.