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The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), publisher of Specialty Fabrics Review magazine, named Mary Hennessy president and CEO on June 6, 2012.
An IFAI employee for 24 years, Hennessy most recently held the position of interim executive vice president. Prior to that, she served as vice president of communications and publisher of IFAI’s industry magazines. In addition to the monthly Specialty Fabrics Review, IFAI also publishes five bimonthly magazines: Fabric Architecture, Fabric Graphics, Geosynthetics, InTents and Marine Fabricator, targeting important segments of the specialty fabrics industry.
“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to lead this association,” Hennessy says. “IFAI is an amazing organization with passionate members and volunteers. Over the last seven months as I served in the interim role, I have been touched by the many members who have offered support and encouragement for me and for IFAI. Our membership is a close-knit, diverse community of companies, and I have often heard it described as a family: noisy, raucous, opinionated and loyal. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Mary is an engaging individual who has made the effort to interact with members and build a great rapport with IFAI staff,” says Kevin Yonce, MFC, IFM, CPP, chairman of the IFAI board of directors.
The board appointed a search committee to fill the position after former IFAI president and CEO Stephen Warner stepped down in October 2011. The search committee, comprised of former IFAI board members, hired a search firm to help identify and recruit potential candidates at a national level. A selection committee of current board officers and the search committee chair then interviewed two of the more than 50 applicants on June 5, 2012.
“We felt a full search was imperative to find the best candidate to represent our members and move this association forward,” Yonce says. “We believe we’ve found that person in Mary.”
About IFAI
The Industrial Fabrics Association International is the largest and longest-running textile trade organization in the world. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2012, IFAI publishes six market-specific magazines in print and online; organizes industry events such as IFAI Expo Americas 2012 (Boston, Nov. 7–9); and supports the growth of nearly 1,900 member companies located in 54 countries.