AMT Elects New Board of Directors and Officers

AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA) has elected its 2014-2015 officers and directors. The 2014-2015 board term begins April 1, 2014.

The board of directors of the Association — which represents approximately 600 American manufacturers and distributors of machine tools, manufacturing machinery and related products — named Kevin J. Kilgallen, the president of Mid Atlantic Machinery, Inc. (Harrisburg, PA), to serve as chairman. He follows chairman R. Stephen Flynn, the president of Optical Gaging Products, Inc. (Rochester, NY).

The board elected Jerry Rex, the president of Hegman Machinery, LLC, A Morris Group, Inc. Company (Maple Grove, MN), to serve as first vice chairman in the coming year. Richard L. Simons, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Hardinge Inc. (Elmira, NY), will serve as second vice chairman/treasurer. Brian J. Papke, the president of Mazak Corporation (Florence, KY), was elected secretary.

Returning board members include David J. Burns, the president and chief operating officer of The Ex One Company, LLC (Irwin, PA); Thomas R. Dillon, the vice chairman of DMG/Mori Seiki USA, Inc. (Hoffman Estates, IL); Richard Gilchrist, the chairman of Felsomat USA, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL); Ronald S. Karaisz, the president of Novi Precision Products, Inc. (Brighton, MI); Lee Morris, the chief executive officer and chairman of The Morris Group (Windsor, CT); and Steven R. Stokey, the executive vice president/owner of Allied Machine & Engineering Corp. (Dover, OH).

“After 17 years of participation, I look forward to representing AMT for all groups and members. Our new AMT board is made up of committed, dynamic and reputable stewards of the manufacturing industry who will provide guidance to the organization,” said Kilgallen. “I look forward to serving alongside the executive committee and board of directors. My focus for the upcoming year will be to encourage members to engage their association and their industry in three ways: try a new AMT program that will have an impact on future success; support a community college or trade school that is promoting skill developments specific to the manufacturing industry; and finally, make our industry’s voice heard by writing your U.S. Senators and Representatives regarding what we need to advance and maintain our competitiveness in the global manufacturing world.”

Chairman
Kevin J. Kilgallen is the president of Mid Atlantic Machinery. He co-founded the company in 1991. He also co-founded Southern States Machinery (Greensboro, NC), in 2002. Prior to that, he was with Fox Machinery Associates (Bridgeport, PA); Teledyne Rodney Metals (New Bedford, MA); and York Steel Co. (York, PA). He began his career as a machine operator at York Steel. Kilgallen previously served on the AMTDA Executive Committee and was a member of the Association’s R3 Leadership Group. He has been involved with the association for over 17 years. He is a graduate of York College.

First Vice Chairman
Jerry Rex is the president of Hegman Machinery. Prior to that, he was the president of Morris South (Charlotte, NC) for ten years. Before joining Morris, he managed sales and applications efforts in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the eastern two-thirds of North Carolina, as well as showroom and support staff in Ashland, Va. He was the vice president at Gosiger, Inc., and a regional sales manager at Carboloy. Rex began his career in manufacturing technology more than 37 years ago as a machinist apprentice at GE Locomotive (Erie, PA).

Second Vice Chairman/Treasurer
Richard (Rick) L. Simons has served as the president and chief executive officer of Hardinge since May 2008 and became chairman of the board in February 2012. Prior to rejoining Hardinge in 2008, he was vice president and corporate controller at Carpenter Technology, a publicly-traded specialty steel manufacturer (2005-2008). Simons originally joined Hardinge in 1983 and held various management roles before being named executive vice president/chief financial officer (1999-2005). He has a BS degree from Bloomsburg University and an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is also a director of Sunnen Products Company, a global manufacturer and distributor of honing and bore sizing equipment and related accessories.

Secretary
Brian J. Papke is the president of Mazak. He was named president in1989. Mazak is the North American manufacturing and marketing unit of Yamazaki Mazak (Oguchi, Japan). Since joining Mazak in 1987, Mazak has completed 14 expansions, including the establishment of a National Technology Center and Customer Service and Support Center and a network of technology centers throughout North America. Recently, expansions have included $15 million on the Kentucky manufacturing plant and new Versatech bridge-style machining centers. Further expansion of Technology Centers is in progress, with a new building in Houston and an expansion in Schaumburg, Ill. Papke is a graduate of the University of Illinois.

AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing technology and its members — those who design, build, sell, and service the continuously evolving technology that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Founded in 1902 and based in Virginia, the association specializes in providing targeted business assistance, extensive global support, and business intelligence systems and analysis.

AMT is the voice that communicates the importance of policies and programs that encourage research and innovation, and the development of educational initiatives to create tomorrow’s Smartforce. AMT owns and manages IMTS — The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the premier manufacturing technology event in North America.

www.AMTonline.org