Blair Vandivier, president of Benchmark Products and Seleco, Inc. (Indianapolis, Ind.), and immediate-past chairman of the SUR/FIN Steering Committee, received the 2007 Silvio C. Taormina Memorial Award at the National Association for Surface Finishing’s Annual Management Conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The honor is NASF’s most prestigious individual award.

Vandivier, who has provided more than 17 years of distinguished service to the metal finishing industry, is both a metal finisher and supplier. He has served the former organizations (AESF, MFSA, and NAMF) in numerous ways. For AESF, Vandivier served on the Law Committee and Technical Conference Board. In 1986 he became a Certified Electro Finisher (CEF) and received SUR/FIN Technical Conference Board recognition in 1996.

As an MFSA member, Vandivier served on the special projects services committee and board of trustees; he also held the positions of vice president, president, and past president. As an NAMF member, he served on the board of directors and held the positions of treasurer, vice president, president, and past president. Vandivier also received the Award of Merit in 1997 and the August P. Munning Commemorative Award of Merit in 2001.

As part of the Surface Finishing Industry Council (SFIC), the precursor to NASF, Vandivier was a founding member of the SFIC board of directors. He served on the Joint Industry Council, held the position of president, and received the Founders Award in 2000. He currently holds the position of immediate past chairman of the SUR/FIN Steering Committee. Through his continued efforts and guidance, SUR/FIN participation continues to grow.

(For more on this story, see the April issue of Metal Finishing.)