Terms of two ARPM board members end

INDIANAPOLIS—Two board members for the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers have seen their terms end.

Regan McHale, president of Eagle Elastomer Inc., and Rep Corp. President Tim Graham have stepped down from their posts at the end of 2015, ARPM said in a Jan. 12 news release.

McHale was one of ARPM's first board members. He, along with Charlie Braun, president of Custom Rubber Corp., and Bernard Gregoire, Hamilton Kent, president and chief operating officer, selected ARPM Executive Director Troy Nix and his team to create the organization in 2010.

“Working with the initial board members to start ARPM and choosing Troy Nix to be our executive director are some of my proudest moments in this position,” McHale said in a statement. “My overall experience was excellent. I got the opportunity to work with great people.”

ARPM said Rep was its first non-processor member and sponsor, with Graham joining the association in its infancy. ARPM Managing Director Letha Keslar said Graham extended his tenure on the board by one year and that his input has been instrumental in the formation of a formal ARPM sponsorship program.

The association has grown to 75 members and represents the rubber industry internationally on ISO's hose and belt committees during McHale and Graham's tenures. ARPM also formed a sealing committee, created an Environmental Health and Safety Summit, developed a safety award for the industry, formalized its cost reduction program, developed its benchmarking reports and administered a user-friendly website that now offers online training.

“Regan McHale and Tim Gram's deep intellect, business acumen, vision and financial expertise have been instrumental in ARPM's growth in becoming the association of choice for rubber products manufacturers working to provide cutting-edge programs and services,” Keslar said in a statement. “This association has made significant strides due in large part to the ARPM board members taking it to new heights.”

Established in 2010, ARPM is a trade association managed by rubber business leaders consisting of more than 75 members. It works to provide manufacturers with bottom line impacting programs, networking and additional beneficial services.