The WAI’s New England Chapter announced the six 2025 winners of its scholarship program, which includes one candidate who qualified as a sponsored intern. Each scholarship was for $2,500.
Jack Bienvenue is the stepson of Walter Parsell, facility engineering manager, Prysmian Group. He is attending the University of Connecticut, where he is seeking a degree in statistical data science.
John Hartline is the son of Christopher Hartline, vice president of operations, RichardsApex. He is attending Pennsylvania State University, where he is seeking a degree in computer science.
Luke McComiskey is the son of Thomas McComiskey, vice president, The MGS Group. He is attending the University of Rhode Island, where he is seeking a degree in nursing.
Erin Mulligan is the daughter of Alan Mulligan, sales representative, Vandor Corporation. She is attending at High Point University, where she is seeking a degree in business administration. She also won a scholarship from the Southeast Chapter.
Michael Russo is the son of James Russo, electrical engineer, MGS Manufacturing. He is attending Salve Regina University, where he is seeking a degree in biochemistry.
Ryan Delage, the recipient of the Intern Scholarship, was sponsored by Gary Collette and Michael Renner of Sjogren Industries Inc.
WAI News
The New England Chapter returned to the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut, for its 31st annual golf outing on what proved to be an utterly gorgeous day for the 143 golfers.
Coming out on top was the Lloyd & Bouvier team (pictured with trophy) of Michael Tucker, Darren Tucker, Joe Yabba and Gibson Yabba that shot a very respectable score of 15 under par. In second place, at 12 under, was the Web Industries team of James Evans, Trevor Lucas, Dave Morgan and Jordan Pihl. Third place went to the Little Falls Alloys team of Jeff Lawrence, Mike Sarni, Jake Pelletier and Sean Donnelly, 11 under.
The day had begun with the tee-off breakfast sponsored by James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp., and during play players could stop at designated lunch shacks—sponsored by Teknikor and Carris Reels—scattered throughout the course. Though golfers took their game seriously and the competition was fierce, players had a great time. Multiple golfers commented on how much they appreciated the brisk pace of play.
Following the tournament, players gathered at the pavilion for the dinner and awards ceremony, where the coveted New England Golf Tournament trophy was presented. The victorious team will keep it until the competition returns next year.
Event participants could also win an array of raffle prizes donated by a slew of generous sponsors. The winner of the grand prize—a set of TaylorMade Irons valued at $800—was Chris McCormick of Lightera, although the biggest winner was the chapter’s scholarship fund. Players dug deep for raffle tickets, adding nearly $4,000 to the chapter’s scholarship fund. See the six winners who won scholarships.
Event sponsors included: Amaral Automation Associates, Carris Reels Inc.; Electronic Drives & Controls, Inc.; Fluorogistx; Gem Gravure; Gendon Polymer Services Inc.; GEON Performance Solutions; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; Joe Snee Associates, Inc.; Lake Cable, Lake Copper; Lenze Americas; Little Falls Alloys; Lloyd & Bouvier; M.Holland; Mathiasen Machinery; Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. Inc.; REELEX Packaging Solutions; RichardsApex; SIKORA; Teknikor; The MGS Group; W. Gillies Technologies LLC; Web Industries; Wire & Cable Consulting, LLC; Wire & Cable Manufacturers’
Alliance, Inc. (WCMA); and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.
Jim Evans, who led the tournament organization, offered special thanks to all the dedicated committee volunteers who participated. “Without them, the event would be nowhere near as enjoyable.”
Tee time is rapidly approaching for the WAI Southeast Chapter’s 23rd annual golf tournament, to be held Oct. 16 at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa in Conover, North Carolina.
Last year, 96 golfers played at the site, which is host to the Tom Jackson course, recognized by Golf Digest on its list of “Best Places to Play.” That backdrop was matched by the performance of the winning team of Harrison Cummings and Mark Finch, IWG-HPC; Darin Nicol, Wayne Wire Die Company; and Kelly Grigg, I.T. Consultant (SRHS), who shot an unworldly 16-under-par to claim top honors in a very competitive field.
