INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has recognized three high-achieving nonwoven industry leaders at its annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, where the association also charted its future.

INDA President Dave Rousse presented the awards at the conference that took place from 7-9 March at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC. The awards went to: Edward A. Vaughn, PhD (posthumously), INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award; Robert (Bob) Dale, INDA Lifetime Service Award; and Gideon (Gidi) Krasny, INDA President’s Award.

Meeting & Leadership Conference

The event combines INDA’s annual business meeting; a leadership conference with speakers presenting on areas to enhance economic, political and business performance understandings, and opportunities to network with fellow INDA members, INDA senior staff, and the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

“This exclusive INDA Member event, designed to conduct INDA governance matters, also provided robust conference content related to the management of our members’ businesses, and a political perspective early in this highly charged political year,” said Rousse.

Members heard presentations from Dr Gerald D. Bell, Founder and CEO of Bell Leadership Institute and Professor at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School on Great Leaders, Great Results, and Tim Boyum, Capital Tonight Anchor for Time Warner Cable News on State of the 2016 Race.

New appointments

INDA also announced the appointment of new members of its board of directors and executive committee for 2016.

Joining the board of directors are: Henry Johnson of AstenJohnson Advanced Fabrics, John Mulcahy of Georgia-Pacific LLC, James Vogt of Hollingsworth & Vose Company, John McNabb of Freudenberg Performance Materials, Uwe Peregi of Herrmann Ultrasonics, and John Poccia of Johnson & Johnson Worldwide.

New appointments to INDA’s executive committee include Karen Castle of Suominen, Todd Bassett of Fi-Tech Inc., and Albert Dietz of Berry Plastics. 

Award presentations

Posthumously, INDA recognized Ed Vaughn with the INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award for his long-established technical career in the nonwovens industry combined with his history of technical innovations. One of his distinguished achievements was serving as the Managing Editor for INDA’s Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics (JEFF), where he reviewed the technical work of new and seasoned researchers giving them the opportunity to expand their work.

Bob Dale’s service to the nonwovens industry over 25 years was recognized with the INDA Lifetime Service Award, which is given to professionals who have two decades of active service to and partnership with INDA specifically, and the nonwoven industry as a whole. Dale’s service includes leadership as an INDA Board Member, The Nonwovens Institute Board Director, contributions to the INDA Technical Advisory Board, RISE (Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics) and its technical predecessor committees.

INDA awarded its President’s Award, presented periodically to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the nonwovens industry, to Gidi Krasny for his 35 years of experience that has enabled him to advance products, processes and capabilities that have significantly impacted the nonwovens industry.

www.inda.org