Complete Story
09/20/2018
The American Ceramic Society Names New Executive Director
Mark J. Mecklenborg will assume the role on Jan. 1, 2019
The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Mark J. Mecklenborg as executive director, effective Jan. 1, 2019. He will succeed current executive director Charlie Spahr when he retires at the end of 2018. Mecklenborg will be the society’s 11th executive director.
“Mark brings an energy and passion for the society," said Michael Alexander, ACerS president. "He understands the value of the membership to the society, and he brings a depth of understanding of the society’s finances.”
"This is an exciting time at the society," Mecklenborg said. "We’ve built strong momentum over the past five years, and I look forward to working with ACerS leaders and members to build an exceptional member experience for everyone working in the ceramic and glass industry."
Mecklenborg joined the society in 1995 and currently is director of membership, meetings and publications. Mecklenborg’s achievements include launching two new journals—International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology and International Journal of Applied Glass Science—and negotiating a long-term publishing agreement with Wiley.
Under his leadership, the society introduced new membership opportunities for graduate students, expanded its local Section network and started new Chapters for international members. He has developed strategic partnerships with international ceramic and glass organizations leading to prominent conferences in the field, and he manages the ACerS meetings portfolio on a wide range of topical meetings in the United States and abroad.
Mecklenborg holds an MBA from The Ohio State University and a B.A. in English Education from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio). He belongs to the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives, the Ohio Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives.
“In the last decade, we’ve become a more forward-thinking society, and Mark was instrumental in reconnecting the membership to the society," Alexander added. "We felt his leadership was best for the society to continue that momentum."