Both the second and third place teams shot a 13 under, which triggered the matching of cards to determine the official finishes. The official second-place winners were Jay Sweetenburg, Austin Duncan, Taylor Lane, and Steve Malott, all of Sonoco. Third-place winners were Brooke Stonesifer of Sonoco, Tom Heberling, Dylan Shepard and Gerald Galazin of Southwire.
WAI’s Steve Fetteroll and the Southeast Chapter Board cited outstanding support from three Southwire Company volunteers: Denise Siathone, Lauren Bozeman and Jasmine Monet.
The cost for playing and the awards dinner is $225 a player. Participants can register at the WAI Chapter’s page for either the tournament or dinner-only participation.
The WAI Education Center’s recent two-part webinar on distinguishing high-quality wire dies from substandard ones featured expert insights from Hyperion Materials & Technologies.
The first session, “Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies,” explored carbide and PCD (polycrystalline diamond) fundamentals, highlighting issues like EDM cutting problems and cracks. See p. 50.
The second one, “Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies,” focused on carbide materials with an interactive segment covering issues such as casing problems, breakage, cavities, and scratches.
The recorded webinars are now available on-demand through WAI’s learning platform. The educational resource is free to WAI members, a valuable member benefit. Registration for WAI webinars is $75 for non-members, making membership ($150/year) an attractive option for those interested in both sessions and seeking further discounts on training and events.
The good news is that the vast majority of the August preview for Wire & Cable Kraków is still accurate. Below are some of the key elements of the international conference to be held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre in Kraków, Poland.
The 28 presentations will be presented in concurrent ferrous and nonferrous sessions. They will explore and cover topics such as production efficiency, product development and sustainability. A tabletop exhibition will accompany the conference. See p. 38 for the list of companies/organizations that have reserved a spot.
Scheduled speakers come from companies/universities that include Aeroel Marposs, AGH University, Astarte Stategies Srl, Bekaert, Caleotto SpA, Celanese, CRU, Czestochowa University of Technology, Eder Engineering, Hyperion, InnoVites, Łukasiewicz–GIT, Maschinenfabrik NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG, Metalube, the MFL Group, the Pittini Group, SAMP Group, Tata Steel, Taymer Europe, TKT Group, Tokai University, University of Milano-Bicocca, Windak Group and WiTechs.
Registration for all event elements can now be done at www.wirecable25.com. The four event organizers include WAI, ACIMAF, the AGH University of Kraków and the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA). The International Wire and Cable Machine Exhibitors Association (IWCEA) is also an event sponsor. WAI’s Poland Chapter is graciously providing administrative services. The event is backed by media partner Expometals.net and supported by WJI. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available.
The experience includes a gala dinner on the day of the conference at the historic Stara Zajezdnia Kraków by DeSilva in the heart of Kazimierz.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 11 am EST, WAI will host a live extrusion webinar led by industry expert Rick Chamberlin of Hawkins Consulting, LLC. The fast-paced, 30-minute session will provide practical takeaways while offering a sneak peek of WAI’s four online extrusion training courses.
Participants will get a teaser of the key concepts and techniques covered in the full courses, enough to spark interest and provide immediate value without getting too deep. The webinar will also feature an interactive knowledge check and a live Q&A, giving attendees a chance to engage directly with the instructor.
Registration is available at the Association’s website at wirenet.org via the calendar of upcoming events. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a firsthand look at WAI’s extrusion training content.
The Wire Association International’s Education Center is presenting a two-part webinar series this month on differentiating high-quality wire dies from substandard ones. Targeted at tool makers and wire producers, the sessions are led by experts from Hyperion Materials & Technologies.
On Sept. 17, 2025, at 11:00 am CST, “Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies” will explore carbide and PCD (polycrystalline diamond) fundamentals, highlighting issues like EDM cutting problems and cracks. Attendees will learn to identify defects, receive a checklist for product evaluation, and discover innovations in PCD materials.
On Sept. 24, 2025, at 11:00 am CST, “Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies” will focus on carbide materials with an interactive segment covering issues such as casing problems, breakage, cavities, and scratches. This session will also present a checklist for quality assessment, testing methods, certifications, and the latest in carbide technology.
