ITA to Install Two New Board Members

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawrence D. Buhl III, chief executive officer, Lawrence Holdings Inc., and Graham P. Walker, vice president and general manager of Reading Alloys Inc. (an AMETEK Co.), have been tapped to fill two vacancies on the board of directors for the International Titanium Association (ITA), Broomfield, CO.

Buhl and Walker will be officials voted in at the ITA's Sept. 16 annual meeting of the members in Kona, Hawaii. Paul O. Jones of Reading Alloys is stepping down from the ITA board after six years of service, while Terry Perles of Stratcor Inc. is leaving after four years.

A specialty metals distributor, Lawrence Holdings manages Snappy Materials LLC, TICO Titanium Inc., Supra Alloys Inc. and Alloy Metals. Those business units have distribution operations in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan and Texas. Buhl has a bachelor's degree in Science and Finance and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Babson College, Babson Park, MA .

George J. Esseff Jr., the president of Lawrence's Supra Alloys unit, in a letter of recommendation to the ITA, said Buhl's business experience "puts him in a good position to provide the perspective of the distribution side of our industry." Esseff went on to say Buhl is committed to developing new markets for the titanium business.

Walker, who has more than 30 years of experience in the metals industry, is also keen on expanding titanium applications. He is a metallurgist with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Leeds, UK, and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, OH.

Jones, in another letter of recommendation, praised Walker for his leadership, intellect and dedication to the titanium business. "(Walker) has an international perspective and has served in the titanium industry since joining Reading Alloys nine years ago. He has volunteer for and served on various ITA committees, demonstrating his commitment to our organization."

Jennifer Simpson is the ITA's executive director, while Frank L. Perryman, president and chief executive officer of Perryman Co., Houston, PA, is the president of the ITA. Michael Metz, president of VSMPO Tirus US, Highlands Ranch, CO, is the vice president of the ITA. Brett Paddock, the president and chief operating officer of Titanium Industries Inc., Rockaway, NJ, is the ITA secretary and treasurer. Edward F. Sobota Sr., president and chief executive officer of TSI Titanium, Derry, PA, is the past president of the ITA.

Other ITA board members include James M. Buch, vice president, commercial, Titanium Metals Corp. (Timet), Dallas; Hunter Dalton, president of ATI Allvac, Monroe, NC; Dawne S. Hickton, vice chairman and chief executive officer of RTI International Metals Inc., Pittsburgh; William Kent, vice president, Dynamet Inc. and Carpenter Powder Products, Wyomissing, PA; Dr. Markus Holz, chief executive officer, ThyssenKrupp Titanium Group, Essen, Germany; Edward J. Newman, senior vice president, Keywell LLC VacAir Division, Frewsburg, NY; and Daniel Buwalda, plant manager of the Howmet Titanium Ingot Operation, Alcoa Power & Propulsion, a business unit of Alcoa Investment Cast and Forged Products, Cleveland.

    Contact:  Jennifer Simpson, Executive Director
    1-303-404-2221   Telephone
    1-303-404-9111   Facsimile
    conference@titanium.org  Email

SOURCE International Titanium Association

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