RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) has promoted two employees to vice president positions, strengthening its association management structure and operating efficiency.

Dan Pike, formerly general manager of MEMA Financial Services Group Inc. (MFSG), has been named vice president of the association and general manager of MFSG and MEMA Managed Services Group (MSG). In this new position, Pike will continue his responsibilities directing operations of MFSG, the association’s commercial subsidiary and the source of global credit and financial information for suppliers to all aspects of the motor vehicle industry. He also will direct MEMA association management group.

In his continuing duties as MFSG general manager, Pike is responsible for managing the credit reporting division and the daily operations of the organization. He also oversees membership and marketing, as well as advising in many workouts, restructurings and bankruptcies. In addition to his duties, Pike administers many of MFSG’s credit discussion groups, and addresses various groups and companies on industry trends and conditions.

His new duties as MEMA Managed Services Group general manager will include spearheading the association’s efforts to provide superior management services to all of its affiliated product-line groups and to the independent associations it administers. He is responsible for providing staff leadership and serving as client liaison for all MEMA product-line councils and independent associations managed through MSG. Affiliated MEMA councils and associations managed by MSG include the Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS), the Brake Manufacturers Council (BMC), the Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC), the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) and the Transportation and Safety Equipment Institute (TSEI).

Pike assumed his previous role as general manager of MFSG on January 2004. He joined MEMA in 1992, as a MFSG credit analyst. In October 1997, he was promoted to manager, credit reporting division, a position he held until assuming the general manager position in 2004.

Before coming to MEMA, Pike worked as a financial analyst for an insurance company and was an area manager for a property management firm. He is a graduate of Elon University in North Carolina and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.

Jo Anne Farr, SPHR, former director of human resources, has been promoted to vice president of human resources and administration. She will be responsible for the association’s human resources program and administrative/operational services at the MEMA headquarters.

Farr joined MEMA as its director of human resources in March 2006, a newly-created position within the association at that time. She will continue her current duties of directing and expanding the MEMA human resources program. Her new responsibilities include supervision of the association’s administrative services and operational support.

Prior to joining MEMA, Farr was president of Plectrum, a human resources consulting firm in Raleigh, N.C. Her experience includes more than 16 years at the corporate headquarters of Texas gulf, Inc., and serving on the executive management teams of two high-growth emerging businesses: ProActive Therapy Inc. and Cronos Integrated Microsystems Inc.

Farr is a magna cum laude graduate of North Carolina State University with a B. A. in business organization and communication. She is a nationally certified senior professional human resources (SPHR) and an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management and the Raleigh-Wake Human Resource Management Association, where she served three terms on the board of directors.

The changes are effective immediately, according to Bob McKenna, president and CEO of MEMA.

“Dan and Jo Anne are valued members of MEMA’s team and we are pleased to have them assume these addition responsibilities, which will enhance operations at MEMA, and benefit our members with more effective, efficient services,” McKenna said.

“These changes were precipitated by the resignation of Brent Hazelett, MEMA vice president of operation, who is leaving the association at the end of July to start his own business,” McKenna added. “While we will miss Brent’s leadership and hard work on the behalf of the association and its members, we thank him for his many contributions to MEMA during his nine year tenure and wish him all the best in his new endeavor,” he said.

For more information about MEMA, go to: http://www.mema.org.