VMA News

This section of Valve will provide readers with a look into some of key issues and activities VMA is actively addressing. Members can contact VMA for more detailed information. To learn about becoming a VMA or VRC member, contact VMA President Heather Rhoderick at hrhoderick@vma.org.

The Year in Review: 2023

VMA had a good year in 2023! A few highlights are listed below from our programs and activities areas. A strong focus on government affairs, especially on legislative and regulatory issues affecting our industry like PFAS, trade and tariffs, tax policy, Buy America Build America and supporting the workforce. Two “fly-ins” to Washington D.C. were held where we met with 20 Senate and House of Representative’s offices on Capitol Hill. VMA also filed comments on proposed EPA regulations related to PFAS in the environment, in support of our members and to explain the substantial implications of treating all PFAS materials in the same manner. VMA also joined with other associations to promote new ways to obtain workforce training money and to call for reinstatement on certain expensing items in the tax code. Globally, there were also a number of changes and alerts regarding various tariffs that we continue to keep members abreast of.

VMA realized high attendance at all of our events, and held the Market Outlook Workshop in person again for the first time since the pandemic. Additionally, the Valve Repair Council also held a workshop this summer for the first time since the pandemic. Participants enjoyed learning and being in person again. Education remains a key pillar of VMA, and in addition to in-person events, the Valve Basics program expanded in the on-demand format with both companies and individuals taking advantage of the program. A statement on sustainability that members can use in their communications with customers was created, and a membership “pulse survey” on business and economic trends was expanded and relaunched. VMA also made updates to both the VMA and Valve magazine brand and content areas to continue to be as relevant as possible, hired new staff and moved our offices to Alexandria, Virginia. A busy year!

A more complete look at 2023 will be provided in our Annual Report. It was a foundational year for the organization which will help us continue to deliver on our core priorities going forward.

VMA Board of Directors Announced

VMA is pleased to announce the 2023-2024 Board of Directors, led by Chairman of the Board, Andy Duffy (Emerson). VMA’s Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for the Association, and works to ensure that member value is being provided through all the association's services and activities. VMA thanks all these individuals for serving their industry and the VMA in this capacity.

Andy Duffy, VMA Chairman of the Board, at the 2023 annual meeting.
Photo Credit: VMA

The 2023-2024 Executive Committee is comprised of the following individuals:

Chairman of the Board: Andy Duffy – Vice President, Sales, Emerson, Discrete Automation
Incoming Board Chair and Finance Committee Chair: Kirk Wilson –President, Flow Control, Flowserve Corporation
Strategic Planning: Nathan Brunell – Product Line General Manager, Baker Hughes
At-Large: Kevin McKown – Regional President, IMI Americas
Immediate Past Chair: Matt Thiel – President, AUMA Actuators, Inc.

The following individuals were elected to the VMA’s Board of Directors for their first three-year term:

Jordan Bast – President & CEO, Richards Industrials

Zachry Brown – President, Bray International, Inc.

Rachel Hollinger – Executive Vice President, DeZURIK

Scott Jackson – CEO and President, FloWorks

The following individuals were elected to VMA’s Board of Directors in an ex-officio role for a two-year term:

Cory Jones – President, Setpoint

Kelly Lovell – Executive Vice President, United Valve

The following individuals remain on the VMA Board of Directors:
Alejandro (Alex) Alcala (Crane Co.); Danilo Garcia (RF Valves); Seth Guterman (American Valve); Dave Loula (ITT Engineered Valves); Kevin J Tinsley (Valmet); Rob Velan (Velan).

Valve Repair Council

The Valve Repair Council held its annual business meeting last fall, and had discussions around the ways the Council could increase education and networking to both its members and customers. Expanding on the education and networking provided at the Valve Repair Workshop held this year, it was agreed to provide some educational sessions this Spring at the Valve Forum, and to hold another Valve Repair Workshop for repair companies in 2025. Additionally, the Board is discussing other programs and activities that would help the membership. The following Board of Directors were also elected to serve the Council and its members:

Kim Beise – Chairman, Dowco Valve

Jody Dunn – Vice Chairman, Quality Valve

Greg Johnson, United Valve

Chris Jones, Midwest Valve Services

Richard Lewis, John H. Carter Company

Jack Roubik, Flotech Inc.

Cliff Smith, Valmet

Cory Jones, Setpoint IS

The VRC Board invites all Valve Repair Council to express any interest on working with the Board on new projects to reach out to any of the members, or to contact Heather Rhoderick at hrhoderick@vma.org.

Educating our Legislators on PFAS, Taxes and Workforce

In October, VMA took the conversation on the implications from an incredibly broad treatment of all PFAS materials direct to the nation’s legislators on Capitol Hill. Meetings were held with 14 different Senate and Representative offices key to our industry. The focus of the day was to help explain and educate on why PFAS materials should be segmented, managed and regulated differently based on their hazards and risk, and on the benefits provided by low hazard PFAS materials commonly used in seals, linings, packings and more applications. With much of the current focus from both legislators and regulators in the U.S., Canada and Europe to treat all PFAS and materials using any type of PFAS in the same way, it is important to explain the huge impacts this could have on the modern way of life, and impacts on the environment, security, economy and much more. While the focus of the meetings was on PFAS, we also discussed some tax issues around the expensing of research and development activities and ways to support workforce training.

PFAS Reporting Under TSCA Regulation

EPA’s recent PFAS Reporting Under TSCA Section 8(a)(7) rule, announced on October 11, 2023, holds significance for industrial valve manufacturers, distributors and suppliers dealing with PFAS materials, including PTFE. With a one-time reporting requirement, the rule includes information from 2011 onward and imposes a reporting deadline of either May or November 2025. All VMA/VRC members are invited to an exclusive, members-only webinar which provide insights into the potential implications and requirements of this rule for their companies. Additional information will also be available through the year on this.

Registration is Now Open for Valve Forum: Conference and Exhibits and NEW Hydrogen Valve Summit

The entire industry is invited to attend two VMA events this Spring: the 2024 Valve Forum: Conference & Exhibits, and the new Hydrogen Valve Summit. VMA's Valve Forum is the premier gathering for the entire valve industry value chain, offering insights, business opportunities and the latest products.

The new Hydrogen Valve Summit, is a day dedicated to exploring hydrogen and carbon capture market opportunities. Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are also available, providing a cost-effective place to showcase your latest innovations in valves and actuators, new services and equipment to valve manufacturers and end users.

Date and Location Announced for 2024 Annual Meeting

VMA and VRC members should save the date for the 86th VMA and VRC Annual Meeting, October 2-4, 2024, in Park City, Utah. This event promises to be a dynamic gathering of industry leaders, professionals and experts in various fields, and will provide a unique platform to help leaders wade through the external forces affecting the industry and the specific impact on their business. The scenic backdrop of Park City adds an extra layer of inspiration to this annual gathering. The future is moving faster and is more volatile than in recent memory – don’t miss this opportunity to hear key information from experts and peers.

New Year, New Look

Working with various Committees, we are excited to introduce not only a refreshed look and feel to the Valve media products, but also to VMA! Our goals for the refresh were to ensure that the VMA and Valve logos and brand elements worked seamlessly with one another to help reinforce the relationship between the magazine and Association. Additionally, we wanted to provide a fresh update to the brands to expand their appeal to new audiences, without losing their recognition. If you haven’t already, you’ll start to see the new logo and other new designs for VMA over the next quarter. For those who have been involved with VMA for many years, you may notice the logo looks similar to one used years ago!