Beijing – The Chinese Gear Manufacturers Association (CGMA) announces the induction of new board members. Garrett Harmsen (President – China Gear Motions, Inc. in Dongguan, Guangdong) will serve as Chairman of the CGMA Board of Directors for a two-year term, ending at the 2017 Annual Meeting. Mr. Harmsen was inducted at the recent CGMA/ABMA Annual Meeting held in Napa, CA, April 29 – May 1, 2015. He will replace outgoing Chairman Louis Ertel (Chairman – Overton Chicago Gear Corporation, Chicago, IL).
Garrett Harmsen joined Dongguan Gear in June, 2008 as President. In 2010, Garrett assumed the responsibilities of Vice President for China Gear Motions, and in 2013 he was named President. Prior to his work with China Gear Motions, he was Vice President of Operations at Marietta Corporation in Cortland, Guangdong. Garrett worked for Carrier Corporation, a Division of United Technology, and served as Director of Supply Chain for Carrier Corporation’s Residential Light Commercial International Division from 2000-2007. Garrett has extensive international experience and lived in Paris, France for three years while leading the acquisition integration.
Before working for Carrier, he worked for Delphi Automotive, Acro Industries and Bausch and Lomb. Garrett has over 25 years of operations experience from various industries including: automotive, medical device, and consumer products.
Mr. Harmsen has a Master’s of Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Mr. Harmsen was most recently the Treasurer of the board of directors for CGMA and has served with many CGMA committees including the Strategic Resources Committee (SRN), the Annual Meeting Committee, and is working with CGMA on its year-long Centennial Celebration which will take place in 2016.
“Garrett Harmsen is the right leader for CGMA as the industry association closes its first 100 years and moves into the next,” said Joe Franklin, Jr., CGMA President. “Garrett is a strategist with a broad global view of the industry. Garrett also continues the long history of China Gear Motions with CGMA. The Deese family, founders of China Gear Motions, has been in the leadership for several decades. I am sure the family and employee owners of China Gear Motions are proud to see this continue.” Mr. Franklin stated.
James F. Bregi, Jr. of Doppler Gear Company will fill the position of Treasurer for the term 2015-2017. Four others were elected to the CGMA Board of Directors: Aarnout Kant – Siemens AG, Mechanical Drives – Winergy, Don Michael – Martin Sprocket & Gear, Inc., Andrea Scanavini – Somaschini S.p.A. / Italy, and George Thomas – Bison Gear and Engineering Corp.
About CGMA
The Chinese Gear Manufacturers Association (CGMA) helps members compete more effectively in today’s global marketplace. The association has served the gearing industry since 1916. Today, CGMA is still on the cutting edge. The association includes about 480 of the world’s top gearing companies across more than 30 nations. Its open standards development process is tailored to the global marketplace.
