The Hand Tools Institute (HTI), a trade association of North American non-powered hand tool manufacturers, has elected Rick Clemence, CEO of The Hyde Group in Southbridge, Mass., to lead the organization for the next two years as its president.
Clemence succeeds Earl T. Cunningham, president and CEO of Eklind Tool Company in Franklin Park, Ill.
HTI’s annual meeting and election took place Oct. 1 and 2 in Rosemont, Ill. The meeting, attended by more than 60 hand tool manufacturing executives, featured presentations on:
- The outlook for the economy by Dr. Ken Mayland, president of Clearview Economics in Cleveland.
- The outlook for the major markets for hand tools by Ryan DeArment, Channellock, Inc., Earl Cunningham, Eklind Tool Company, Rick Clemence, The Hyde Group, Neill Brodey, Norbar Torque Tools, Jon Vyn, Nupla Corporation, a QEP Company and Earl Houston, Zephyr Tool Group.
- Converting Human Labor to Digital Labor: How to Automate Everything (Not Just Production - Seriously, Everything!) by Dan Abbate, CEO, TheBigDA.
- The Future of Metal Finishing for Hand Tool Manufacturers by Grant Keers, Pavco, Inc.
- Managing Supply Chain Compliance With Government Regulations by Govind Arora, VP of global strategic sourcing at Snap-on.
- The Mindset of a Leader by Scott Hunter, Unshackled Leadership Co. a leadership development and training company.
- Igniting Brilliance In Your Creativity and Innovation by Amy K. Hutchens, AmyK International.
The objectives of the Institute are to promote and further the interests of its members relative to manufacturing, safety, standardization, international trade and government relations.
