As Asdal Announces Retirement, Hydraulic Institute Launches Search for Next Executive Director
The Hydraulic Institute, North America’s largest pump trade association, announced the planned retirement of its long-serving Executive Director, Robert K. Asdal, and a national search for his replacement.
Asdal, who has served as HI Executive Director since Feb. 1, 1991, has announced his retirement plan to the HI Board, which will become effective June 30, 2015. As HI executive director for nearly 24 years, Asdal has helped the organization shape its strategic direction to better serve the needs of members and the customers that they serve.
HI has retained the services of Association Strategies Inc. to support the HI Search Committee and the Hydraulic Institute Board in conducting a national search for a successor. Interested candidates can apply via the ASI website, www.assnstrategies.com.
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HI’s membership now includes pump companies worldwide, supported by a relatively new board-approved policy to admit pump and supplier OEMs outside North America as members. The Institute’s Associate membership program, attracting leading suppliers to the industry is another successful program introduced under Asdal’s leadership. Motor, seal, drive, coupling, bearing, casting, software and instrumentation and control companies now affiliate with HI in important roles from helping write standards to educational offerings.
The HI Standards Partner program for engineering consulting firms, another important innovation led by Asdal, has strengthened HI engagement with this important sector of the industry. With his efforts in crafting an enduring vision and mission for energy, efficiency and economics of pump system optimization, HI also created Pump Systems Matter, a 501(c)3 educational subsidiary, which increasingly provides webinars, pump systems optimization courses and e-learning to pump end-users, OEMs, energy efficiency organizations, utilities and pump distributors.
HI has prominently led in representing the pump industry in the U.S. DOE pump efficiency rulemaking, which led to terms for a negotiated rulemaking this summer. HI also engaged with Congress and the Senate and House energy oversight committees on behalf of the pump industry.
Established in 1917, HI was previously run by an association management company. Asdal was HI’s first full-time employee, joining the association when its budget was less than $500,000. During his 24-year tenure HI has grown to over a $3 million operating budget with a staff of 16 people.
According to Dennis Wierzbicki, HI Board chairman, “Bob has been a terrific assist to HI and the pump industry with his ceaseless energy, enthusiasm and ideas to continually grow the scope of HI programs and services. The Board and HI members are indebted to him for his years of valued service. The Hydraulic Institute is stronger, more effective and more impactful as a result of his efforts over the years. We are working closely with a search committee and the board to find a worthy successor.”
