National Board members elected Robert J. Aben, Jr. chairman of the board at a membership meeting on October 7.
The Michigan Chief Boiler Inspector replaces Illinois superintendent and chief inspector David Douin who resigned from the position in September. He was elected as first vice chair in 2008.
A fourteen-year veteran of the US Coast Guard, Mr. Aben served as a boiler inspector for Hartford Steam Boiler before becoming assistant chief inspector for the state of Michigan in 1989. The Trenton, Michigan native became chief inspector and a member of the National Board in 1990.
Mr. Aben holds National Board Commission No. 9586 with "I," " N," and "NS" endorsements.
In addition to Mr. Aben’s election, National Board members also voted Mark A. Mooney and Joel T. Amato first vice chair and second vice chair respectively.
Mr. Mooney serves as assistant chief of inspections for the commonwealth of Massachusetts. A member of the board of trustees since 2001, he was elected second vice chair in 2006. Mr. Mooney’s elevation to first vice chair fills the vacancy left by Mr. Aben.
Mr. Mooney has more than 22 years’ experience in the boiler and pressure vessel industry. Prior to joining the commonwealth, he served as boiler operator, shift supervisor, and chief engineer for Bechtel-Semass Operations. Mr. Mooney was also an instructor for L.J.Technical and a service engineer for Mooney Engineering.
He started with Massachusetts in 1996 and was elected to National Board membership in 1998.
Mr. Mooney holds National Board Commission 12062.
Minnesota Chief Boiler Inspector Joel Amato fills the vacancy on the board left by Mr. Mooney.
Mr. Amato has served as chief inspector since 1999, the same year he was elected to the National Board.
Previous to joining the state, Mr. Amato was employed by Stroh’s Brewery as a power plant operator. He also served as a boiler inspector with Kemper Inspection and Hartford Steam Boiler Company.
A veteran of the US Navy, Mr. Amato was elected to the board of trustees in 2006 as a member at large.
He holds National Board Commission No. 11907 with "A" and "B" endorsements.
Replacing Mr. Amato as member at large is Kansas chief inspector Donald Jenkins.
Prior to joining the state, Mr. Jenkins worked as a paper mill machine operator before becoming a boiler operator for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Born in Aitkin, Minnesota, the US Navy veteran became chief boiler inspector for the Indian Affairs organization in 1982. In 1996, after a 29-year career with the bureau, Mr. Jenkins joined the state of Kansas as chief boiler inspector. He previously served on the National Board Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2008.
Mr. Jenkins holds National Board Commission No. 11837.