4/6/2021: In honor of “Black History Month,” IWCS is proud to recognize a true American Hero and pioneer. We were truly blessed to have “Ace” Godwin as the leader of IWCS for over 30 years!
Elmer “Ace” Godwin was born July 10, 1920 in Smithfield, Virginia. He was educated in a one-room schoolhouse, called the Godwin School, which was built and supported by his family. Looking for a life other than working on the family farm, Godwin moved after high school to Sea Bright, New Jersey. He worked in various jobs, including building many of the jetties along the oceanfront.
World War II marked the beginning of many firsts for Godwin in his breaking of society’s racial barriers. He was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the all black 332nd Fighter Squadron who became the country’s first black military airmen during segregation. While battling racism at home, the Tuskegee Airmen distinguished themselves by having the best record of safeguarding bombers flying missions from the U.K. Their achievements were fundamental to integrating the U.S. military. Stationed in Italy from 1943-1945, Godwin was a tower operator in charge of instructing pilots during takeoffs and landings. While there, he received the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.
In September 2007, Godwin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his World War II service during a ceremony at the New Jersey Borough of Shrewsbury’s city hall. On Jan. 20, 2009, he was among 150 Tuskegee Airmen who were guests of President Barack Obama at his inauguration. He was also the first African American to join the board of governors at Monmouth Medical Center.
After the military, Godwin attended Monmouth College and Rutgers University, where he received his B.S. degree. Godwin then worked for 35 years as an electronics engineer for the Army’s Electronics Command Research and Development Laboratories at Fort Monmouth in Eatontown, New Jersey. He was considered a leading international lecturer and authority on wire and cable engineering.
After retiring from the Fort in 1979, Godwin became CEO and Director of the IWCS. This group brought together government and industry representatives from around the world to develop wires and cables in military applications. Godwin was also owner of GEF Associates of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, an electronics engineering consulting firm. In 2002, IWCS endowed a scholarship in Godwin’s name at Rutgers University. The Elmer “Ace” Godwin scholarship is for qualified high school seniors and college students in need who want to enter the electronic or engineering field of telecommunication. To make a contribution, go to http://give.rutgers.edu/Godwin.
Ace died Feb. 19, 2009, but his legacy continues.
People
Industry veteran Thomas (Tom) Siedlarz, the principal of Plastic Equip LLC, of West Haven, Connecticut, died Feb. 3, 2021 in Yale New Haven Hospital due to Covid-19 at age 73.
Siedlarz worked at Wire Machinery Corporation of America, where he was a machine designer for about 10 years until the company closed around 1980. He then worked for Zumbach, and later became president of Unitek North America, Inc. He worked there from 1989 to 2008 when it was reorganized. That same year he started Plastic Equipment, an industry representation organization. He also worked for Amaral Automation Associates as a manufacturer’s representative from 2012 to 2013.
Siedlarz was a founding member of the WAI’s New England Chapter in 1994, and part of the original Interwire organizing committee in 1981. He was a fixture at Association events, both trade shows and chapter golf tournaments. He was also often at the Association’s Connecticut office, where he helped out at the Interwire and Wire Expo Points Meetings and the annual Clockwinding ceremony. He was known by many for his positive spirit and willingness to help out.
“It is very unfortunate that Tom has left us unexpectedly, but you can believe that his spirit will still be attending wire and cable events,” said John Rivers, Fluorogistx. He estimated that over the years, Tom logged thousands of hours of volunteer time. “I can’t remember Tom not attending a wire and cable event. He will be greatly missed.”
“The Association was extremely fortunate that Tom was a highly active and generous volunteer serving the organization and our industry,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. “His impact spans 40 years as he was instrumental in producing the first Interwire and remained highly engaged until his passing. Because of his generous spirit and that he lived nearby, the entire staff considered him a friend. He always found time to support our activities. His hundreds of friends in the industry will miss his warm presence.”
Siedlarz is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Bednarczyk Siedlarz; a daughter, Kristen Siedlarz; a son, Michael Siedlarz, a step-son, Stephen Lafex; a brother, Teddy (Willie) Siedlarz; and a niece, Lisa; and nephews Brian, Kevin and John.
Delta Tecnic has appointed Lori Parent as the sales director in the U.S. market, a key appointment for the company’s growth strategy in the region. She will be responsible for the development of technology-based masterbatch and additives for wire and cable, and related industries in the U.S. and Canada under the Delta Tecnic brand.
She has more than 18 years of experience in sales and marketing of color masterbatch and additives in North America. Her background includes past positions at Brand-Rex, Teledyne Thermatics and JuddWire that gave her a wide industry scope. In 2007 she became the first woman to serve as president of the WAI’s New England Chapter, and she has held various board officer positions over 15 years with the Association, where she is currently chair of the Education Committee. She is a 2010 recipient of the Distinguished Career Award from the Wire and Cable Manufacturers Alliance (WCMA). In 2018, she was nominated by Plastics News as a “Woman Breaking the Mold.”
Based in Barcelona, Spain, Delta Tecnic specializes in production and distribution of color concentrates and raw materials for plastics, cables, inks, paints, and cosmetics.
4/5/2021: The American Wire Group (AWG) has hired Nada Filipovic as marketing manager. She previously served for 15 years at Nexans in marketing and sales positions in the U.S. and Canada, working for utilities, EPCs and electrical distributors. She holds a B.A. degree in economics from McMaster University and an MBA in international business from Niagara University. Based in Miami, Florida, the American Wire Group specializes in wire and cable solutions for the utility and renewable energy markets.
