SME Names Berg Executive Director
Nancy S. Berg has been named executive director of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME: Dearborn, MI). Berg holds this title in conjunction with her current position as SME's general manager and reports to SME board of directors. Berg will assume the additional responsibility of the SME Education Foundation and its activities while still directing the day-to-day operations of the society with business responsibilities for the Conference, Expositions, Membership, and Publications Divisions.
"SME makes manufacturing people and companies more effective through its commitment to provide the workforce with technical information, professional development tools and access to industry leaders," says Berg. "In tandem, the Foundation's mission is to serve the manufacturing community by providing support for the advancement of manufacturing education. Together, SME and its Foundation are building a partnership with industry and education to provide what they need to be successful," Berg concludes.
Berg has also been named a member of the DetroitMetro Conventional & Visitor's Bureau's executive committee. In this role she will advise the bureau in its strategic planning. Berg had previously served as director SME's Expositions Division and is well versed in the field.
SME Education Foundation's mission is to serve the manufacturing community by providing support for the advancement of manufacturing education. In 1999, the SME Education Foundation received 166 proposals from colleges and universities requesting $20.7 million. Since its inception in 1979, SME's Education Foundation has made cash grants of over $11.2 million and In-kind gifts of more than $77.8 million to 378 different colleges and universities.
In her day-to-day responsibilities Berg directs the operations of the 300-employee Society. Previously, Berg was director of expositions at SME, responsible for a schedule of 21 domestic trade shows and pavilion events at foreign tradeshows. Under her leadership, SME's tradeshow activities grew exponentially, resulting in SME rated as a top 10 tradeshow management company in the 1997 & 1998 Tradeshow Week Data Book.
Berg joined SME in 1982 as staff manager for Robotics International of SME (RI/SME), an association specializing in robotics technology. In 1984 she assumed responsibility for exhibit development in the Expositions Division. Her responsibilities were expanded to include strategic and financial planning, exhibitor sales, communication and services as well as management and coordination of SME shows in the United States and abroad.
Berg is a member of the Detroit Economic Club; American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); Council of Engineering & Scientific Society Executives (CESSE); and International Association of Exposition Management (IAEM) of which she served on the Board of Directors. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the DetroitMetro Convention & Visitors Bureau; and sat on several Detroit Mayoral committees charged with addressing convention and labor issues. Berg is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, One SME Drive, P.O. Box 930, Dearborn, MI 48121-0930; phone: 313-271-1500