PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Sept. 2, 2014) – The Hydraulic Institute (HI) has announced the planned retirement of its long-serving executive director.
Robert K. Asdal, who has served as HI executive director since Feb. 1, 1991, and as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Pumps & Systems magazine, has announced his retirement plan to the HI board, which will become effective June 30, 2015. During his tenure, HI has grown significantly in size, scope and services to members. As executive director for nearly 24 years, Asdal has helped the Hydraulic Institute Board shape the strategic direction of HI to better serve the needs of members and customers.
HI’s membership now includes pump companies worldwide, supported by a relatively new board-approved policy to admit as members pump and supplier OEMs outside North America.
The Institute’s associate membership program 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 such as helping to write standards and 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.
Because of Asdal’s efforts to craft 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 provides webinars, pump systems optimization courses and e-learning to pump end-users, OEMs, energy-efficiency organizations, utilities and pump distributors.
HI has represented the pump industry in U.S. Department of Energy pump efficiency rulemaking, which led to terms for 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, Asdal helped grow HI’s operating budget to more than $3 million and its staff to 16 people.
“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,” said Dennis Wierzbicki, HI board chairman. “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.”
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.
The mission of the Hydraulic Institute is to be a value-adding resource to member companies, engineering consulting firms and pump users worldwide by developing and delivering comprehensive industry standards; expanding knowledge by providing education and tools for the effective application, testing, installation, operation, maintenance and performance optimization of pumps and pumping systems; and by serving as a forum for the exchange of industry information.
Pump Systems Matter is a nonprofit educational organization established by the Hydraulic Institute and leading utilities and energy efficiency organizations, to educate the industry on the benefits of pump systems optimization and energy efficiency to improve bottom-line savings of end-user companies.