“WDMA will continue with business as usual, with day-to-day management being led by two WDMA staff members, John Prentice, director of marketing, and Jeff Lowinski, vice president for technical services,” says WDMA board chair Dave Beeken. “The Board is confident that with the combined experience of these two individuals, WDMA will continue to move forward in the execution of the new strategic plan.”

The WDMA Board of Directors has started a search for a replacement.

In addition, the association has announced that John McFee has returned as director of certification programs. McFee will resume his responsibilities for the Hallmark Certification program, NFRC certification and staff liaison for key WDMA technical committees.

“I am very pleased to be back and look forward to working once again with the WDMA membership,” McFee said.

Lowinski says he’s also pleased to see McFee back on staff.

“We are excited about John rejoining WDMA’s management team,” Lowinski says.

OBITUARIES
ViWinTech Founder Dies
Narvel “Pete” Brown, the founder of Paducah, Ky.-based Vinyl Window Technologies (ViWinTech^®), passed away on August 8, 2007. Brown, 80, died of lung cancer.

Brown also founded Aluma-Kraft Inc. in 1952, and then founded ViWinTech in 1984.He received numerous business achievement awards, was an avid University of Kentucky basketball fan, enjoyed bass fishing and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joretta Carlisle Brown, four adult children and a large extended family of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

NEW HIRES
Edgetech I.G. Appoints New Quality Improvement Technician
Cambridge, Ohio-based Edgetech I.G. Inc. has promoted Thomas A. Wood to quality improvement technician. In his new role, Wood will serve as the company’s ISO management representative and he will lead various quality assurance efforts.

“Tom is a valued asset to our team and we look forward to his continued growth within the company,” says Brian Kress, director of quality for Edgetech I.G. “He is a great leader with a tremendous background in continuous improvement initiatives, which will serve him well in his new role.”

Wood has been with Edgetech for three years and previously worked for Plastech for 11 years. He holds multiple computer training and supervision and management certificates in areas including principles of lean manufacturing, ISO process audit training, ergonomics and Six Sigma, according to the company.

Wood says he is looking forward to the work he will undertake in his new position.

“As quality improvement technician, I look forward to not only assuring the highest standards of quality for the company, but I also intend to implement new systems that enable us to track projects more efficiently,” says Wood.

Hammond Joins Truth Team
The Owatonna, Minn.-based Truth Hardware has announced the appointment of Jim Hammond to the position of territory account manager for the Northeast United States. In his new position, Hammond will work closely with door and window manufacturers to assist the development and purchase of hardware systems used on their products. 

Births
DWM Publisher Gives Birth to Third Child
DWM publisher Tara Taffera and her husband, Cory, welcomed their third child, Gianna Grace, into the world on Saturday, May 5. She weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 22 inches long at birth. Taffera also serves as vice president of editorial services for DWM’s parent company, Key Communications Inc. in Stafford, Va.

The Tafferas have two other daughters, Isabella, 7, and Sophia, 4.Taffera wasn’t the only Key Communications employee celebrating a milestone. 

Brigid O’Leary, former editor of DWM sister publication AGRR magazine and the USGNN.com™ newsletter, gave birth to a 6-pound, 13-ounce baby boy on Friday, September 14.Warrick Anthony is the first child for O’Leary and her husband, David, who will celebrate their second wedding anniversary in October.

Following her maternity leave, O’Leary will continue to work for Key Communications as a contributing writer.

DWM
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No reproduction of any type without expressed written permission.