Meet the President: Introducing Bob Cookson, New DASMA President
© 2008 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Spring 2008
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 56
Meet the President
Introducing Bob Cookson, New DASMA President
On Jan. 30, 2008, Rick Sedivy passed the DASMA gavel to Bob Cookson, marking the beginning of Cookson’s two-year term as DASMA president. Cookson leads DASMA’s 17-member board that oversees DASMA’s five divisions: Commercial & Residential Garage Door, Operator & Electronics, Rolling Door, High Performance Door, and Associates.
Here is a quick profile of our new president—his past, his perspectives, and his priorities.
Every DASMA president brings some unique perspectives to the task. What are yours?
My background is obviously with rolling doors at Cookson, where I’ve spent most of my professional life. That experience has given me extensive acquaintance with all the common issues of our industry, such as manufacturing, dealer relationships, installation, codes and standards, business management, marketing, etc.
For the last 20 years, I’ve also been closely involved with industry associations such as DASMA and ARDI, which merged with DASMA just two years ago. I believe strongly in the value of an association and the positive role it plays in building a better industry.
On a personal level, I enjoy the task of building relationships with others in the industry, both manufacturers and dealers. I look forward to continuing that effort on behalf of DASMA.
What will be your top priorities for DASMA in the next two years?
I’m fortunate to be following in Rick Sedivy’s footsteps. In December, Rick led us through a strategic planning process. That effort generated two key objectives that will dominate our attention for the next few years.
Our first priority is to leverage DASMA’s technical strength to increase our influence with governmental bodies, regulating agencies, standards organizations, industry groups, and consumers. We have already begun the task of plotting specific strategies and adding staff for meeting this objective.
Our technical committees and Joe Hetzel, our technical director, have been very busy and very productive for DASMA and for our industry. They represent our strongest asset, and we want to use that strategic advantage to strengthen our voice.
Our second objective is to increase DASMA membership and member involvement. We have specific and aggressive goals to add several new members to all DASMA divisions. To begin meeting this objective, the board has upgraded our Membership Committee into a permanent standing committee of the association.
DASMA members already represent a substantial majority of the manufacturers in our industry, but we still have room to grow. More members will generate more income to fund strategic projects for the industry.
PERSONNEL FILE
Robert C. Cookson
EDUCATION
Stanford University A.B., 1970
Harvard Business School M.B.A., 1974
DOOR BUSINESS
General Manager The Cookson Company, Gastonia, N.C., 1977-85
President The Cookson Company, Phoenix, Ariz., 1985-present
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
American Rolling Door Institute President, 1985-88
Far Western Garage Door Association President, 1992-94
International Door Association Board of Directors, 1995-96
DASMA Board of Directors, 2002-present
President, 2008
BOB COOKSON TRIVIA
· Student body president, Burlingame High School (Calif.), 1965
· Played varsity tennis and rugby at Stanford
· U.S. Army Reserves, 1970-76
· Before joining Cookson, tried life as a tennis pro
· Ran in the 2004 Boston marathon at age 56
· Avid dry fly fisherman
· Past President, World Presidents’ Organization, Arizona Chapter