Midwest Chapter

The chapter welcomes a new Board member: Cooper Runzel, vice president of insulating manufacturing at Lake Cable.

The Chapter has confirmed that it will be holding a 2023 golf tournament at a date to TBD.

The Chapter approved their 2023 scholarship program, which will be three scholarships at $1,500 each. The online application will be available towards the end of January and Chapter members will be notified of its launch via email.

Ohio Valley Chapter

Dave Rascati officially retired from the Ohio Valley Chapter Board of Directors at the end of 2022 after many dedicated, successful years running the Chapter’s Golf Tournament. He was also known for his unique first-person write-ups.

The Chapter will hold its Golf Tournament on Aug. 24, 2023, at Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio. The event will also include an education program.

The Chapter is working to establish a scholarship program, which will be supported by funds raised from their Annual Golf Tournament.

The WAI’s New England Chapter is known for holding memorable annual meetings, and its upcoming one this month at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, promises to follow that tradition.

The event will again be held this year inside the Cabaret Theatre, starting with the reception at 5:30 pm, followed by the meeting at 6:35 pm. The keynote speaker will be Michelle Dray, the creator of the “Getting Unstuck & Leading Fearlessly Program.” She has worked for more than 10 years as a coach and creator of her 11-week women’s leadership program that identifies five signs or symptoms of “career stuck-ness” to look out for. She notes that her talk is not limited to women.

“I think the fact that the majority of the audience has historically been men, and the expectation is the same for the upcoming event, will add an interesting dynamic as I believe these signs and symptoms to be true for both women and men,” Dray said. She will discuss employee learning objectives that apply to both industry newcomers (0-5 years) as well as veterans.

The meeting will also see the introduction of the 2023 officers, the raffle and the invaluable experience of networking and catching up with friends and colleagues. The event is also a key fundraiser for the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund. Registration is now open through WAI’s event registration system. The cost is $140, and WAI Chapter members in good standing receive discounted rates. The 2022 meeting, held Feb. 24, saw total attendance of 97, and attendance is expected to easily top a hundred this year.

The memories do not have to be fleeting as an award-winning photographer, Ashley Abel, will be at a photo booth where attendees can get a free professional headshot (perfect for your LinkedIn profile, company website, etc.) or take a fun group photo with industry colleagues. The booth is sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier.

The grand raffle prize, also sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier, is for two tickets to a Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game. The second top raffle prize, provided by the Mohegan Sun, is two tickets to an Air Supply concert.

The more AWI produces, the greener the company gets.

Alloy Wire International, which recently achieved carbon-negative business status, has taken that pledge even further, committing to plant a tree for every 100 kg of wire sold. Below, Managing Director Tom Mander discusses why it forms an important part of the company’s “Wired for Good” initiative.

Manufacturers contribute so much in the way of greenhouse gases that it’s up to companies like Alloy Wire International (AWI) to buck the trend and start giving back to the environment and the communities we operate in.

That’s why we have joined forces with JUST ONE Tree. The U.K.-based organization uses donations to fund reforestation projects, selecting partners to plant them based on criteria such as existing infrastructure, methodology, impact on community and tree survival rates. The trees are planted in countries, including Mozambique, Nepal, Haiti, Indonesia, Madagascar, Kenya and Zambia.

We believe that our commitment to sustainability is now stronger than ever. Based on the amount of wire AWI has sold between the months of January and June 2023, we have already donated over 1,500 trees to JUST ONE Tree.

Once grown, those trees will remove more than 300 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere over the next 25 years. Supporting the efforts of JUST ONE Tree is part of a wider picture where AWI is committed to becoming more environmentally friendly and to continue to act as a good citizen to the communities it operates in.

As part of our “Wired for Good” campaign, AWI partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to offset emissions around its manufacturing, deliveries and even employee commuting, with our efforts seeing us become carbon negative in recent months.

Over the last 18 months, we have also donated £30,000 to local charities and good causes, with the latest recipient being Acorns Children’s Hospice to help it continue to provide respite, short breaks, end of life and emergency care across its three U.K. locations. We have been longterm admirers of the charity and the way it provides a homely environment where children can take part in a range of fun and therapeutic activities, from arts and crafts sessions to hydrotherapy.

This was the final donation to mark our 75th anniversary year and follows similar £7,500 gifts to Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge, the Chris Westwood Charity for Children with Physical Disabilities and the Giving Hands Mission.

For more on the organization, go to www.justonetree.life.

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 16 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?

From l-r, Alex Peach, Trish Weisberg, Bruce Kesler, Chuck Oldaker, Liz Weisberg, Louis Weisberg, Brad D. Smith, Avinandan Mukherjee, Rosie Brydie and Ron Area.

Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire Company is giving back to the community in a big way, through a very large pledge to Marshall University. Below, a company official explains why they chose to do this.

Service Wire Company has committed $1 million in financial resources and wire and cable products to the Marshall University Foundation. The donation will be used to help fund the new state-of-the-art facility being built in Huntington, West Virginia, for the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business.

“We are excited to expand upon an existing relationship with the university and the city of Huntington,” said Service Wire President and CEO Louis Weisberg. “We have a long-standing history partnering with Marshall University, and we are pleased to continue this legacy.”

Weisberg said that supporting the university benefits both entities. “Service Wire has always been committed to serving the communities in which our employees live and work. This dedication extends to educational institutions. By providing an outlet for our employees and their families to further their education and recruit new talent, we can better equip our growing workforce.”

The link with Marshall University has long been seen at Service Wire, Weisberg said. “We are proud to have Marshall University graduates in all departments across multiple locations, from accounting, sales and marketing to engineering, operations and executive management.” The university is about a half-hour drive away from Culloden.

Dr. Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation, echoed the importance of the relationship between regional businesses and Marshall. “There is a great deal of excitement right now surrounding the new school of business and its impact on Marshall University and the surrounding area. He said that Weisberg and Service Wire Executive Vice President and CFO Chuck Oldaker have been a partner of the university for a long time. “This gift will help Marshall achieve its goals in transforming Huntington into a central hub for business innovation.”

“The College of Business’ cutting-edge curriculum will help attract new talent,” Oldaker said. “We can continue to support these individuals post-graduation by offering gainful employment opportunities in one of our nationwide locations or through our sales agent network.”

The facility is scheduled to open in January 2024. The university’s existing Transformative Sales and Service Excellence Center within the college will be renamed the Service Wire Company Transformative Sales and Service Excellence Center.

“Service Wire is proud to be a staple in the community. We have a long history of supporting West Virginia and the Tri-State region and are pleased to be able to continue this spirit of giving,” Weisberg said.

Founded in 1968, Service Wire Company is a multi-generation, family-owned wire and cable manufacturer. It has locations across the country, including West Virginia, Texas and Arizona, and a nationwide network of distributors and advanced distribution capabilities.

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 15 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?