Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Representatives Work on Behalf of Associates
The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Manufacturers/Suppliers (M/S) Council concluded its annual election recently. Chuck Kitts of System Sensor in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was re-elected to a three-year term. Tim Freiner of Potter Electric Signal Company, St. Louis, Missouri, was newly elected for a three-year term expiring in 2021, and Andy Kaempfer of Bull Moose Tube Company, in Chesterfield, Missouri, and Jim McHugh of AGF Manufacturing Inc., in Malvern, Pennsylvania, were elected to serve two-year terms expiring in 2020.
The newest members of the Council are enthusiastic to join this prestigious group for the betterment of the industry. “The M/S Council is happy to have Chuck Kitts re-elected to the Council and glad to welcome back former M/S Council Chairman Tim Freiner. Congratulations to both!” says M/S Council Chair Mike Dooley. “Andy Kaempfer from Bull Moose Tube Company and Jim McHugh from AGF were elected to the Council, and both bring a wealth of industry knowledge and are welcome additions.”
New members of the AFSA M/S Council were installed during its meeting on Wednesday, October 3 at AFSA37: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition at the Gaylord National Harbor in Washington, DC.
Members of the 2019 M/S Council include:
• Chair Mike Dooley, Anvil International, Holliston, Massachusetts;
• Vice Chair Chris Stason, Victaulic Company, Temecula, California;
• Derek Allen, Core & Main, Hayward, California;
• Ray Fremont, Jr., General Air Products, Inc., Exton, Pennsylvania;
• Tim Freiner, Potter Electric Signal Company, St. Louis, Missouri;
• Michelle Hoffmann, WinSupply, Dayton, Ohio;
• Andy Kaempfer, Bull Moose Tube Company, Chesterfield, Missouri;
• Chuck Kitts, System Sensor, Lansdale, Pennsylvania;
• Randy Lane, Viking SupplyNet, Hastings, Michigan;
• Jim McHugh, AGF Manufacturing Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania;
• Bill Phair, Ferguson Fire & Fabrication, Passaic, New Jersey;
• Rex Schwendiman, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company, Elmsford, New York;
• Joe Tieman, Johnson Controls, Hillard, Ohio; and
• Ralph Watson, Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation, Standish, Michigan.
“I am very proud to be chosen to represent the Manufacturers and Suppliers of the AFSA,” says Kaempfer. “It is a great honor and privilege to serve the outstanding membership of the association and I look forward to the opportunity to be an advocate for fire sprinklers and AFSA!”
The M/S Council is comprised of both appointed and elected representatives. Each device manufacturing company that holds AFSA membership at level A-6 or above is allowed one seat, with the representative to be appointed by the individual company, and two appointed seats on the Council are reserved for distributor/fabricators in dues-paying categories A-9 or above with a national scope. There are seven elected representatives, and persons serving in these positions may represent any supplier or manufacturer company that includes, but is not limited to, suppliers, other manufacturers, or manufacturer’s representatives as long as the company is an AFSA member in good standing.
“Being a member of the council affords me the ability to represent other family businesses,” states McHugh. “I think it is also important to stand up for those companies in our industry which proudly make products in the USA.”
The Council, established in 1983, is a national council representing member companies who produce fire sprinkler system components, and supply materials and services to the industry. The M/S Council was created to represent the interests of all associate members that make and supply products in the industry and assist AFSA’s Board of Directors in meeting the goals of AFSA. All Associate members are encouraged to contact M/S Council representatives if they have any questions or ideas about activities of the AFSA. For more information, contact M/S Council Liaisons Marlene Garrett, CMP at mgarrett@firesprinkler.org or Nicole Duvall at nduvall@firesprinkler.org. For more information, visit firesprinkler.org.
