The membership of SGMA International's Baseball & Softball Council has elected George Manning as it new chairman, effective at the Council's next meeting on January 11, 2004. The meeting will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, site of The Super Show®, January 12-14.
Manning has had a 45-year career in engineering and as a business executive. His academic credentials include a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters in Management from Case-Western Reserve University. His career began with the U.S. Army and Battelle Memorial Institute. He served as Project Engineer, Operations Manager and General Manager at True Temper Sports from 1966-1979. In 1979, he joined Hillerich & Bradsby Company. There, he held titles of Manager Technical Services and VP-Technical Services until his retirement in 2000. From 1993 to 2000, Manning was an active member of the Baseball & Softball Council. Currently, he continues with Hillerich & Bradsby in a consulting role.
Manning takes over the reins from outgoing Chair Larry Carlson, VP-Research & Development of Easton Sports. Carlson provided leadership from 2001 – 2003 in addressing issues such as the decline in participation in baseball and softball; ball/bat standards and rules changes; promoting research on bat/ball performance studies; enhancing the Baseball & Softball Council?s website; and developing better market research and injury/scoring data.
Also elected to another term as vice-chair is Jim Hackett of Wilson/DeMarini. A newly formed executive committee of SGMA International's Baseball & Softball Council, consisting of the prior chair, the Baseball/Softball Participation chair and the Council's administrator, will aid Manning and Hackett in their roles.
