New PLASA Chair

PLASA (Professional Lighting and Sound Association) has announced the results of the executive committee's internal election for the posts of chairman, vice-chairman, and treasurer for 2003. David Hopkins OBE, managing director of Audio Design Services, is the the new chairman, while Sammy DeHavilland (Dare Pro Audio) becomes vice-chairman and Tim Brown (Apple Sound) takes over from DeHavilland as treasurer.

Mick Hannaford, who stepped down as PLASA chairman at the end of 2002, had served in the role for three years, during which time he had overseen the introduction of PLASA's program of industry research, the expansion of PLASA's service portfolio with the introduction of Ron Bonner (health and safety consultant) and Nicky Greet (training and development manager) to the PLASA head office staff, as well as the development of a strategic plan for the association, which has been core to the continuing success of the association.

Matthew Griffiths, managing director of PLASA, comments, “Mick has been forthright, good-humored, and very committed — a quality which is common to all our chairmen. I think that everyone involved with the association has benefited from his tenure, which successfully built on the achievements of his predecessor, Paul Adams of PA Installations.”

Hopkins says, “I would like to build on what's already been achieved. PLASA's main function is to support the membership using its collective strength and provide services and support which members would find difficult to achieve on their own. As a leader, PLASA must continue to provide the highest level of support for standards, as well as to promote the training and education ethics among all members.”