GA Association of Manufacturers Elects New Officers and Board Members

Isle of Palms, SC, March 4, 2022-The members of the Georgia Association of Manufacturers (GAM) and The Manufacturers Education Foundation (MEF) each elected new officers and board members at the 122nd Annual Meeting of GAM and the 79th Annual Meeting of MEF, held this year from May 5 through 8 at Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

Pate Huguley, president and CEO of West Point Industries, was elected chairman of GAM and MEF. Greg King, president and CEO of Avis Industrial Corporation, which owns and operates GAM member Harris Equipment, was elected vice chairman of GAM and MEF. Kathleen Edge, executive vice president of operations for Southwire, was elected treasurer of GAM and MEF.

Six industry executives were elected by the Association’s membership to serve three-year terms (expiring in 2025) on GAM’s board of directors and further elected to serve identical terms on the MEF board of directors: Mike Bailey, factory manager, John Deere Commercial Products, Evans; Phillip Bridges, senior vice president, operations, Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, South Carolina; Stuart Countess, president and CEO, KIA Georgia, Inc., West Point; Mike Ecker, president, Ecker Textiles, Lawrenceville; Jim Kelleher, general manager, manufacturing and repair, Savannah Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Power Systems, Pooler; and Todd Shail, senior vice president of operations, Mohawk Industries, Calhoun.

One industry executive was elected by the Association’s membership to serve a two-year term (expiring in 2024) on GAM’s board of directors and further elected to serve an identical term on the MEF board of directors: Jennifer McKay, director of national accounts, Solmax, Pendergrass.

Two industry executives were elected by the Association’s membership to serve a one-year term (expiring in 2023) on GAM’s board of directors and further elected to serve an identical term on the MEF board of directors: Shay Foley, general manager, Atlanta Manufacturing, Alcon Laboratories, Johns Creek andEric McGill, president, Ryerson, Norcross.

GAM and MEF each re-elected Roy Bowen as president through June 30, 2022 and Lloyd Avram as president, effective July 1. Bowen will become president emeritus of both GAM and MEF, effective July 1. GAM and MEF also re-elected Cindy Thomas as corporate secretary and GAM re-elected Clay Jones as vice president and general counsel.

Over 125 industry executives, spouses and those who supply and support the industry attended the Annual Meetings of GAM and MEF.