Joseph A. Okey, Jr.
Immediate Past Chairman

Joe Okey is President of American Monforts Corporation, which he founded in 1989. The company is responsible for the sales, service and spare parts for the North American operation of its German parent, a five-generation family business. Before joining American Monforts, Joe had his own sales and service organization for the textile industry, and previous to that, he worked in several different facets of the textile industry. He holds a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from N.C. State University. Joe is President of Myers Park Country Club, a Board member of the Carolinas Textile Club, a member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and active participant in the American Textile Manufacturers Institute.

Will Motchar
Class of 2009

Will Motchar is President and CEO of Navis Global. He earned his B.B.A. from Illinois State University and has an M.B.A. in Marketing from Wake Forest University. Prior to joining Navis Global, Will spend 13 years with National Starch & Chemical in progressing responsibilities in Sales, Marketing and Business Management.

Udo Skarke
Class of 2010

Udo Skarke joined Erhardt + Leimer Inc., part of the Erhardt + Leimer GmbH Group, in 2005 as Textile Division Manager serving the Western Hemisphere. Prior to joining Erhardt + Leimer, he held various positions at Mahlo GmbH in the sales and service organization with his final assignment as Executive Vice President of Mahlo America for 7½ years. Udo has a degree in electronics engineering from Regensburg/Germany. He is a member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Rotary International, the Arts Partnership and the International Business Council of Spartanburg.

John M. White, Jr.
Class of 2009

John (Jay) Morrison White, Jr., is President of Morrison Textile Machinery Company (MTMCo), Fort Lawn, South Carolina, a fourth generation family business. He also held positions of Vice President of Manufacturing and Finance at Morrison Berkshire, Inc. Prior to Morrison, Mr. White was Materials Manager for the Grocery Division of Nabisco Brands, Inc., at its world headquarters. He has a Masters in Business from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College. Jay is a Trustee of the Lancaster Youth Endowment, member of the Chamber of Commerce, Board member of the Lancaster Communities in Schools and Administrative Board-Stewardship Chairman of First United Methodist Church.

Richard Ligon
Class of 2008

Richard Ligon graduated from Clemson University with a B.B.S. in Textiles. Following graduation, he joined J.P. Stevens as a management trainee and subsequently held departmental and project management positions until he became Senior Buyer for the Corporate Purchasing Department, Stevens Center in Greenville. Later he joined JPS Converter and Industrial Fabrics as Director of Purchasing. In 1994, Richard left JPS to join the family textile machinery business, Lang Ligon & Company, as Vice President, a position he currently holds.

Allen Moore
Class of 2008

Allen Moore is President of R.A. Moore Associates, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina.  In the mid-1980’s, Allen started a rep business which was incorporated as R.A. Moore Associates, Inc.  His partner joined the business two years later, and R.A. Moore Associates quickly evolved from a rep organization to a systems integrator and has pioneered many new technical innovations for customers.  Prior to forming his own company, Allen held a number of positions including product design engineer, systems sales engineer and general manager.  He is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.

Mike Viniconis
Class of 2010

Mike Viniconis joined Argus in 1993 as Director of International Sales and recently was promoted to President of the company. Prior to joining Argus, he held various management positions with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for 14 years. Mike has a degree in government from Colby College (Maine). He is a member of the Charlotte World Trade Association.

J. Bynum Carter
Honorary Board Member

Richard K. Craig
Honorary Board Member

Richard K. Craig is President and COO of A.B. Carter, Inc., and in this capacity, he has a seat on A.B. Carter’s Board of Directors. Rick joined the company in 1980. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Georgia, a B.S. from Erskine College and attended the Executive Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rick is active in numerous organizations, including American Red Cross (Board member), Salvation Army (Advisory Board and past Chairman), United Way (past Board member) and Gastonia Rotary Club (member).

G. Gordon Hacker
Honorary Board Member

Eugene M. Kennedy
Honorary Board Member

W. Fred Moorhead, Jr.
Honorary Board Member

W. Fred Moorhead, Jr. is former Sales Manager, Marshall & Williams Products. Fred spent his entire career with this Greenville, South Carolina company. He is a graduate of: Clemson University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, the United States Navy Officer School and the American Management Association Management School. Fred is active in the Greenville Touchdown Club, South Carolina Native Plant Society and South Carolina Waterfowl Association.

Kurt Scholler
Honorary Board Member

Since 1989, Kurt Scholler has served as CEO of American Truetzschler, the U.S. subsidiary of the world’s leading manufacturer of spinning preparatory equipment for the textile industry. Prior to joining American Truetzschler, from 1981 to 1988, he was President of the American Sales and Marketing subsidiary of Villeroy & Boch USA, and from 1969 to 1980, he was employed by Bayer AG. Kurt graduated from the University of Cologne, Germany as Diplom-Kaufmann, which is the German equivalent of an MBA.

James C. Scott
Honorary Board Member

Emmitte E. Winslow
Honorary Board Member

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