Vandor Corporation announces the planned retirement this month of its president, Gerald Davis, who will continue on the board and as a consultant. A one-time professional musician who majored in alto saxophone at Ball State University and Fort Wayne Bible College, he started his career in the funeral industry in 1977 at Spartan Casket Shell in Lynn, Indiana, and quickly moved to Plant Superintendent, before taking a position with America’s oldest casket company JM Hutton in Richmond, Indiana. In 1989, the Elder family (owner group of Vandor) and Gerald co-founded Elder Davis, Inc., once the largest cloth covered burial and cremation casket manufacturer in North America. With the successful collaboration, after Elder Davis was sold, he transitioned to president of Vandor in 2000. While leading the Vandor R&D team, he developed over 50 utility patents, and created the Reel Options brand. Based in Richmond, Indiana, Reel Options manufactures light and medium duty reels for the wire and cable industry
2/9/21 -- Ed Fenton, executive director of the Wire & Cable Manufacturers Alliance (WCMA) since 2005, has been named director, business development – cable OEMs for Ripley Tools, LLC. He will lead new business development and account management among metallic and fiber cable manufacturers. He has some 30 years of experience in electrical, electronic and fiber optic cable manufacturing. He was a co-founder and co-owner of the Wire & Cable Focus Conference and Exposition, which was sold in 1999 to IWCS. In 2005, he started the Fenton Group, consulting with specialty cable manufacturers, high temperature materials suppliers and component manufacturers. He was North American Business Manager for Wire & Cable publications by CRU International. He also was the owner of the Wire & Cable Clubs of America, which was the predecessor to WCMA. He also served for one year as vice president sales/marketing for Fluoropolymer Resources, Inc. He will continue in his leadership role at WCMA. He holds a degree in English from the University of Vermont. Based in Cromwell, Connecticut, Ripley Tools, LLC, is a manufacturer and global supplier of tools and test equipment for cable preparation and installation.
2/9/21 -- Windak has named Dieter Gerger as sales manager for EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), based at Windak’s newly formed sales and service center. He will support customers and expand the company’s presence in the market. His previous employers include Rosendahl Nextrom in Austria, where he served as international sales manager for nine years. Based in Sweden, the Windak Group is a leading global manufacturer of cable packaging systems for the cable industry.
2/8/21 -- Arthur C. Nixon, CEO of Insulated Wire, Inc., died unexpectedly at home at age 69 on Dec. 23, 2020 in Sayville, New York.
In 1975, Nixon started working for his father. Charles Nixon, at his newly started company, Insulated Wire Inc. He soon focused on sales and was very adept at marketing opportunities. He introduced his father’s invention of Teflon tape-wrapped insulated wire that was far superior to anything on the market, and later realized the process could also make a superior core for microwave cable. In 1988 he was instrumental in forming the Microwave Products Division in Connecticut, where the cable was marketed and manufactured to customer specifications for cable assemblies. He traveled extensively, introducing IW’s products through trade shows and vising prospective customers around the world.
Nixon was described by company President and CEO Michael Sarni as “a fun, kind charismatic guy, always had great stories to tell. We expected him to be around for years.”
2/8/21 -- Agnes “Perkie” Rita Rubadue, of Greeley, Colorado, who with her husband, Edwin Rubadue, founded Rubadue Wire in California in 1976, died Dec. 14, 2020, at age 93.
Rubadue Wire, originally located in California, was later moved to Colorado. The company is now part of the Wire Experts Group along with Pelican Wire. Family members involved with the company over the years include Susan Welsh, retired CEO; Dan Rubadue, retired COO; and Michael and Jim Rubadue, both also long-time employees. Edwin, Susan and Dan, all received the WCMA Distinguished Career Award.
Rubadue was preceded in death by Edwin in 2009. They had 10 children, 38 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Michael Homa, who had a long career with Tamaqua Cable Products/Draka Cableteq, died Nov. 11, 2020, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Homa’s 35-year career saw him work for Draka Cableteq in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, formerly Tamaqua Cable Products, which was owned by two generations of the Combs family prior to its sale. He was vice president of manufacturing at Tamaqua Cable when the company was acquired by Draka in 1997. He retired in 2005.
Homa, a 1998 recipient of the WCMA Distinguished Career Award, retired in 2005. He was a member of the Columbia Hose Company for 60 years, a member of the Six County Firemen’s Association for 50 years, a lifetime member of the Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society, a member of the Saint Clair Fish and Game Association and a former president of the Schuylkill County Society for Crippled Children. He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann; daughter Heather; and son Michael.
IEWC has promoted Pat Rislov to chief supply chain officer, with the company’s quality, business intelligence and marketing teams now also part of his oversight, joining sourcing, materials management, and logistics. He joined IEWC in 2018 as vice president of supply chain. He has more than 25 years of experience in the retail space with organizations including Kohl’s Department Stores and Steinhafels Furniture, where he earned progressive leadership roles specializing in inventory management, e-commerce operations, logistics and supply chain management. He holds a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He will continue to report directly to company CEO Mike Veum. Based in New Berlin, Wisconsin, USA, IEWC supplies comprehensive wire, cable and wire management solutions.
Genuine Cable Group (GCG) recently named Marc Abbagnaro as chief commercial officer. He will lead the commercial efforts across all GCG targeted business segments, including the telecom/broadband, factory automation, marine, building automation, assembly and infrastructure segments. He most recently worked for Anixter International, where he was senior vice president of sales for Anixter’s Electrical and Electronic Solutions division. Over 10 years, he held sales leadership roles in the U.S. as well as global sales positions covering the Americas and China. Owned by Auda Group, a private equity firm, Genuine Cable Group is a value-added distributor of wire, cable and related products to a variety of niche markets.
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