VOLUME 6 | EDITION 4 | NOVEMBER 2013
|
ELECTION RECAP Virginia decided its next Governor and Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday, while the Attorney General's race appears to be headed for a recount. Congratulations to Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe and Lt. Governor-elect Dr. Ralph Northam. VMA is looking forward to working with the new administration to ensure the future of manufacturing is strong. McAuliffe and Northam will be inaugurated in January.
NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS A new slate of officers and three new Directors were elected to the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) Board during the 91st annual meeting in Charlottesville. Brett Vassey remains President & CEO, while Rob Hogan of Newport News Shipbuilding was elected Chairman, succeeding Joe Internicola, of DuPont. Scott Tilley of STIHL, Inc. was elected Vice Chairman, Jamie Baisden of QMT Associates, Inc. will serve as Treasurer and Tanya Cook of Philip Morris USA will serve as Secretary.
Larry Souverielle of General Dynamics, Dean Thompson of DuPont, and Chris Tonk of Owens-Illinois, Inc. were elected unanimously as At-Large Directors to join twenty-two others as members of the 2014 Board of Directors. Chris Tonk Dean Thompson Larry Souverielle New director Chris Tonk said of the appointment, "O-I has been a proud member of Virginia's manufacturing community since the late 1970s. This is a great opportunity for us to help our fellow manufacturers in telling the 'Made in Virginia' story."
|
NEW STAFF As we prepare for a new administration in Richmond, VMA is pleased to announce we're growing! Melissa Gillette joined VMA this year and serves as our Business Development Director. Melissa has over ten years experience in sales, most recently in the hospitality and travel industry. Melissa will be working to increase VMA's membership throughout the Commonwealth.
Cassidy Rasnick recently joined the VMA team as Director of Member Services. Cassidy comes to us after five years serving as State Scheduler and Trip Director for Senator Mark Warner. In addition to working with the government affairs team, Cassidy will be managing VMA's communications, committees, and events.
Alice Scott has been promoted to Director of Operations and will continue to serve as State Director of Dream It. Do It. Virginia. Alice has gained an expertise on workforce issues during her long service to VMA, and we're lucky to have her able to devote her full energy to VMA's workforce initiatives.
Melissa Gillette Cassidy Rasnick
|
STIHL RECOGNIZED WITH AME AWARD |
The Association for Manufacturing Excellence awarded STIHL Inc. of Virginia Beach with a 2013 Manufacturing Excellence Award at their annual conference.
The AME Manufacturing Excellence Award is given to North American manufacturing plants that have demonstrated excellence in their manufacturing and business operations. AME seeks to acknowledge manufacturers that have implemented continuous improvement, lean principles, creativity and innovation.
"I was honored to accept the award on behalf of all STIHL employees, who continuously demonstrate their dedication to our company's mission and values," said Christian Koestler, vice president of operations for STIHL Inc. "Fostering a culture of innovation and excellence is fundamental to American manufacturing success, and encouraging employees to embrace automation and rewarding them for their ideas establishes this culture from the ground up."
Congratulations STIHL Inc.!
|
TANOM MOTORS GRAND OPENING |
VMA President and CEO Brett Vassey and Business Development Director Melissa Gillette attended the ribbon cutting for Tanom Motors new assembly line in Culpeper last week. The ceremony was also attended by Governor Bob McDonnell, Delegate Ed Scott and Senator Jill Vogel. Tanom hopes to employ 300 in Culpeper in the next few years.
More coverage at the Richmond Times Dispatch
|