BY HOWARD WOODWARD — woodward@aws.org SOCIETY NEWS President Landon Presents His Agenda Outgoing AWS President Dean Wilson presented 2015 President David Landon his president’s ring (Fig. 1) at the officer transition meeting held Feb. 20 at AWS World Headquarters in Miami, Fla. Landon’s presentation focused on the theme “A Triple Pass of the Torch,” touching on technology, heroism, and mentorship. Landon, who enjoys watching the Iron Man and other superhero movies, said, “If you look at the technology that’s involved in welding today it’s right out of superhero movies.” For the first pass, technology, he cited the high-tech lenses in autodarkening helmets, and uses for robotics, additive manufacturing, virtual reality training, motion tracking, and lasers. Landon named his father and brother and others who he looks up to for shaping his life and career as the second pass. For the third pass, mentorship, he concluded his talk with the challenging questions, “Who are you being a hero to, who are the people you are pouring your life into, and who are the people you are introducing to a welding career?” Dean Wilson spoke on the significant events during his year as president. He discussed the stackable credentials program, and a data-management system allowing managing career enhancement, which morphed to become AWS Weld Link; and how we exceeded our customers’ expectations and continued on a path of continuous improvement through innovation and embracing change. The distinguished attendees included past President Ron Pierce; Dist. 13 Director John Willard; Dist. 15 Director David Lynnes; Directorat Large Bob Roth; vice president nominee Tom Lienert; past President Nancy Cole and Leon; Deb Wilson; Treasurer Bob Pali and Annette; Vice President Dale Flood and Svetlana; Vice President John Bray; Vice President David McQuaid and Dolly; and Kay Landon and daughter Maggie. Employee of the Year Each year, one AWS employee, nominated by his or her peers, is cited for exemplary service and notable contributions above the scope of their normal duties with an attitude and behavior contributing to teamwork and positive treatment of others in ways that exceeded job expectations. Executive Director Ray Shook presented this year’s Michael A. Rowland Exemplary Employee of the Year Award to Zaida Chavez — Fig. 2. Chavez, with the company for 33 years, is production manager of the Welding Journal, Inspection Trends, and other AWS publications. She was cited for working through a major redesign of the Welding Journal, including creating and implementing new layouts, templates, artwork, fonts, and type styles to enhance readability and the magazine’s appearance. Shook said, had we hired a design firm to do this work it would cost a minimum of $25,000. Zaida saved AWS that amount, and she did it while performing all of her regular duties. In relating the contents of her nomination, Shook said, “Zaida keeps all of the Publications Department’s magazine and advertising products on schedule. This is quite an undertaking given the Welding Journal is printed each month; Inspection Trends, Welding Journal en Español, andWelding Marketplace are each published quarterly; and Welding Journal em Portuguese is printed at least once a year. In addition, she accommodates the editors and advertising sales staff. “Things are thrown at Zaida at the most hectic time of the production schedule, yet she keeps her cool and makes it work. Month after month, because of Zaida’s organizational skills and efficiency, the various publications come out on time and at a high quality. She is always willing to Fig. 1 — Dean Wilson (right) presents David Landon his president’s ring. Fig. 2 — Zaida Chavez is named Employee of the Year by Ray Shook, AWS executive director. work with the other members of the department and often takes on jobs that actually aren’t hers. However, she’s more interested in getting the task completed and completed well than she is in her ‘job description.’” The award includes $1000, an engraved trophy, a gift certificate for dinner for two, and a designated parking space for one year. APRIL 2015 / WELDING JOURNAL 85 BY KRISTIN CAMPBELL KRISTIN CAMPBELL (kcampbell@aws.org) is associate editor of the Welding Journal.
Welding Journal | April 2015
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