L.B. Foster’s Merry Brumbaugh Elected NAPCA President

Merry Brumbaugh, Vice President of Tubular Products at L.B. Foster Company, was elected 36th President of the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators (NAPCA) at the organization’s 2009 NAPCA Convention. Brumbaugh becomes the first woman president of the association which represents the interests of pipe coating companies worldwide and firms that service the plant-applied coatings industry. The election took place on April 18th during the annual four-day event at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona. “I congratulate Merry on this appointment. Her varied background and experience will benefit NAPCA as they strive to implement meaningful change and continuous improvement in this current difficult market,” said Stan Hasselbusch, President and CEO of L.B. Foster Company.

In 2008, the leadership of NAPCA, including new managing director Merritt B. Chastain, III, commissioned a survey to determine how the association could add more value for its membership. The results of the member survey focused on the need for NAPCA to offer additional technical assistance. Toward this end, it was recommended the organization provide a forum at workshops and conventions to discuss important technical issues and develop an online archive of this information. Brumbaugh, who chairs the website committee, intends to employ her Internet experience in 2009 to develop an online resource for this data at the association’s website.

The Tucson convention also included the election of two other important 2009 NAPCA officers. Brendan Ryan, Vice President and General Manager, USA for Bredero Shaw, was elected to the position of Vice President. Ryan Norris, Inside Sales Manager for Dura-Bond Coating, Inc., was elected as NAPCA Secretary/Treasurer.