As PMA celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we want you to get to know the people behind the scenes that have contributed to PMA’s success. Each month we will feature a key PMA staff member on our blog.
This month we are highlighting Bill Koppes, who will be celebrating 35 years with PMA in April. Read on to get to know more about Bill and his role at PMA.
Name, title and time at PMA.
Bill Koppes, IT Director, 35 years on April 7.
What made you want to work at PMA?
It seemed like a good opportunity and a good company to work for at the time. I was a retail store manager and working long weekly hours was not my dream opportunity as we were just starting a family. One of the employees who worked at the store went to work for the American Metal Stamping Association (PMA was AMSA at the time) and then later moved on to another opportunity, so he called me and said that I should apply for his sales job.
How has PMA changed over the years since you started?
When I started, I was working remotely and traveling quite a bit selling membership and training systems, and visiting many of the member companies. I wasn’t involved in office activities until much later. PMA was a small operation in Richmond Heights, OH, and seemed like a small local business from the outside, but inside a small staff wore many hats and everyone worked together to accomplish the goals.
In 1998 when PMA built a new headquarters building, something changed, and it now felt that PMA had grown up and was now an international association. PMA always had great benefits and reasons to belong, and as more staff was hired, more benefits and services came on board.
The computerization of the world is the biggest difference as it is for everyone, but that just shows my age. As manual tasks became more automated in the following years, more opportunities for our members came into focus—conducting business around the globe instead of thinking locally. PMA aided in this process by helping members compete on a global stage through networking with international partner associations and manufacturers.
Over the years, PMA has endured many obstacles; however, what hasn’t changed is the value that PMA provides its members and the support it receives from member companies.
First event/meeting that you worked on/attended.
My first event was three days before I was hired. As part of the interview process, I attended the METALFORM trade show in Chicago, IL, at the Rosemont Convention Center in 1987. I was able to meet the staff and many members while seeing first-hand what the metalforming industry was. I remember how large the stamping presses were and at the time I was completely unaware of what manufacturing was. It left a lasting impression on me, and I wanted to see more of how things were really made. I realized that PMA members were something special and I knew that I wanted to be a part of this industry.
Favorite PMA memory?
There really are two that stand out the most. When I started, I was working remotely and traveling quite a bit selling membership and training systems. I always will remember conducting day-long training demos of our video-tape training systems and visiting many large OEM companies. It was a wonderful experience to see that PMA’s training systems were providing much-needed benefits. I also recall the experience of receiving personal tours of so many manufacturing companies, which left me with an even greater appreciation of PMA and this industry that we serve.
Also, many memorable moments took place at the trade shows—first when we changed our name from AMSA to PMA in 1987 at my first trade show, and then over the years at many more trade shows in Chicago, Nashville, Mexico and Canada. Being able to meet so many members and prospective members all with the same interests in seeking ways to improve their businesses stands out.
What does PMA mean to you?
More than a job, it’s being part of an organization and industry in which we can make a difference and which provides real value for members.
What is your favorite part of your job? What excites you about working at PMA?
Every day is a new challenge and there is always something more to learn. You can probably say that for everyone, but learning is what makes it fun.
What has been your biggest achievement/success while at PMA?
Over the years, I’ve had many different responsibilities. Being of an analytical mind, it was easy for me to transition from membership to database systems. One of the greatest achievements was converting our AS400 IBM system to a new AMS software system in 1998. While I’ve had many great opportunities, none has been more important than helping PMA’s business grow over the years by providing our staff and members with more capabilities and features while finding a new passion for helping others to succeed. As systems became more complex, I was able to learn database programming, and then we enhanced and integrated our systems with many association websites until later launching our current AMS system in 2016.