Brian Feehan

Experienced association executive Brian Feehan, 45, became chief staff officer of the Washington-based Industrial Truck Association (ITA) on 1 January.
He joined ITA on 15 September as president and has been working through a transition process getting acquainted with members and understanding ITA's priorities.
Feehan receives high praise.
Tucker Perkins says Feehan can see a problem at the highest level, promote innovative solutions and not get bogged down in details. Perkins is president and chief operating officer of Clean Fuel USA, of Georgetown, Texas, a manufacturer of alternative fuel equipment for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). He says Feehan, as a public speaker often in high-pressure situations, has "the uncommon ability to answer questions factually and correctly".
John Dunlap III, president of the Dunlap Group environmental consultancy in Auburn, California, and 1994-1999 chairman of the California Air Resources Board, says Feehan tries to understand regulatory processes and ways for an industry to move forward. "He is tireless and an advocate, and dives in for people he is working for to achieve their agenda," Dunlap says.
Greg Zilberfarb, chief executive officer and president of The Sales NetWork Inc, in Oak Hill, Virginia, says Feehan is "a great idea guy" with "a great management style" and significant capabilities to "see where an organisation is and what change is needed".

Perkins, Dunlap and Zilberfarb have provided services to, and worked closely with, Feehan's former employer, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC).
Feehan was born in the state of Maine and grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, near Portland.
He studied at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington. He received a bachelor of arts degree in government and politics in 1991 and a master's degree in public administration from the university's school of management in 1997.
Feehan and his wife, Susan, have three children, aged 10, nine and six. He coaches kids' sports and is an avid skier, golfer and sailor.
Feehan's early professional positions included special assistant monitoring federal legislation for the Maryland governor's office, marketing specialist with Maryland's mass transit administration, and marketing director for online political tool provider Capitol Advantage.
In 1998 he joined the World Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association as projects director in Paris, France. He developed and implemented marketing strategies, created communication methods to reach external parties and the LPG industry, managed communication agency accounts and wrote articles for publication. Feehan advised senior industry executives about international policy developments; served and spoke as the industry representative to the United Nations, international agencies and other policymakers worldwide; and developed and coordinated the Global Autogas Industry Network.
He joined the Washington-based Propane Vehicle Council (PVC) in 2002 as executive director. He developed, implemented and managed legislative, financial and market development projects for use of the fuel in off and on-road industry applications. He served and spoke as industry representative to US congressional and executive offices and built stakeholder alliances.
In late 2004, Feehan facilitated movement of the PVC's non-lobbying activities to a newly formed committee of PERC, also with Washington headquarters, and was named PERC vice president. PVC was dissolved as an organisation. With PERC, Feehan directed an USD8-million annual budget for developing US propane engine fuel markets in on and off-road market segments. He oversaw strategic direction, research and development, new product commercialisation, manufacturer relationships, marketing and communications and market development programs.
In his new position, Feehan succeeds William Montwieler, who retired on 31 December after 28 years as ITA executive director and chief staff officer. While Feehan's title is president, his duties resemble those of an executive director.
Feehan's office move: two blocks.
In a statement, Montwieler alludes to a wave moving toward the future with ITA members and staff working to take advantage of opportunities and solve problems.
Montwieler tells ITA members: "I cannot think of a finer person to help you ride that wave than Brian Feehan" whom he described as "bright, dedicated, hardworking, convivial and, dare I say it, a better golfer than I will ever be".
The ITA represents manufacturers of forklifts and other materials handling equipment and their suppliers who do business in Canada, the US or Mexico.