Posted March 30, 2017

 

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) has elected Kurt Dallas, executive vice president of AFL, to serve as chairman of the board of directors for 2017-18.

 

He succeeds Dirk Pieper, president & CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors, Greenville, S.C.

 

In addition to the election of chairman, the SCMA elected the following board members:
 

• Mark Elam, The Boeing Company – first vice chairman

• Max Metcalf, BMW Mfg. Company, LLC – second vice chairman

• Curtis Hutto, Thompson Industrial – treasurer
   

"I feel honored and privileged to become the next chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturing Alliance," said Dallas. "This is a great time to be a manufacturer in South Carolina and leverage all the fantastic assets that our state has to offer. SCMA has been at the forefront of representing the needs and interests of manufacturers for decades. Our voice in the public sector plays a vital role in improving the overall environment for manufacturing health and competitiveness.

 

“But I am really excited about our activities with workforce development programs, in particular, SC Future Makers,” he added. “We should really start to see the returns on this program in 2017, as the business community embraces this initiative to address a key issue for our members."

 

Dallas’ company, AFL, is a leader in engineering, manufacturing and installation of fiber optic products and associated equipment for the energy, service provider, enterprise and industrial markets. He joined AFL in 1991 and has been a member of the leadership team since 2007.

 

Over his tenure, Kurt has led the U.S. business as well as management of cable operations in Swindon, U.K., and Mönchengladbach, Germany. In 2013, AFL added Optimal Cable Services, based in Melbourne, Australia, and in 2015, AFC Group, also based in Australia. Additionally, he also has responsibility for AFL's connectivity business with manufacturing in Monterrey, Mexico.

 

The businesses, under Kurt's leadership, continue to produce excellent operational and financial results. He has been instrumental in five acquisitions and has also driven organic growth through new product development and expansion into emerging market sectors. With this focus on growth and global expansion, AFL's fiber optic product is currently installed in over 120 countries around the world.

 

In addition to be being an active member of the SCMA, Dallas is active in charities focused on cancer research and prevention, Water of Life and the American Red Cross.

 

Source: SCMA