BIRMINGHAM, AL — The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has formally approved the formation of its first new section in 12 years — the SAE Alabama Section.

“With the growth of the automotive and motorsports industries in Alabama, and the number of engineers and technicians already involved the space and heavy truck industries here, clearly the time was right to establish a new SAE section,” said Brian Taylor, manager of local units, SAE, in Warrendale, Penn. “This group really came together on its own, and because of the enthusiasm and leadership, they have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time.”

SAE International is a professional organization for engineers, scientists, technicians, business professionals, educators and college students working within the mobility field. Including the new SAE Alabama Section, there are now 56 SAE chapters in North America, with more than 83,000 members worldwide. Approximately 150 SAE members work in Alabama, some holding local memberships with regional SAE sections based in Tennessee and Georgia.

“We expect this new section will also draw members from other states in the Southeast as well, in the same way our members have held memberships in other SAE sections,” said Don Coker, president of Intelligent Products and Systems, Inc., in Birmingham, who serves as the acting Chairman of SAE Alabama Section. Michael Johns, vice president of the Engineering Division at Southern Research Institute, serves as acting treasurer. Other members of the core planning committee included Rod Boyes (Melior), Chuck Ernst (Honda Manufacturing of Alabama), John Hall (Webb Wheel Products), Andreas Jocham (ISE), Peter Jones (Auburn University), Dan Kelley (Roden), Will Sutton (University of Alabama), and Jesse Williams (Harley Davidson).

To learn more about SAE and its new Alabama Section, go to: www.sae.org.

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