| The Wire Association International (WAI) Inc, USA, the world-wide technical society for wire and cable industry professionals, has recently announced that Mr David F. Richards, vice-president of international administration and materials manager for RichardsApex Inc, USA, will serve as its president for 2003. A member of the WAI since 1987, Mr Richards has served on the association�s board of directors since 1996 and on its executive committee since 1999. He has both chaired and served as executive committee liaison to the non-ferrous management committee and was chairman of the Wirelink Scholarship Advisory Board.
Mr David F. Richards began his career in 1987 with G. Whitfield Richards Company. He became responsible for managing the company�s international department while overseeing the purchasing and transportation duties there and was later promoted to vice-president of international relations and procurement and named to the company�s board of directors. He was appointed to his current position as a result of the 1997 merger between G. Whitfield Richards Company and Apex Alkali Products Company. �It is a thrill and an honour to serve as WAI�s president in 2003. WAI has a long and prosperous history and, as president, I hope to build upon these past successes and help the board of directors guide the association into an even more promising future�, Mr Richards commented.
�With the WAI�s continuing commitment to its strategic and operating plans, we will be able to weather the current economic conditions while positioning for a brighter future. WAI will remain dedicated to its technical mission. Some programmes will be reevaluated and streamlined to fit today�s environment�, Mr Richards added. He noted that the WAI continues to expand its core group of products, from videos to books and other educational tools. Further, its outlook remains global. �Potential collaborations with other industry organisations continue to be evaluated, although we must prioritise, focusing on those that create value and long-term benefits to WAI members�. Mr Richards cited two such collaborations with wire associations in Mexico (ANTAAC) and in Australia (AWIA).
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