Atlanta, GA November 7, 2001 MAPICS Inc., a global provider of collaborative, extended enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications for manufacturers, today announced that its President and CEO, Dick Cook, was recently elected vice chairman of the national board of the AeA, the nations largest high-tech trade association.
As vice chairman, it will be Cook's job to advise the current board chairman and the president and CEO on all major policy matters affecting AeA and the high-tech industry. In keeping with longstanding AeA tradition, Cook will become the AeA chairman in October 2002.
Dick brings to this leadership position an intrinsic understanding of the high-tech industry and the needs of its members, said AeA President and CEO Bill Archey.
Prior to becoming vice chairman, Cook was chairman of the AeA Southeast Council, based in Atlanta, Georgia. As chair of the Southeast Council, Cook also served on the national AeA Board of Directors for two years. During Cook's tenure, Georgia became the eighth fastest growing cyberstate nationwide, adding 11,300 new technology jobs according to AeAs Cyberstates 2001.
I am proud to have the opportunity to continue serving members of the AeA and the Nations high-tech community and I look forward to the challenges ahead, said Cook.
As president and CEO of MAPICS, Cook is responsible for worldwide strategic development, marketing, sales and support of MAPICS extended ERP applications. One of the manufacturing industry's trade publications, Managing Automation, recognized Cook in July 2001 as a Software Leader.
Before joining MAPICS, Cook worked for IBM where he managed factory and laboratory locations, including programming and operations divisions, production control and distribution, quality engineering and plant engineering. He also directed site operations during the start up of IBM's Personal Computer business.
