Jason Sandefur

Michael Friel is the new chairman of the Industrial Fasteners Institute and Porter McLean is vice chair.
Friel is president of Haydon Bolt and St. Louis Screw & Bolt. Philadelphia-based Haydon Bolt, founded in 1864, was one of the founding companies of the IFI. Haydon manufactures anchor bolts, tie rod assemblies, u-bolts, eye bolts and j-bolts.
Haydon also distributes structural bolts, nuts, washers and electric wrenches. Friel has been a member of the National Fastener Distributors Association board. His spouse, Jennifer Friel, is president of Midwest Fabricating.
Friel succeeds David Lepore as chair. Lepore, president of Robertson Inc., also was chair for 1994-95.
McLean is vice president of sales & marketing at ATF Inc.
Bryan Burgy, president of Rockford Fasteners Inc., was elected to the board.
Division I (industrial products) officers: chair Tony Tumbarello, president, Brico Industries; vice chair, Jonathan Turner, president, Turnasure LLC.
Division II (aerospace): chair Soheil Eshraghi, director of product engineering, Textron Aerospace Fasteners.
Division III (automotive): chair Steve Beach, vice president/automotive sales, Textron Fastening Systems; vice chair Jim VanIngen, general manager, ITW Automotive Fasteners.
Associate / Suppliers: chair Leo Monroe, vice president sales & marketing, National Machinery LLC; Ed Koneczny, sales & marketing, The Magni Group Inc.
IFI managing director Rob Harris declared the fastener manufacturing organization had a “very good meeting and turnout.” Speakers included James Smith, Keenan Institute and Wall Street Journal economic forecaster; John Wu of the Taiwan Industrial Fasteners Institute, Robert Lench, European Industrial Fasteners Institute and Jose Gianesi, Brazilian Fastener Institute (SINPA); Pat Panchak, editor-in-chief of Industry Week; and John MacKay of MacKay Research Group speaking on benchmarking in the fastener industry.
IFI Honors Wittersheim, Bickford & Wilson
The IFI presented its third Soaring Eagles Award to James Wittersheim, John Bickford and Charles Wilson.
Wittersheim, former president of Semblex Corp., was IFI chair for 1992-93 and again in 2004 when chair John Fischer died. Wittersheim was given the William E. Ward leadership award for “outstanding contribution in providing direction, vision and focus toward the resolution of strategic issues challenging the fastener industry.”
The Roy P. Trowbridge technology award went to Bickford, author of “Bolted Joints” and other fastener textbooks, for “numerous outstanding contributions in the advancement of bolting technology and exceptional educational pursuits which enhanced beyond measure the understanding of the behavior of bolted joints.”
Wilson, the IFI’s director of engineering, was given the George S. Case Sr. meritorious service award for “outstanding service in achieving higher levels of mechanical fastener standardization and enhanced technical practices facilitating improved application and use in all sectors of the economy on both domestic and international levels.”
The Soaring Eagles awards are chosen by an independent committee of the IFI. �2005 FastenerNews.com