WAI’s four chapters that offer scholarship programs have reported the winners for 2024. Below are the names of the recipients from the New England Chapter and the Southeast Chapter, preceded by some comments from the chapters. Of note, scholarship fund raising efforts have found strong support over the years, and not just from members that have a potential recipient.   

Quabbin Wire’s Cheryl Stewart said that the New England Chapter members have continued to be very generous, enabling may scholarships to be awarded over the years. The chapter gives back through its different events, and seeing scholarships go to deserving relatives of members is a very positive result.

Sikora’s John Dognazzi said that he has been pleased with how generous the members of the Southeast Chapter (SEC) have been in their support of the scholarship program. “It was great to see increased participation in this year’s SEC golf tournament, and that resulted in more funding for the scholarships, which is a win-win.”

New England Chapter Winners - $2,500:

Erin Tonyali, the daughter of Koksal Tonyali, director, product development - trade and installers products business unit, Prysmian Group, attending The University of Connecticut, where she majors in biomedical engineering.

Ava LaRoss is the daughter of Michael LaRoss, CFO, Whitney Blake Company, is attending Vermont State University Castleton, where she majors in nursing.

Halen Barry, the son of Joseph Barry, COO, Protertial Cable America Inc., is attending The University of New Hampshire, where he majors in computer science with a focus in cybersecurity.

Southeast Chapter Winner - $1,800:

Meredith Hammontree, the daughter of Joe Hammontree, president, Temple Terrace Industries/Reelco, is attending Florida College, where she majors in biology. 

New company listings for inclusion in the Wire Journal International Reference Guide will be accepted through Nov. 30, 2024, at WAI’s temporary website: wirenext.org. There, you can set your new login, click “Add Listing,” and follow the prompts.

If your company has an existing listing, your company contact will be notified via e-mail to create a new log-in and make updates on the new site. 

Tyler Faille has joined Hueson Wire & Cable as operations manager, responsible for the company’s production, quality, materials and facilities teams. He most recently worked for seven years for Winchester Interconnect (formerly C&M Corporation), where he served in various leadership roles, including as production manager. He holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Earlier this year, Brian Harvie joined the company as vice president of technology, responsible for product engineering, quality and IT with a focus on digital transformation. He most recently worked for Proterial Cable America for nearly four years, and prior to that worked 21 years for TE Connectivity. He holds an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Mark Reinbold has joined the company as an outside sales engineer, based out of the St. Louis region. He most recently was a territory manager for IEWC. He has 35 years of industry experience, starting out by designing wiring harnesses. He holds a B.S. degree in engineering from the University of Missouri. Based in Grafton, Massachusetts, Hueson Wire & Cable manufactures custom wire and cable solutions for multiple applications.

 David Skaggs has been promoted to North America drawing market manager at BECHEM Lubrication Technology, LLC. In 2015 he joined the company where prior to his promotion he was a technical sales and applications engineer. He worked for eight years for Superior Essex, where he had served as a senior product engineer, engineering and maintenance manager and a manufacturing manager. Prior to that he worked 11 years for Reelcraft Industries, Inc., in a range of engineering and managing positions. Based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and part of Germany’s Carl Bechem GmbH, Bechem Lubrication Technology, LLC, supplies specialty lubricants and metal-working fluids.

Craig Wire Products reported two employee hires. Octavio Franco has joined the company as its sales agent for Mexico. He has been active in the industrial market, serving as procurement director for Potencia Industrial, where he has worked for 10 years in Mexico City. He also has five years of experience in related electrical insulation working for Kobaltec, a Mexican distributor. Lori Fridlin has joined the company as its magnet wire account manager. She will focus on the transformer markets in the U.S. and Canada. She has years of experience in the magnet wire industry, including nearly three years with Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, where she was a national account manager. She holds a degree in business administration from the University of Missouri. Based in Douglasville, Georgia, Craig Wire Products manufactures magnet wire and copper wire.

Natalia Scherbakoff has been appointed chief technology officer for Orion. She most recently worked for Trinseo, a specialty materials company, where she served as the vice president of technology innovation, overseeing global research, development and technology innovation. Prior to Trinseo, she was vice president of research innovation & product lines at Plastic Omnium, a French automotive supplier, general manager of Specialty Composites and director of Global Innovation at Owens Corning. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees in macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University, and a chemical engineering degree from Mauá Engineering University and an MBA from Getulio Vargas Foundation (Brazil). Based in Germany, Orion’s product lines include carbon black.

Georgetown Steel, once a premier U.S. steel wire rod producer, has continued to go through extended harsh times, with further cuts by its U.K. owners, Liberty Steel.

Per multiple media reports, some four months ago Liberty Steel cut 50 Georgetown positions, with a company spokesman cited as saying that staffing had dwindled to six workers. “We’re hoping to restart at some point when market conditions get better,” said Reace Smith, Liberty Steel’s head of communications and brand.

The Georgetown steel mill, which opened in 1969, was ranked as the 14th largest U.S. steel producer in 1981, and at one point had some 1,500 employees. The cyclical steel market was cruel at points, and it has seen a series of new owners. Those included the government of Kuwait in 1984, Bain Capital LLC in 1993, Mid-Coast Industries in 2002, the International Steel Group in 2004, India’s Lakshmi Mittal in 2005, ArcelorMittal in 2011 and the Liberty Steel Group in 2018.