Robotic Industries Association appoints new board chair

The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) has appointed Matt Wicks, chief robotics solution architect of Honeywell Intelligrated as its new board chair.

“I’m honoured to accept this role with a talented team of industry professionals as we continue to guide and support the robotics industry in this time of rapid growth,” says Wicks. “Robotics are playing an ever-increasing role in our global economy and adoption rates are climbing steadily.”

Ken McLaughlin of JMP Solutions, Melonee Wise of Fetch Robotics and Erik Nieves, of Plus One RoboticsCurrent all join as board members.

RIA board members who retained their seats in the recent election include Steve Green, KUKA; Jane Heffner, ABB; and Matt Rendall, Clearpath Robotics.

Other than Wicks, the RIA board executive committee in 2020 consists of Joe Gemma, Calvary Robotics (past chair); Milton Guerry, SCHUNK (first vice-chair); Lou Finazzo, FANUC America Corporation (second vice-chair); Jon Battles, Amazon.com (secretary); and Jeff Burnstein, RIA president.

The remaining board members for 2020 include:

• Carl Doeksen, 3M
• Steve Kruzel, Yaskawa America, Inc.
• Mark Lewandowski, Procter & Gamble
• Bob Little, ATI Industrial Automation
• John Lizzi, General Electric
• Tyler McCoy, JR Automation Technologies LLC
• Gary McMurray, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Craig Salvalaggio, Applied Manufacturing Technologies
• Walter Vahey, Teradyne
• Carol Woten, Genesis Systems – IPG Photonics Company

After many years of dedicated service, Catherine Morris, ATI Industrial Automation; Stu Shepherd, Universal Robots; and Mike Jacobs, Applied Manufacturing Technologies are departing the RIA Board.

These three board members were recognized at the recent A3 Business Forum for their service to the industry and to the RIA and A3 associations.