CHANDLER, Ariz. (April 24, 2012)  – MESA International announced the creation of the new role of President for the organization, appointing long time MESA supporter and advocate Michael Yost to this important position. In close partnership with the International Board of Directors, this role is intended to provide operational leadership and strategic guidance to the organization and its members.

Commenting on the newly created President role, Chairman John Southcott said, “Our mission at MESA is to improve operations management capabilities to help our members succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Our International Board of Directors is now in place to provide the strong leadership necessary to recognize and address the challenges manufacturers and producers are facing today. Appointing a President was the next essential step in shaping the future outlook of our organization and in driving results for our members. I am thrilled that Mike has agreed to take on this role and look forward to working with him to drive value for the entire MESA International community.”

A proven industry professional, Mr. Yost brings deep dedication and over 20 years of industrial, marketing, and sales experience to this role. He   has spent the majority of his career in the industrial automation/software space working for companies such as Rockwell Automation, Activplant Corporation and General Electric. Mike has also held a variety of leadership positions within MESA, including a seat on the International Board of Directors, and roles as Strategic Advisor, Executive Chair of the Marketing Committee and North American Conference Chair.

“I’m excited about where MESA is and where we’re going,” said Yost. “For 20 years, the individuals who make up the MESA community have  proven that there is significant value in driving toward Operations Excellence. Our challenge today and moving forward is getting the business leaders to stand behind those individuals and make MESA as important to their enterprise as it is to a single facility. We’ll do so by educating the global marketplace, sharing best practices, and continuing to deliver world-class content. We’ll continue to grow the MESA community. And, we’ll invest strategically to shape the enterprise solutions that make Operations more reliable, capable and profitable for the next 20 years.” 

MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association) International is a global community of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders and solution providers who are focused on improving Operations Management capabilities through the effective application of technology solutions and best practices. We accomplish this through:

• Collect, share, publish, and education best practices and guidance to drive greater productivity and the overall profitability of the manufacturing enterprise.

• Education of manufacturing operations best practices through the MESA Global Education Program.

• Facilitate innovation and collaboration to enable the real-time enterprise and Plant to Enterprise (P2E) integration.

• Enable members to connect, contribute, cultivate understanding, and exchange strategies to drive operations excellence.