CHICAGO—The new organizational leadership of the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) has begun its term, led by incoming President Bill Shepard.
Shepard, currently vice president of Cleveland-based BDI, has volunteered with the PTDA in some form since 2010, association officials said. He served as chair of the organization's Programs & Products Committee in 2014, and has been a member of the PTDA Board of Directors since 2018.
"I'm excited to see how the PTDA will continue to address our members' diverse needs and offer resources to meet them," Shepard said. "I'm eager to work more closely with our membership and learn how we can expand upon the success of our industry."
Shepard is joined by eight other members of the board of directors, including immediate past president Brian Nowak, who serves as president and CEO of Kurz Industrial Solutions.
Sara Zimmerman will aid Shepard in his leadership of the PTDA in 2025.
Zimmerman, formerly a member of the association's Manufacturing Council, has been a member of various PTDA committees since 2019. Currently vice president of customer experience and product for Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America, Zimmerman will serve as Manufacturing Council Chair for 2025.
"I'm committed to working as a liaison for our manufacturer members' concerns and opinions to the Board of Directors," she said. "Our volunteers bring years of expertise, fresh ideas and a strong commitment to advancing our industry."
Zimmerman will be joined on the council by immediate past chair A.O. Brown of Whittet-Higgins Co., and vice chair Chris Gumas, director of marketing for Ruland Manufacturing Co. The council also elected seven other members for this year's leadership cycle.
The PTDA represents firms across America generating combined sales of more than $19 billion over more than 2,500 locations, the association said.
