Posted July 17, 2017

 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. –  After 21 years of service, AATCC Executive Vice President John Y. “Jack” Daniels announced that he will retire from the association on March 2, 2018.

 

In 1974, early in his career, Daniels joined AATCC as the laboratory manager for the association’s Technical Center here, working with numerous test method development committees in developing new methods, improving existing test methods and managing the development of technical symposia. After five years in this position, he moved on to a successful career in the textile industry.

 

In March 1996, Daniels returned to AATCC as executive vice president in charge of the staff and operations. As executive vice president of AATCC, Daniels works closely with association officers, members and staff on the management of the daily affairs of the not-for-profit association. Daniels monitors what’s happening in the textile field, nationally and internationally, and keeps up with its growth in research and education.

 

Under Daniels’ guidance, AATCC weathered two major textile recessions, when many U.S. textile manufacturing and apparel jobs were lost. He positioned the association to weather these difficult times, and the AATCC remains financially and professionally sound.

 

Association evolved under his leadership

 

Soon after starting as executive vice president, he led the creation of AATCC Foundation, the charitable arm of AATCC, for which he serves as president. In 2016, with help and tremendous support from members and non-members alike, the AATCC Foundation reached the $1 million-dollar mark in contributions, and now provides 13 scholarships focused on textile design, merchandising, sciences and engineering.

 

During his tenure as executive vice president, AATCC:
 

• began exhibiting at major global textile trade shows;

• purchased American Dyestuff Reporter, which was merged with Textile Chemist & Colorist, and eventually became the association’s current magazine, AATCC Review; 

• published AATCC Review in full color, and began running popular feature articles;

• launched an expanded AATCC website, with many online member benefits;

• launched the emailed newsletter, AATCC News;

• launched the AATCC Journal of Research, AATCC’s online journal;

• began the digitization of many of AATCC’s publications for archiving and remote access for members;

• instituted online webinars and online test method training;

• launched international test method trainers in numerous countries;

• instituted global membership representatives for the convenience of international members;

• developed and launched Proficiency Testing Programs and UV Calibration reference fabrics;

• initiated the transition of the association from a council government into a more flexible board of directors governance, and the subsequent amendments to AATCC’s constitution and bylaws;

• saw the formation of AATCC’s three current Interest Groups: Chemical Applications, Concept 2 Consumer®, and Materials; as well as the launching of several new AATCC Local Sections and numerous new AATCC Student Chapters; and

• celebrated the sesquicentennial of William Henry Perkin’s discovery of Mauvine, as well as the Technical Center’s 50-year anniversary at Research Triangle Park.

 

Daniels served as the head of AATCC’s staff during a critical and eventful period in AATCC’s history, and made sure the association survived and prospered to continue to serve its members throughout the world.

 

Long and storied career

 

Daniels joined AATCC in 1971 while a student at North Carolina State University. Throughout his years in the industry, he continued to be an active member of AATCC, serving on research committees, and as vice chair and chair of the Technical Committee on Research and chair of the Executive Committee on Research.

 

In 1972, he graduated from N.C. State with a B.S. in textile chemistry. In his early years after college, Daniels worked for Milliken Research Corporation in Spartanburg, S.C., on the syntheses of internally colored, water-soluble polymers used for fugitive tinting of fibers and other materials. He also worked at Milliken’s Hillside Plant in LaGrange, Ga., supervising flat-bed carpet printing. During this same period, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Georgia National Guard.

 

In 1974, Daniels became laboratory manager for AATCC, and began work on his master’s degree in textile chemistry.

 

Beginning in 1979, Daniels went to work with Springs Industries (now Springs Global) in Fort Mill, S.C. He received his M.S. in textile chemistry from N.C. State in 1981. In 1984, Daniels obtained an M.B.A. from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., while still working at Springs.  

 

During the first 10 years of his tenure at Springs, Daniels worked in R&D, progressing from research chemist, to group leader of Dyeing Research, to research manager and then to director of research, where he and his teams generated numerous process patents involving textile printing and finishing. A key patented development that led to new products and sales was that of an innovative aqueous printing system that allowed light-colored pigment shades to be printed over deep-colored dyed ground shades, for both new apparel and home furnishing fabrics. 

 

Shortly after receiving his M.B.A., Daniels moved into marketing with Springs Industries, and worked as director of Product Development for the Springmaid Fashions Division while still located in Fort Mill. He advanced to business unit manager for the Distributor/Fabricator business of Springs Window Fashions, in Middleton, Wis. While in Middleton, he had bottom-line responsibility for custom window treatment product management, which included product managers for pleated shades and wooden blinds, while he served as product manager for vertical blinds. During his management, this business unit also introduced the popular dual-cellular pleated shades.

 

In the early 1990s, Daniels became director of Automotive Fabrics for the Clark-Schwebel subsidiary of Springs Industries, in Anderson, S.C. He and his team developed new silicone-coated nylon and fiberglass fabrics, led and developed the automotive quality systems requirements for this new business and gained significant sales after just three years from the start of initial development.

 

In March 1996, Daniels returned to AATCC, where he had been active as a volunteer for many years, and accepted his current position in charge of the staff and operations, first as executive director and later as executive vice president.

 

Earlier this year, Daniels named recipient of the 2017 Textile Leader of the Year Award by the N.C. State University College of Textiles.

 

Daniels has served on the Service District Advisory Committee for Research Triangle Park, the Owners & Tenants Association of Research Triangle Park, and the Central Carolina Bank Durham Advisory Board, prior to their merger with SunTrust. He also served as an adjunct faculty member for the Textile Extension Department at the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, and currently is a member of ASTM Committee D13-Textiles, the Southern Textile Association, the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives and the American Society for Association Executives. He serves locally as the treasurer for his college fraternity’s alumni association.

 

Replacement being sought 

 

An Executive Search Committee has been formed to hire a new AATCC executive director. The members of the committee include: Sandy Johnson, chair; Peter Hauser; Nelson Houser; Mike Tyndall; Kerry King; and Bert Truesdale.

 

The committee is soliciting resumes/CVs. Individuals interested in this position should contact Amy Holland, AATCC’s business services director, by email here.

 

Source: AATCC