Cropped photo showing Jack Conway in center.

Congratulations to Atlanta Gear Works President Jack Conway on his election to the board of directors of the American Gear Manufacturers Association!

AGMA board members serve a 3-year term providing fiduciary guidance and advancing industry standards. This important position is but one example of Atlanta Gear’s support of the most important organization in the gearing industry.

AGMA unites everyone with a shared interest in the design, manufacture and application of gears, couplings and related power transmission equipment into a “global network for technical standards, education and business information.” Members include manufacturers, users, suppliers, consultants and academicians.
AGMA collaborates with gear organizations worldwide to establish and promote industry standards to its members. To support its members, it offers a range of educational opportunities, including seminars, publications, training sessions, business meetings and conventions.

Atlanta Gear Works’ commitment to AGMA standards is companywide. AGMA’s various committees are where the standards are set. Since 2020, Chris Dale, Atlanta Gear Works VP-engineering, has represented the company on a variety of committees, including serving as vice-chair of the Rolling Mill Service Committee.

The committees “create the standards that are followed by companies not just in the USA, but around the world,” said Dale. “Being active with the AGMA has given me advanced knowledge of AGMA standards and how they are created,” a definite advantage for Atlanta Gear Works and our customers. AGMA has helped us to grow our leaders from within.

Many of our younger engineers and technicians have benefited from AGMA’s many training, educational and leadership opportunities. In fact, one of our youngest engineers has already progressed to a leadership role. After receiving AGMA’s 2023 Next Generation Award, Corinna “Rinna” Draghi Shannon, was elected chair of the planning committee for the 2024 Strategic Networking and Leadership Forum (SNL), a 3-day event for industry emerging leaders.

Before she joined the committee, the event was called the Strategic Resources Networking event or SRN.

“I joined this committee after I attended the SRN event in 2021 because I was
interested in expanding the event and to help other young professionals like me
become leaders within the industry,” she said.

Now called the SNL Forum, this year’s event was held in early May in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and included hands-on industry learning through tours, speakers and case studies, as well as ample networking opportunities. Rinna attended along with our two newest engineers, Aaron Hildebrand and Zac Chin.

SNL 2024 included tours of three major manufacturing facilities. Among them was Komatsu’s new 500,000-plus-square-foot global mining division headquarters housing advanced technology, robotics, engineering, R&D labs, training facilities, a data solutions center and a customer experience center. AGMA supports excellence today and tomorrow.

Front row, right to left: Atlanta Gear Works engineers Zac Chin, Aaron Hildebrand and Rinna Draghi Shannon at the fabrication and machining center of excellence for Komatsu’s global mining division.

“Over the years, my passion for the gear industry has only deepened,” said Jack. “I am fully dedicated to Atlanta Gear’s legacy of innovation, reliability and enduring success. As we continue to grow and evolve, I am excited to collaborate with the professionals at AGMA to advance our industry and set new standards of excellence.”