CLEVELAND, OH—April 6, 2022—The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) is pleased to announce the creation of a PMA Mid-Atlantic District to provide metalforming professionals in the region access to the association’s educational programming, social events and industry networks. The PMA Mid-Atlantic District includes Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., as well as two PMA legacy districts, New Jersey/New York and Eastern Pennsylvania.
PMA districts are strategically located in areas across the country to provide members with local access to a variety of programming. Each district offers activities and programs that are unique to the needs of the local area served.
“The creation of the Mid-Atlantic District was made possible because PMA members stepped up and volunteered to lead this effort,” said David Klotz, PMA president. “We have great member companies in these states, and I am very excited that we can now facilitate greater cooperation and communication among members from around a region that is so vital to the association.”
“By creating the Mid-Atlantic District, PMA can connect members along the entire eastern seaboard, from New England to Florida. This will generate fantastic opportunities to grow participation and representation in PMA from companies in previously underserved areas,” said Randy Kish, PMA member engagement manager.
Leading the Mid-Atlantic District are Josh Hopp, President of HK Metalcraft in Lodi, NJ, who will serve as District Director; Sean Keller, Business Development Manager at Eagle Metals in Leesport, PA, who will serve as District Chair; and Mark Weissenrieder, Director of Technology at Weiss-Aug Company in East Hanover, NJ, who will serve District Treasurer.
“We frequently had PMA members from Eastern Pennsylvania and other areas attending events, volunteering or hosting when I was director of the New Jersey/New York District,” said Hopp. “We can now offer these members and others the benefits of district representation with professional growth and recognition through their involvement.”
Keller, who represents Eastern Pennsylvania and brings a next-generation perspective to district leadership, said, “When the new district was being planned, a primary objective from the PMA board was to put in place young leadership. As an ‘elder millennial’ and now the PMA Mid-Atlantic District Chair, working alongside Josh and Mark, we are well-positioned to deliver programming and initiatives that will appeal to all generations.”
Keller also brings the perspective of entering the industry without previous experience in manufacturing. “I was new to manufacturing when I joined Eagle Metals eight years ago,” he said. “A great deal of my onboarding was through PMA district involvement, plant tours, shadowing veterans (mentorship), suppliers nights and presentations. These activities are a big part of what the Mid-Atlantic District is all about—seeing how things are made while being social, promoting industry careers, and advancing professional development. We are excited to plan for unique ways that bring people together.”
The district currently is recruiting volunteers for a variety of officer positions and will participate in the PMA Educational Foundation District Scholarship Program starting in October. Plans are underway to host a district kickoff event later this year.
For more information on volunteering and district programming, please contact Randy Kish as 216-973-1398.
PMA is the full-service trade association representing the $137-billion metalforming industry of North America—the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its more than 850 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. PMA leads innovative member companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability through advocacy, networking, statistics, the PMA Educational Foundation, FABTECH tradeshows, and MetalForming and 3D Metal Printing magazines.