Don Vincent to retire as head of Robotic Industries Association

JUNE 1, 2007--Donald A. Vincent, who has headed the Robotic Industries Association (RIA; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; www.roboticsonline.com) since 1983 and was active in its founding in 1974, will retire on June 30, 2007. He will be succeeded by Jeffrey A. Burnstein, who has served as the organization's number-two executive for more than two decades. Vincent has been instrumental in the trade association's growth from a startup with limited staff and resources to North America's leading robotics association now representing more than 250 companies served by a staff of 13 full-time employees.

Trevor Jones, current RIA president and director, OEM Development, Thermo Fisher Scientific, said that under Vincent's leadership, RIA has become the leading source for industrial robot statistics in North America; has developed the American National Robot Safety Standard; has launched Robotics Online, the website for robotics information; created a series of successful educational workshops focused on the use of robots in major application areas; and has established the International Robots & Vision Show and Conference.

In addition, Vincent has been instrumental in the establishment of the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) and the Motion Control Association (MCA), trade groups that represent the machine-vision and motion-control industries. AIA, which was spun out of RIA in 1984, now represents 280 companies from 26 nations. MCA, launched in 2006, is off to a fast start with nearly 60 member companies.

RIA has showcased the latest developments in robotics at its International Robots & Vision Show, which dates back to 1976 and is held every two years. This year's show is set for June 12-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, USA, and will feature the 38th International Symposium on Robotics, held in the United States just once every four years.

Jeff Burnstein, who joined RIA in 1984 and currently serves as vice president of marketing and PR, will take over as executive vice president of RIA on July 1. In addition, Burnstein has served as executive director of AIA since 1986, helping the association become the world's largest machine vision trade group. He also will assume Vincent's responsibilities as executive vice president of the ATC.