Appliance Industry CEO Forum

2016 was a successful year for the industry and AHAM. 2017 and beyond presents new opportunities and challenges. In his State of the Association, AHAM President and CEO Joe McGuire, will provide an overview of AHAM's current agenda and accomplishments and lay the groundwork for AHAM's mission through 2020.

On the special occasion of AHAM's 50th anniversary a panel of distinguished appliance industry leaders will share their thoughts on the future opportunities and challenges of the industry.

Appliance Industry CEO Forum

Chip Blankenship

Chip Blankenship

Chip Blankenship
President & CEO
GE Appliances, a Haier company

Charles (Chip) Blankenship is the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Appliances a Haier company, a $6 billion business headquartered in Louisville, KY. GE Appliances is at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people’s lives. The business employs 12,000 people and is headquartered in Louisville, KY.

Blankenship began his career with GE in 1992 after earning a B.S. degree in Materials Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia. His first position was that of Staff Scientist at GE’s Corporate Research and Development facility in Schenectady, N.Y. His technical work resulted in 23 papers published in refereed journals and eight U.S. and European patents. As a program manager, he led a team of scientists and engineers developing alloys and processes for aircraft engine, land-based gas turbine, lighting systems, medical systems and diesel engine applications.

Blankenship joined GE Aviation’s Commercial Engines Operation in 1996 as the leader of the CF6 Airline Support Engineering team. He was later appointed Manager of Embraer CF34 programs, and subsequently General Manager of GE Aviation’s Small Commercial Engine Operation. In 2006 he was named General Manager for Aero Energy, a division of GE Energy in Houston, Texas, that supplies aeroderivative gas turbines and packaged generator sets for industrial and marine applications. He returned to GE Aviation in 2008 as VP of the Commercial Engines Operation, a $5 billion business and the world’s leading producer of large and small jet engines for commercial aircraft. Blankenship was named to his current position on January 1, 2012. From January 1, 2013 through September of 2014 he assumed additional responsibilities and held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Appliances & GE Lighting, an $8 billion dollar business.

He sits on the board of the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM) and led NAM’s Task Force on Competitiveness & the Workforce. In February 2016 he was elected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering.

Chuck Campbell

Chuck Campbell

Chuck Campbell
CEO
Friedrich Air Conditioning Company

Chuck Campbell is CEO of Friedrich Air Conditioning Company and oversees the strategic direction of the San Antonio-based company with facilities in the United States and Mexico. Campbell joined Friedrich as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2010 and was promoted to his current position in 2012. Throughout his tenure at Friedrich, he has supported the company’s traditional consumer business while focusing on accelerating growth in commercial segments and leading key product development initiatives to further enhance and diversify Friedrich’s product portfolio.

Prior to Friedrich, Campbell served as General Manager, Vice President and President of the commercial dehumidification business unit of Munters AB, the Swedish-based global manufacturer of humidity control equipment.Earlier in his career, Campbell spent 15 years at General Electric in several industrial business units, starting as an engineer and progressing into general management.

Campbell holds an M.B.A. degree from Penn State University’s Erie campus and a B.S. in Marine Engineering from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY.

Joseph T. Liotine

Joseph T. Liotine

Joseph T. Liotine
President, North America Region
Whirlpool Corporation

Joseph T. Liotine was named President, North America Region in November 2014. Previous to this assignment Mr. Liotine was President of U.S. Operations.

Liotine has held a variety of roles with increasing responsibilities such as Vice President of Marketing for the North America Region, Vice President and General Manager of Whirlpool Canada LLC, General Manager Key Account Sales for the U.S. as well as various roles in strategy and marketing. Prior to joining Whirlpool Corporation, Joseph held positions within Quaker Oats and PepsiCo.

Liotine holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Booth School Business at the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University.

Mike Prager

Mike Prager

Mike Prager
President & CEO
The De’Longhi Group, North America

Mike Prager is President & CEO of The De’Longhi Group, North America Inc., global leaders across a range of home appliance categories. The Group goes to market under three leading brands: De’Longhi, number one in the world in espresso machines; Kenwood, a world leader in food preparation products; and Braun, leaders across a variety of small appliances. De’Longhi is also the largest global coffee machine partner to The Nestle Company, including co-branded partnerships on their Nespresso brand. Mr. Prager has a diverse background spanning a range of premium, consumer product businesses.

The foundation of Mr. Prager’s career was built over the course of 16 years with blue chip, consumer product companies, Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson. Over that time, he served in numerous, multifunctional executive leadership roles across several divisions of the Companies. Prior to joining De’Longhi in early 2012, he served as President, Oregon Scientific, an award winning specialty electronics company. This followed his work as President, The Boyds Collection, a Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) private equity owned consumer gift, collectible and home décor business. He also served in executive roles with The Timberland Company, a world leader in outdoor fashion.

He is a Finance & Marketing graduate of Denver University.

Joseph M. McGuire

Joseph M. McGuire

Moderator
Joseph M. McGuire
President & CEO
AHAM

Joe McGuire has led the of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers since 1999. McGuire has significant experience in energy, environmental and consumer product safety policy issues. He has led numerous industry coalitions on legislative issues and has crafted consensus agreements with government, environmental, efficiency, utility and consumer advocacy organizations.

Prior to AHAM, McGuire was Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for AlliedSignal Inc. (now Honeywell International), an advanced technology manufacturer, and represented the air-conditioning, refrigeration and home building industries. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Energy and its predecessor agency, the Energy Research and Development Administration.

He received a Bachelor’s Degree from St. John Fisher College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He also holds a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential.

McGuire served as Chairman of the American Society of Association Executives Board of Directors, 2012-2013, and currently serves as a Director and immediate Past Chairman. He is also a Director of the American National Standards Institute. He formerly served on the National Association of Manufacturers’ Board of Directors and chaired its Council of Manufacturing Associations. He is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Committee of 100.