Mark Cordell Named Chairman at 74th Annual Meeting

This year’s meeting, which was held at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in California, was the beginning of a year-long celebration of 75 years since the founding of VMA. Cordell took over as chairman at the VMA Awards Dinner (see page 60, “Conversation with …” for comments from Mark Cordell).

Other officers and board members approved by vote at the association business meeting were:

2011-12 Vice Chairman: Ivan Velan, executive vice president, Velan Corporation
2011-12 Program Chairman: Greg Rogowski, president, Mueller Co.
2011-12 Immediate Past Chairman: Bruce Broxterman, president, Richard Industries

In addition, the board welcomed Tom Pozda, president, Crane Co. – ChemPharma and Energy Flow Solutions, and David Hughes, director of global key accounts, Oil & Gas, Pentair Valves & Controls.

At the VMA Awards Dinner, then-VMA Chairman Bruce Broxterman called to the podium a surprised and delighted Mike Mitchell, vice president sales, Cameron-DynaTorque, who was designated VMA’s Man of the Year. Mitchell has been involved with the association for many years, serving willingly and cheerfully on most of its committees, including the program committee for the annual meeting. He most recently chaired the Market Trends Committee, responsible for developing the outstanding program held at the Market Outlook Workshop each year. Mike joined previous recipients of the Man (and Woman) of the Year award on stage, where he acknowledged being both honored and humbled to be joining such a stellar group.

In addition to that award, Alan Beaulieu, principal, Institute for Trend Research, who has delighted VMA audiences with his insightful but entertaining thoughts on the economy at many outlook workshops and numerous annual meetings, was honored with a VMA Service Award.

Attendees Hear About Economy, Generational Challenges

Annual meeting attendees had the opportunity to hear from several experts at this year’s meeting who were called in to address topics of critical interest to members.

Because the economy is at the foremost of industry’s concerns, Alan Beaulieu, who spoke at VMA’s Market Outlook Workshop last August (see page 20), expanded and updated his remarks and advice to the valve industry. One of his main themes remained the same, however, and that is: for the immediate future, look for ways to take advantage of the current low interest rate situation. Beaulieu predicted that the rates will remain low until the middle of 2014, but said the time to borrow is now. He also said that a mild recession will begin in 2014, but that it will look more like the 1990s than the recent deep fall. For the years 2015 to 2017, the nation will experience positive growth; however, by 2019, the nation will see a big downturn.

Marilyn Moats Kennedy, owner of Moats Kennedy, Inc., talked about today’s younger generations of workers and skilled professionals. She labeled the latest generation, which was born between 1979 and 1988, “Netsers,” because they were brought up with the Internet.

Unlike the generations before, Netsers are not motivated to get an education because they feel it can make them more money. Twenty-eight percent of them are still living in their parent’s homes. They also were brought up in an era where everything is temporary—from new electronics, which are given just 18-month expectancies—to jobs, which most do not expect to hold more than five years.

Annual meeting attendees also heard from a panel of VMA members who commented on their own company’s employment challenges and fielded questions about their experiences with “the young and restless.” Participating on the panel were Kevin Kemerer, Precision Pump & Valve; Stephane Meunier, Velan; Adam Nightengale, Cameron Valves & Measurement; and Tom Pozda, Crane.

Next year’s annual meeting, the association’s 75th, will be held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL, Oct. 3-5, 2013.

At the association business meeting, VMA President Bill Sandler unveiled a new logo for the Valve Manufacturers Association of America, as well as a version of the logo that will be used to commemorate the 75th anniversary. Also planned for the coming year is a video that focuses on the history of the association and the valve industry, including members who discuss the value of belonging to VMA. It will be unveiled at next year’s meeting. In addition, a major public relations effort to reach valve end-users around the world about the value of working with VMA members is in the works, as well as a special commemorative program, an anniversary issue of Valve Magazine scheduled for fall 2013, and an anniversary section on VMA.org.

Watch future issues of Valve Magazine and VMA.org for more details.