Registration is required for each session. Webinars are free for WAI members and $75 for non-members, making membership ($150/year) an attractive option for those interested in both sessions and seeking further discounts on training and events.
WAI has set October 2 as the date for the Points Meeting for Wire Expo 2026 at its headquarters in Madison, Connecticut, where space allocation will officially launch for the event set for May 6-7, 2026, at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Points Meeting is critical for companies to select exhibit spaces based on a points system that rewards frequent and long-time supporters. Director of Sales Shannon Timme commented that Wisconsin is an excellent location, with Milwaukee positioned in a key hub of the Midwest’s industrial corridor, while also offering visitors the chance to experience downtown and regional hospitality. Bolstered by co-location with EWPTE, Wire Expo 2026 is expected to see even greater results, she added.
At the last Points Meeting on Oct. 11, 2023, for Wire Expo 2024, 91 companies participated, resulting in 102 floor spaces being claimed for the expo held June 11-12, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut—representing more than 60% of available booth space. Two months after the meeting, nearly 70% of 2024 expo floor space had been reserved, with 10% of exhibitors being new. The event sold out.
Vanessa Lewis has joined the Wire Association International as project manager, serving as the primary contact for WAI member relations.
Lewis, a 2024 graduate of Purchase College at SUNY, holds a B.S. degree in communications. She previously worked as a production assistant at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her responsibilities include managing chapters, overseeing new member onboarding and renewals, and providing project management support for WAI’s meeting planning, circulation and association management software (AMS).
Lewis will act as the staff liaison to the Member Relations Committee and all chapters. She has already met with Member Relations Committee Chairman Brian Steinbruegge of Insteel Industries to ensure a smooth transition. Her first WAI event was the Ohio Valley Chapter Outing on August 21. She will provide on-site support at the New England and Southeast Chapter outings in September and October.
“I am pleased to have Vanessa join our dedicated team,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who noted that in her short time at WAI, Lewis has already impressed her colleagues. Fetteroll added that Lewis will also be involved in WAI’s transition to a new AMS, which is in its early phases, as well as the upcoming deployment of the new wirenet.org site.
Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc. President Eric Bieberich recently sent the Wire Association International a photo showing the WAI flag flying alongside the U.S. flag at the company’s headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Bieberich, who is serving as WAI’s 2025 president, continued the tradition by displaying the flag, which WAI provides to each current president to be flown during their term.
This custom, embraced in recent years, highlights the close relationship between WAI leadership and its member companies and serves as a visual symbol of industry pride and association identity throughout the president’s tenure.
The WAI New England Chapter has rescheduled its previously planned Aug. 7 educational meeting at FENN’s plant in East Berlin, Connecticut, to October 9. The annual educational meeting will include a plant tour and a networking dinner, featuring food and drink trucks for the celebration.
The cost is $105, or $85 for WAI members. All proceeds support the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund, helping invest in the next generation of industry professionals.
The Ohio Valley Chapter (OVC) will hold its golf tournament and target shooting event on Thursday, Aug. 21. As with its prior event, the OVC will offer a unique split activity format. Golfers will play at the Kensington Country Club (www.kensingtongolf.com), while the OVC shooting event will again be held at the Training Range (www.thetrainingrange.com) in nearby Austintown. Following both events, the Ohio Valley Chapter will hold an educational program.
Meanwhile, the New England Chapter returns to the Tunxis Country Club (www.tunxisgolf.com) on Monday, Sept. 8, for its highly anticipated 31st annual Golf Tournament, with 140 golfers expected to participate. The event will feature a DJ, raffle prizes, awards, and ample time to reconnect with colleagues and make new industry connections in a relaxed setting. If you’re not interested in golf, you can register for just the afternoon portion.
Closing out the schedule will be the WAI Southeast Chapter’s Annual Golf Outing on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa (www.rockbarn.com) in Conover, North Carolina. See more in the next issue.
Registration for all these events can be made through the individual chapter pages at www.wirenet.org. These events, a perfect blend of camaraderie and competition, are an excellent way to meet peers, support good causes (such as college scholarship programs), and enjoy a day on the links.
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