In This Issue
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Quick Links
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"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning."
--Benjamin Franklin
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Franklin had it right, we just call it continuous process improvement today. It is also true that the only constant in manufacturing is change. As such, the VMA has been remarkably fortunate through this economic recession to retain and recruit such dedicated and exceptional staff and leaders.
It is personally and professionally rewarding to work with these remarkable people. We all benefit from their leadership and innovation.
Please join me in congratulating all for their achievements.
Sincerely,
Brett A. Vassey
President & CEO
VMA |
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VOLUME 5 | EDITION 3 | JUNE 2012
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Announcing New VMA Leadership
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SCOTT NAMED VICE PRESIDENT - MEMBER SERVICES
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Alice B. Scott has been promoted to Vice President - Member Services. Alice served as the VMA Director of Member Services for the last 3 years. During that time she significantly improved communications resources and services for members, including the launch of the new VMA web portal this year as well as the innovative legislative tracking system - StateTrack. Alice has also increasingly taken over committee operations and leadership responsibilities for the management of many of the VMA's most successful programs, including our conferences and new Manufacturing Town Hall events. Most notable under Alice's leadership, the VMA has won both the coveted MarCom Gold Award and Hermes Creative Gold Award for Dream It Do It Virginia - Link.
Scott's new position will involve management of committee operations, council leadership, government affairs, business services and membership retention. "Alice's energy and enthusiasm are contagious. She has a passion for manufacturing and her dedication is unrivaled. The Board and I thought this next step was well deserved and more good things are to come" said Brett Vassey, VMA President & CEO.
One of Alice's challenges will be the development of the new Virginia Local User's Council, VA Craft Brewers Guild, Sales & Marketing Committee as well as the support and growth of the most successful VMA member committee - the Environmental Health, Safety and Security Committee. Alice Scott, her team and the member leaders of these committees and councils are working on their growth plans now.
Scott has a BS from the University of South Carolina, MA from George Washington University and MBA from the University of Richmond. She has background as a professional collegiate-level athletic trainer, and her father was a life-long tobacco buyer for Philip Morris USA. She lives in Richmond with her husband, a Capital One technologist, and one son.
Feel free to contact Alice at ascott@vamanufacturers.com if you are interested in any VMA services.
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| NEW MEMBER SERVICES COORDINATOR |
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 Jody Steele was selected as the new member services coordinator. Jody will work with Alice Scott and Katherine DeRosear (VMA Workforce Development Director). Jody's primary role will be leading the management and customer support for the Contractor Safety Readiness and Manufacturing Technology Learning Management Systems.
Steele's background and professional education has spanned over 20 years of management in the hotel and hospitality industry. Steele also recently worked for the Virginia ABC. Her combined experiences made her a natural choice for the position because she will provide support to government affairs, work directly in key member support services and increasingly take over operations of our two primary conferences - the Virginia Industry Leadership Forum and Virginia Industry Environmental Conference.
Alice Scott stated, "Jody's experience is impressive and her work will raise the bar for member services. It is an honor to work with such a great professional."
Steele lives in Chesterfield County with her husband, an Account Executive with Coca Cola Refreshments, and her two children.
If you have questions about accessing VMA Workforce Training programs or getting involved in one of the upcoming VMA events or just want to welcome her to the team, please contact Jody at jsteele@vamanufacturers.com.
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The VMA staff will also be assisted by Gaberielle O'Brien this summer. "Gabe" is a rising senior at VCU with a dual major in Marketing and Psychology. Ms. O'Brien was selected from a competitive field of candidates produced by Mike Eisenman, Director of VCU Business Career Services. You may hear from Gabe about upcoming events and members activities. Please give her a warm welcome at vmaadmin@vamanufacturers.com.
For more information on recruiting students from VCU, go to http://www.business.vcu.edu/career/1266.html.
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| Croce Moves On to New Opportunity |
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LONG-TIME VMA EHS&S DIRECTOR MOVES TO SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA REALTORS ASSOCIATION
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Joe Croce, VMA EHS&S Director, was recently selected as the Executive Director for the Southside Virginia Association of Realtors. Although Joe will be missed by the staff and membership, we are proud that he is leading a regional organization and will remain in the Virginia association community as a trusted ally. We thank Joe for his many years of service to the VMA and Virginia's manufacturers.
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BOARD CHANGES: DENICOURT MOVES ON, HOGAN STEPS IN AS BOARD VICE CHAIR, COOK AND KROUSKOP JOIN
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Scott Denicourt, Vice Chairman of the VMA Board of Directors, has left the Commonwealth for a new job opportunity in West Virginia. Current Board member Rob Hogan, Director of Structural Fabrication and Assembly at Newport News Shipbuilding, has agreed to serve out the remainder of the Vice Chairman's term.
 
The Board also welcomes Dirk Krouskop, Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment at MeadWestvaco and Tanya Cook, Director of Cigarette Manufacturing at Philip Morris USA. Krouskop will serve as Board Liaison to the VMA's EHS&S Committee, while Cook will act as Board Liaison to the VMA's Workforce Development Division, a position previously held by Denicourt.
For more on the VMA Board of Directors, please click here.
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COMMITTEE CHANGES: BOTKINS RETIRES, THORNTON TAKES OVER TO LEAD EHS&S COMMITTEE
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Tom Botkins, Environmental Director for MeadWestvaco, also retired this month after seven years as Chair of the VMA EHS&S Committee. Botkins is revered in the regulatory community as an honest broker of ideas and pragmatic environmental regulation. The membership honored him at the last meeting of the EHS&S Committee.
Jim Thornton, director of environmental health and safety strategy and regulatory affairs for Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), is the new EHS&S Committee Chair and has begun work with Alice Scott to recruit a new committee Vice Chair and other leaders prepared to take the EHS&S Committee to the next level of its development to insure that manufacturers can profitably make products in the Commonwealth and protect the environment as well as the health, safety and security of our workers and communities.
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