RIA elects new president

The Robotic Industries Association (RIA), Ann Arbor, Mich., has elected Richard Litt as RIA president for 2008. Litt is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Genesis Systems Group LLC, Davenport, Iowa. The organization's 18th president, he succeeds Yaskawa Motoman Canada Senior General Manager Trevor Jones, who was RIA president in 2006 and 2007 and continues to serve as past president.

Litt, who holds three patents related to robotic apparatus, has served on the RIA board of directors since 2000, most recently as first vice president. He is a spokesperson for robotic welding automation, a member of the Association for Manufacturing Technology, and a former chapter chairman for the American Welding Society.

The other four directors of the 2008 RIA executive committee are Dean Elkins of Motoman Inc., first vice president; Catherine Morris of ATI Industrial Automation, second vice president; Michael Kunkle of Harley-Davidson Motor Co., secretary and treasurer; and Jeff Burnstein of RIA, executive vice president.

New directors joining the organization for the 2008-2009 term are John Dulchinos, Adept Technology; Michael Jacobs, Applied Manufacturing Technologies; David Potter, FANUC Robotics America; and Stuart Sheperd, KUKA Robotics. Robert Anderson (Chrysler LLC) and Åke Lindqvist (ABB Inc.) return as re-elected directors.