7/2/2022 - 

Christine Lovett has joined Fil-Tec as director of business development for the company’s Wire and Cable division. She has nearly 25 years of global experience in the wire and cable industry. Prior to joining Fil-Tec, she served as business development and product manager at LLFlex where she oversaw growth and product life cycle of their armoring and shielding products for the wire and cable industry. Before that she worked for more than 18 years at Sonoco Products Company and Zumbach Electronics Corporation in various wire and cable technical and commercial roles. She holds an MBA degree from The University of Memphis and a B.S. degree in business administration and management from Marist College. Based in Hagerstown, Maryland, Fil-Tech sells yarns to fields that include wire and cable.

David Hawker was promoted to director of engineering for Cerrowire. A WAI Past President (2017), he joined the company as a plant manager in March 2021. Prior to that he had worked for 32 years for Nexans, where he started out in 1987 as an engineering manager and served in roles with increasing responsibility, his last being vice president and general manager of the Energy Division North America of Nexans. Based in Hartselle, Alabama, and a Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway company, Cerrowire is a copper wire manufacturing company with plants in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Utah.

Q8Oils has promoted Andrew Turner to global technical sales manager - wire & rolling at Q8Oils. He joined the company in 2003 as a development chemist, and was promoted to product manager in 2007, and became technical manager - Americas in 2008. In 2010, he became a research scientist metalworking for Kuwait Petroleum Research and Technology B.V. (part of Q8 Research), then was named technical sales and logistics manager - American in 2012, prior to his latest promotion. Prior to Q8, he worked five years for Croda Application Chemicals. He holds a chemistry degree from Sheffield Hallam University. A global supplier of oils, Q8Oils serves industries that include wire and cable production.

Kathy Beaudoin was promoted to director of sales operations at Comtran Marmon ITF. She joined the company in 2005 as national sales director, and was named director of sales operations in 2017. She began her career in sales in 1989 at Madison Cable, where she worked for 10 years. She then worked for six years for Century Electronics, General Dynamics Network Systems, DocuServe and ACT Electronics before joining Comtran. Based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Comtran manufactures cable and system solutions for a variety of applications, including structured cabling, fire safety, circuit integrity and transit communications.

Bartell Machinery Systems has named William Cacciapouti as its sales manager for wire and cable. He previously was East Coast regional sales manager for Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Inc., which he joined in 2019. Prior to that he worked for 12 years for Quirk Wire Company as outside sales manager, business development manager, and later as sales manager. Before that, he had worked for nine years as a product marketing manager for C&M Corporation. He holds a BBA degree in finance from Nichols College. Based in Rome, New York, Bartell Machinery Systems supplies rotating technology to the wire and cable industry.

Obituary

Christopher Shannon McGill, a plant manager at Southwire’s factory in Huntersville, North Carolina, died June 2 at age 52 from brain cancer.
McGill joined the company as an operations manager in 2015, and was promoted to plant manager in 2018. He previously had worked for three years for ABB as a production manager and as an operational excellence and process engineering manager. Prior to that he worked as a manufacturing manager for ASTA for two years. A WAI member, he was the president of the Southeast Chapter.|

McGill was known at Southwire as a devoted, caring and smart plant manager. He loved his job, his employees and the company he worked for. He battled the cancer for three years, and worked until the day they sent him home for his own good, just one month before he died. If it were up to him he would have gone every day until then.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Tina McGill; four children, Amanda Palomino, Nina Derrick, Taylor McGill, and Trevor McGill; his parents, Jane and Murry McGill; three grandchildren, his brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Alexy McGil; and many nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

7/2/2022 - The Midwest Chapter reports that its annual golf tournament was a day to remember for the field of 68 golfers competing for bragging rights on Wednesday, June 1, at the St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago, Illinois.

Kevin Sopczak of Liberty Steel, who heads the logistics for the golf tournament, said that the annual golf tournament had been sorely missed as the last two events were not able to be held, “courtesy” of Covid-19, the ultimate scourge and spoilsport. “It was a great day, and everything went off without issue. The day was cloudy, with a high of about 70 degrees, with no rain. It was a picture perfect day for golf.”

The return to the links was warmly greeted. “This was my first WAI Midwest Chapter outing and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said John Hauerwas, heating and heat treating product manager, Radyne Corporation. “My playing companions were pleasant and interesting to be with, some good networking took place and the course, food and hospitality were also good.”

Claiming bragging rights with a winning low score of 64 was the Lake Cable team of Jack Rosenthal, Justin Albright, Dan Pelzel and Fabian Arias. Other challenge winners included: Closest to the Pin, Hole #7, Jack Rosenthal (Lake Cable), Hole #12 Justin Albright (Lake Cable) and Hole #15, Jim DeGrado (Worth Steel); Longest Drive, Hole #2, Jon Singer (Transend Logistics), Hole #14, Dan Pelzel (Lake Cable) and Hole #17, Mike Krueger (Traxit); and Accurate Drive, Hole #11, Rick Fisher.

Sopzak also thanked the sponsors for the event, which included the following. Longest Drive: Chemetall, Worth Steel & Machinery, Suzuki-Garphyttan, Micro Wire & Bar; Closest to the Pin: Chemetall (2 holes) and Leggett & Platt; Accurate Drive: Central Wire; and Corporate Hole Sponsors: Ivaco Rolling Mills, Omni Source, Precision Die Technologies, Charter Steel, Redline Metals, Suzuki-Garphyttan, D & S Wire, Fort Wayne Wire Die and Lake Michigan Metals.

The Midwest Chapter event continues to be a key fundraiser for the body’s scholarship program.

