VMA Membership and Scholarship Awards
VMA’s strength comes from the individuals at member companies who contribute their time, expertise, knowledge and leadership to support and guide VMA. They understand how by working together, their companies, their customers, the industry, and VMA
all benefit through growth, innovation, and education. VMA presents awards each year in two categories: Person of the Year and the VMA Service Award.
Nominations for 2025 VMA Membership awards are open! All members are invited to nominate a deserving individual through August 15, 2025. Click here to make your nomination now.
Additionally, to help encourage careers in areas of importance for the valve manufacturing industry, VMA offers a scholarship program for students in technical or vocational schools, and 4-year universities and colleges. The program is open to children
of VMA member company employees, and recognizes VMA’s longest serving President, William Sandler. Learn more »
VMA Membership Awards
2024 Person of the Year
The Person of the Year Award is the VMA's highest honor and is given to one individual each year. The winner truly possesses passion for the industry and sharing their knowledge with others to help advance VMA and the industry at large.  Pictured (Left to Right): Heather Rhoderick, President, VMA & Andy Duffy, Retired, Emerson | Andy Duffy, of Emerson, was recognized in 2024 for his leadership over the past year and throughout his career. Most recently, Andy has been instrumental in guiding the VMA through several changes to benefit our members including launching the PFAS Workshop, highlighting sustainability at the Hydrogen Valve Summit, and helping to relocate the VMA office. He also led efforts to coalesce the membership on steps to take around on PFAS activities. Throughout his tenure on the VMA Board of Directors, he imparted a leadership style which contained a voice of reason and always delivered a strategic viewpoint through a time of a lot of disruptive change.
His peers cite his integrity, collaboration and way that he values people. Throughout his career and his VMA participation, he has unofficially been a mentor to many, imparting his knowledge on both the commercial and international aspects of the industry. |
2024 VMA Service Award
The service award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service, expertise and guidance while participating on a committee, or to VMA in some other way.  Pictured (Left to Right): Heather Rhoderick, President, VMA & Mitch Anderson,
VP- Global Quality, Manufacturing & Sustainability, Bray International, Inc. | Mitch Anderson of Bray International Inc. received the 2024 Service Award for his contributions to VMA. Mitch has been an Education and Training Committee members, presenting both in person and virtually for the Valve Basics program. Additionally, he has conducted several webinars for VMA on material selection and various valve types. He helped to identify speakers and plan the Hydrogen Conference. He also helped on government affairs efforts through Fly-Ins to Washington, DC on PFAS issues, reviewing comments VMA submitted to states and agencies on PFAS, and working on an inter-industry flow control group addressing the issue.
Those who Mitch works with on VMA Committees tout how he keeps his word, has thoughtful and beneficial suggestions, knows his stuff – and always has a respectful manner in working with his colleagues. |
Congratulations to Past Person of the Year Recipients
- 2023: Ron Warren, Bray International Inc.
- 2022: Bryan Burns, DeZURIK
- 2021: Greg Johnson, United Valve
- 2020: Mark Nahorski, PBM-IMI
- 2019: Jim Walther, Kitz
- 2018: Stephane Meunier, Cowan
- 2017: Tony Pecora, AUMA
- 2015: Jim White, Curtiss-Wright
- 2016: Kim Beise, Dowco
- 2014: Arie Bregman, DFT, Inc.
- 2013: Ed Holtgraver, QTRCO, Inc.
- 2012: Mike Mitchell, Cameron-Dynatorque
- 2011: Doug Dunn, Metso Automation
- 2010: Greg Johnson, United Valve
- 2009: Phil Vaughan, DynaTorque
- 2008: Colleen VandeVelde, DynaTorque
- 2007: Gary Grauerholz, Curtiss-Wright
- 2006: Rich Oaks, AUMA
- 2005: Mark Cordell, Cameron
- 2004: Chris Warnett, Rotork Controls
- 2003:David Moser, DFT, Inc.
- 2002:Ken Chickering, Daniel Valve
- 2001:Tom Leaver, Flo-Tork
- 2000: Ed Groth, Groth Corporation
Congratulations to Past Service Award Recipients
- 2023: Nathaniel Dunn, Baker Hughes
- 2022: Kyndle McMurray, Richards Industrial
- 2021: John Molloy, Emerson
- 2021: Don Bowers, Conval
- 2020: Steve Spzak, Trillium
- 2018: Carlos Davila, Crane
- 2018: Thom Jessup, EGC
- 2018: Donald Polasek, ValvTechnologies
- 2017: Dale Friemoth, Crane
- 2017: Mark Novak, Check-All
- 2017: Kelly Watson, Watson Grinding
- 2015: Tracy Fairchild, Velan Valve
- 2014: Michael Halloran, Robert W. Baird
- 2014: Jeff Kane, DFT Inc.
- 2014: Paul Sousa, AUMA
- 2014: Jim Storm, GE Oil & Gas
- 2013: Kevin Kemerer, Precision Pump & Valve
- 2013: Bill Metz, Richards Industries
- 2013: Mike Rooney, Emerson-EIM
- 2012: Alan Beaulieu, ITR
- 2011: Arie Bregman, DFT
- 2011: Tony Pecora, AUMA
- 2010: Leon Brooks, Cameron
- 2010: Ed Holtgraver, QTRCO Inc.
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