David R. Hawker
The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces the appointment of David R. Hawker as president of the association for a one-year term that commenced on January 1, 2017.
Hawker will serve as chairman of the Board of Directors and as the 64th president of the 87-year-old association, which is headquartered in Madison, Connecticut, USA.
A 30-year veteran in the wire industry, Hawker joined the Wire Association International in 1994. In addition to his role as WAI president, Hawker will continue to serve on the association’s Conference Programming Committee.
Commenting on his new post, Hawker said, “The WAI allows us to be part of a larger community than our plants or companies. WAI is a resource for the industry, by the industry. This organization is a unique forum for continuing education and technical exchanges for solutions that confront each of us every day.
The Reference Guide, the Wire Journal, the Expo’s, the technical papers, webinars and Interwire are all opportunities to gain knowledge, to help you develop, and to help your business improve. I am thankful for the opportunity to lead the organization in 2017 and follow a long list of industry professionals who have devoted time and resources to build this organization and make it relevant for today’s industry.”
He is the vice president and general manager of Nexans Energy Cables North America. With operations in both Canada and the U.S., the division manufactures a wide range of products that include residential, commercial, industrial and utility cables.
Hawker previously has served in engineering, manufacturing and commercial roles at different Nexans cable plants. He attended the University of Waterloo where he earned a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering.
The Wire Association International, Inc. is governed by a network of volunteers from around the world. Joining Hawker for the 2017 term will be members of the association’s 2017 executive committee: First Vice President, Richard T. Wagner, Insteel Wire Products; Second Vice President, W.T. Bigbee, Encore Wire Corp.; Executive Committee Member, Jan Sorige, Enkotec Co. Inc.; and Immediate Past President, Andy Talbot, Mid-South Wire Co., Inc.
WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with more than 2,300 individual members in 51 countries around the globe.
The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services.
WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exhibition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International, Wire Journal International Reference Guide, and WIRE BULLETIN through subsidiary operations.
