AEC recognizes three volunteers for outstanding contributions

AEC Volunteer of the Year Award winner Olivier Gabis (right).

The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), Wauconda, Ill., has presented awards to three individuals recognizing their outstanding contributions to the council.

Olivier Gabis, area manager for Wagstaff Inc., Spokane Valley, Wash., was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award. He is a member of the AEC Industry Standards Team and is the council’s liaison for various standards committees, including the ASTM Subcommittee B07.03 on Aluminum Alloy Wrought Products and ANSI Accredited Standards Committee H35. He also is a longtime volunteer on the Extrusion Technology (ET) Seminar Committee.

The second Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Craig Werner, vice president extrusion technology for Kaiser Aluminum, Foothills Ranch, Calif. Werner previously was awarded the AEC Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor from the council, and the Maurice H. Roberts Award of Excellence, the highest honor awarded at ET. He visits local universities to raise awareness of the industry’s processes and products, has developed industry curriculum, and is helping to develop the AEC Academy continuing education program.

The Distinguished Service Award, which is presented only to an AEC leader who has shown exceptional dedication and service, was awarded to Rick Merluzzi, president of Metal Exchange Corp., St. Louis. Merluzzi has been a mainstay of the industry’s voice for fair trade in Washington. His leadership within the council spanned the most challenging period in the council’s and the industry’s history.

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