AAC Awards

During the Eighteen Annual International Anodizing Conference and Exposition, two new awards were presented to two outstanding volunteers.  This was the first time either of these awards have been bestowed on an AAC volunteer. 

	Jude M. Runge, PhD was presented with the Council’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Dr. Runge was recognized for “consistently [delivering] on the promise of excellence,” stated AAC Chairman Terry Snell, Manager—Environmental for Bonnell Aluminum in Newnan, Georgia. “She consistently brings fresh, innovative work that reflects insight and thoroughness, thus raising the bar and elevating the standard by which our conference content is judged…such exemplary contributions deserve special recognition,” Snell explained.

Dr. Runge is a metallurgical consultant and anodizing specialist in her own company, CompCote International in Elmhurst, Illinois. Her experience as a metallurgical engineer and as a metal finishing expert spans more than 30 years. Her analytical experience and expertise encompass a variety of manufacturing processes for all materials, as well as the science and engineering of many aspects of the metal finishing process. Dr. Runge has received both of the Council’s Awards of Excellence—the Donald I. Johnson Award for best presentation in 2002 and the Robert L. Kersman Award for best paper in 2006.

	Richard Mahn, Technical Service Manager for Houghton Metal Finishing in Alpharetta, Georgia, was presented with the Steadfast Service Award.

Mahn, an inaugural recipient of the Donald I Johnson Award of Excellence for best presentation in 2001, has been involved in the technical side of the aluminum industry for more than 35 years, including more than 25 years experience in anodizing. He was a long-time member and former chair of AAC’s Technical & Standards Committee, which is now part of the Council’s Education Committee. In addition, Mahn was a member of the faculty teaching at AAC Regional Forums long before they evolved into today's Anodizing Essentials Workshops—and he developed and refined much of the content for those technical educational programs. He also has been instrumental in the development of numerous AAC Technical Bulletins over the years, sharing his expertise and years of wisdom with the entire anodizing community.