6/2/2022 

Matthew Bedell has been promoted to vice president of the Industrial Specialties business unit for North America for the Prysmian Group, responsible for directing all commercial activities. He has more than 20 years of process engineering, operations management, supply chain, and commercial experience. He began his career with Prysmian Group as part of General Cable in 2002. He was part of the integration of the aluminum building wire business and led the aluminum rod and strip business following the acquisition of Alcan Cable in 2012. After the acquisition of General Cable by the Prysmian Group in 2018, Bedell held leadership responsibilities for all of U.S. inside sales. He most recently was responsible for commercial operations in the Trade & Installers business unit. He replaces Richard Parvesse, who was recently appointed president of Prysmian’s Elevator and Escalator business unit, Draka EHC. The Prysmian Group which operates in more than 50 countries and has 108 plants and approximately 29,000 employees, is a leader in many wire and cable fields.

Chris Blakeman has been promoted to vice president/general manager of Davis Wire. He joined the company in 2018 as director of operations, and has extensive international leadership experience. Prior to that, he was general manager at Insteel Industries and plant manager for Chatsworth Products, with his longest tenure at Bekaert, where he worked for nearly 19 years, mostly in managerial positions, in locations in the U.K., Belgium, Czech Republic, U.S. and Costa Rica. He is certified in Six Sigma and can also speak French, Spanish and Dutch. He holds a B.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wolverhampton, and a M.Sc. degree in advanced materials from Cranfield University. Part of the Heico Group and based in Irwindale, California, Davis Wire specializes in galvanized, brite and reinforcing wire.

LS Cable & System USA reports that Adnan Skopljak is a new regional sales manager. He has more than 15 years of professional experience, most recently serving as a regional sales manager for Southwire Company, where he worked for six years in utility wire and cable. He has a degree in business management from the University of West Georgia. Based in Georgia, LS Cable & System USA manufactures energy wire and cable products serving the commercial, industrial, renewable energy and utility markets.

 Robert Auger was named plant director for the Lincoln, Rhode Island site of the Prysmian Group. He most recently was vice president of operations for Champlain Cable Corporation, which he joined in 2017. Prior to that, he was vice president of operations for Comtran Cable, where he worked for 14 years, and before that he had worked for two years at Alpha Wire and 18 years for C&M Corporation. The Prysmian Group, which operates in more than 50 countries and has 108 plants and approximately 29,000 employees, is a leader in many wire and cable fields.

Luvata Senior Vice President and CFO Pekka Kleemola has been promoted to president. He has worked for the company and its predecessors for nearly 20 years. He replaces Jussi Helavirta, who joined Luvata in 2000 and was the president of Luvata Special Products division when it was acquired by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in 2017. Kleemola said that Helavirta was a highly valued and respected leader, and under his leadership the company had moved toward a more modern and open corporate culture, developing processes, operations and global presence. Based in Finland, Luvata has a diversified product portfolio that includes wire. It has operations in seven countries, which includes Accurate Wire in Branford, Connecticut.

5/4/2022 

It’s time for members of the New England and Southeast chapters to pencil in dates for their upcoming golf tournaments, when they are held in September.

Up first is the New England Chapter, which will stage its 28th Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner on Monday, Sept. 12, at the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut. Contact: John Markowski, 203-458-4044, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On Thursday, Sept. 22, the Southeast Chapter will hold its annual golf tournament & dinner at the Rock Barn Country Club in Conover, North Carolina. Contact: John Markowski, 203-458-4044, 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The June issue will have more details.

5/4/2022 

The Midwest Chapter will be the WAI’s first to stage its annual golf tournament, as players will tee off on Wednesday, June 1, at the St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago, Illinois. It has been sorely missed as the last two events were not able to be held, “courtesy” of Covid-19, the ultimate scourge and spoilsport.

A look back at who has had de facto extended bragging rights shows that the 2019 winning foursome was Nick Zehr (King Steel), Erik Timpt (King Steel), Mike Shell (King Steel) and Joe Micklin (Jam Industrial), who shot a very respectable 62, 10 under par, to take top honors. It is past time for new winners to emerge.

“Finally, a return to some normalcy is on the horizon!” declared Kevin Sopczak, who once again heads the chapter’s golf planning efforts. “I see it as a triumphant return after two long years due to Covid restrictions. Most players’ skills will be showing rust, and this is the best outing to get back to swinging the sticks. Low pressure, and lots of fun, is what makes this outing enjoyable. Sign up today!”

The good news is that registration for the 19th Annual Midwest Chapter Golf Tournament & Dinner is open, available through WAI’s online registration system at wai.configio.com. A player can register a team of two to four golfers, or sign up individually for the best ball-scramble format event. The $175 registration fee covers the full day including greens fees, cart, breakfast sandwich, and the reception and awards dinner. The day begins with check-in at 8 am, play at 9 am and the reception, dinner and awards presentations at 5 pm.

Sponsorships are available, including Long Drive: $200; Closest to the Pin: $200; Accurate Drive: $200; and Corporate Hole Sponsor: $150. Sponsors are recognized at the tournament, in Wire Journal International and on signage at the course. These can be added during registration, and returning sponsors receive right of first refusal to renew their previous sponsorship.

Items for raffle prize drawings are also encouraged. Please remember to attach your business card so that your contribution can be recognized during the drawing. For more details, contact: WAI’s John Markowski, tel. 203-458-4044, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Participation in the tournament helps the WAI Midwest Chapter Scholarship Fund provide financial assistance to graduating high school seniors and enrolled college students who are children or dependents of WAI Midwest Chapter members in good standing. The program, which is operated in conjunction with The Wire Foundation Inc., was started in 2008.