ERA Advisory Board Announced By Traci Matt STAFF WRITER QUESTION: What do you get when you cross a bunch of resilient rebuilders and suppliers, a retired rugby player, a former APRA Chairman, a law expert, and a software developer, and more than 250 years combined experience in the electrical rebuilding industry? ANSWER: The newly formed Electrical Rebuilders Association (ERA) Advisory Board. Since the Electrical Rebuilder’s Exchange was first published in 1983, there have been a handful of industry experts who have served as unofficial advisers to both founder Ralph Albares and current owner Polly Shea. Ron Carlson, Joe Davis, Juan and Carolyn Grube, and Dick and Barbara Vensel, among others, have donated countless hours and made themselves available to ensure the quality of the newspaper and E+ Show. In 1998, Shea issued an invitation to any interested rebuilder or supplier to attend a pre-show planning meeting, and the volunteers on this “fluid” advi- sory board have done an exceptional job of leading the industry to the place where it has given birth to its own all-electrical association. Shea recently announced the members of the ERA Advisory Board, many of whom served as Exchange advisers in the past. She said the board will continue to advise the ERA: the ERE newspaper, the EREN Web site, and E+ Show staff and help them keep their finger on the pulse of the industry. Bob Wagner, president of Wagner Alternators & Supplies, Inc., Chino, CA, has been in the rebuilding industry for the past 21 years. Prior to that he was in banking operations. He has served on the APRA Electrical Board of Governors and also been an Exchange adviser since 1998. Wagner agreed to serve on the ERA board to help ”strengthen and encourage the small rebuilding compa- nies through these difficult times” by offering his experience and insights. He enjoys the outdoors, traveling and doing volunteer work with his family. Leo Manni, sales and marketing manager at Regitar U.S.A., Inc., Montgomery, AL, has seven years of experience in the rebuilding industry. He is the former director of marketing for Transpo Electronics, and has logged more than 25 years with various automo- tive and agricultural equipment parts manufacturers. He is a current member of the APRA Electrical Board of Governors, and said he chose to be on the ERA board because “the future of the ERA can do more for the electrical rebuilder than any other association because that is where its primary and only focus will be.’ Manni and his wife have four children, two of which are still at home. Bob Thomas, owner of B&H Electric, Jacksonville, FL, was actually educated as a journalist, as evidenced by his high- quality column which appears in the Exchange each month. His professional background includes a “dream job” of public relations for the speedway in Daytona Beach, information specialist for the U.S. Army, and retail store man- agement. After being introduced to rebuilding in 1978, he quickly took things into his own hands and opened B&H in 1980. With the help of Gene Halder and Davis, Thomas recently started RebuilderNet, an e-mail based communications tool for electrical rebuilders. His aim is to give back to the industry and improve the reputation of electrical rebuilders by helping them become better at their jobs. Thomas has two grown sons and a stepson, Rudy, who works at B&H as a rebuilder. He and his wife, Sarah, are two smiling faces you can count on seeing at each E+ Show. Ronnie Charnes has been working full-time at ACC Rebuilders, Inc., in Memphis, TN, since 1964 and is currently its president. He served as Chairman of the Electrical Division of the APRA before becoming an APRA Chairman in 1994. He has donated his time educating others in seminars and management meetings, as well as serving on the Exchange board for two years. He and his wife have two children and he enjoys attending church, spending time with family, and drag racing. As a member of the ERA board, he is looking forward to learning from others, giving back to the industry, and sharing in the future of rebuilding. Tom Reusser, president of R & R Regulators, Inc., South Bend, IN, is the board rookie with three years of industry experience. He said his contribution with the ERA will be to “provide a perspective that is not necessarily steeped in this industry,’ and to share his grasp of the “big picture” so the board can be more effective in business matters. His profes- sional background includes banking, technical sales and electrical experience, as well as MBA and law degrees. Reusser has been an Exchange adviser for two years, and also spoke at the 2001 APRA Electrical Clinic about the value and methods of reclaiming rectifiers. He and his wife have five children and he says he “knows how to stretch a dollar, which is very helpful in this industry.” His family is involved in 4-H, sports, band and church work. Richard R. Vensel, president of Vensel Enterprises, Crystal Lake, IL, has been i