Lift Trucks: ITA announces new executive director for 2012

The Executive Committee of the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) announced today that William J. Montwieler, Executive Director of ITA since 1983, will retire on December 31. Brian Feehan, Vice President of the Propane Education and Research Council, will join the Association in the Fall and will succeed Montwieler on January 1, 2012.

President Jeff Rufener (MCFA) noted: “Bill’s 28 years of service to the association have been marked by major changes to and improvement in the services that ITA offers its members. The association’s statistics program, its engineering practices, the work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the establishment of the Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation, the enhancement of our contacts with our sister associations abroad through the Alliance of Industrial Truck Organizations, all came about under Bill’s leadership. The Association is extremely grateful to Bill and to his wife, Nancy, who was with him and us every step along the way.

“Kudos also goes to Bill for alerting us to Brian Feehan’s availability to succeed him. Brian is well known to all of us through his work at the Propane Education and Research Council. He’s attended every ITA meeting for the last six years, including the Association’s Executive Committee sessions and has contributed mightily to our air quality efforts; Brian joined the ITSDF Board of Trustees last February. His previous experience with the World Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association in Paris places him in good stead to continue our efforts in Europe, Japan and China.”

Montwieler said, “I have had the pleasure of working with Brian over the course of the last several years and I am convinced that he has the experience, the ability and the desire to help lead the membership towards greater profitability. With support from Chris Buddenhagen, Director of Market Information, 27 years of experience, Chris Merther, Director of Technical Services, 15 years of experience, and Debbie Stergar, Meeting Planner and Bookkeeper, 25 years of experience, Brian will be equipped with a wise and efficient staff that will make sure the transition to his leadership is smooth and efficient.”

In commenting on past achievements, Montwieler said, “Weathering the dumping issues of the ‘80s was a challenge, but the crowning achievement of the last 25 years has to be OSHA’s adoption of new regulations on operator training. Those regulations wouldn’t have happened without ITA; every member can be proud that, thanks mainly to the association’s efforts, the lives of many operators have been saved and countless injuries have been avoided. The expansion of this effort to include Compliance Officer Training Seminars, where inspectors learn from industry experts, continues to help improve safety in the workplace. I think Brian Feehan brings the same kind of drive and determination and vision that we have benefited from in the past and that is so necessary for ITA’s future.”

Feehan, 44, responded, “The Industrial Truck Association has vibrant members, a vibrant history and a vibrant staff. I’ve had the chance to get to know the Executive Committee over the last decade and I can see why Bill has had such great success with the association. The members aren’t afraid to lead. They speak their minds and guide ITA’s staff. I am grateful to the Committee, to Bill and to Mac Dunaway and Gary Cross, for the confidence they have in me. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”