Ann Hunzinger (middle). Ann Hunzinger of Evanston, Ill., former owner of Evanston Awning Co. and director of the Mid-American 8 Canvas Products Association board, passed away Sept. 18, 2025. She was 74. In addition to serving as director on the Mid-American 8 Canvas Products Association (MA8CPA) board, which is now known as the Midwest Fabric [...]
Image: Family of Stephen Franta Stephen J. Franta of Medina, Minn., former owner of Canvas Craft, passed away Sept. 15, 2025, after battling cancer. He was 84. Stephen started Canvas Craft in 1988 as a one-man marine canvas shop, and in 2004, his son, Max, joined the business, who is now the company’s president. He [...]
Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., (center) receiving the award. Image: Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D. Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., a professor at Texas Tech University (TTU), received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Science Monitor. The foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals for their contributions to science and technology. Ramkumar was recognized for his work in promoting India-U.S. collaborations [...]
Image: Henry Truslow family Henry A. Truslow (Hank) of Northumberland, Pa., former chairman and CEO of Sunbury Textile Mills and chairman of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute and the Northern Textile Association, died July 10 after a six-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 86. In 1962, Truslow began his career in the textile industry [...]
Marc Shellshear, Value Vinyls Inc. new president. Image: Value Vinyls Inc. Value Vinyls Inc., a specialty textiles and fabrics provider based in Grand Prairie, Texas, announced the promotion of Marc Shellshear to president. Shellshear brings over 30 years of extensive experience in operations, sales and marketing across multiple industries including specialty textiles, fabric and shade [...]
Gabe Hill, who spent 60 years in the textile industry–including 43 at SP Associates in Charlotte, N.C.–died April 13, 2024 in Abbeville, S.C. He was 89. Hill was owner and general manager of SP Associates, a well-known textile, nonwovens and apparel placement firm, before his retirement in 2017. "f you’ve been in a part of [...]
Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., director of the Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas. Image: TTU Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., director of the Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas, was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Inventors' 2024 class of senior members. The [...]
Amy Bircher at IFAI Expo 2021 in Nashville, Tenn. President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint nine individuals as members of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, including former Advanced Textiles Association chairman Amy Bircher Bruyn. The advisory committee provides overall policy advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on matters in connection [...]
GOZEN, a San Francisco-based biomaterials startup, announced the appointment of Sedef Uncu Aki as its new chief product officer. Aki joins GOZEN with a background in sustainability and textile innovation spanning more than 20 years. Her previous tenure as the director of product development and research at denim brand, ORTA, involved effectively creating and leading [...]
Phillip "Phil" Eugene Russell, 70, of Mansfield, Ohio passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. He passed away quietly in his home surrounded by close family members after a very long, courageous battle with cancer. Phil was born July 14, 1952, in Mt. Gilead, Ohio to Edd and Loretta Mae Russell. He grew up with two [...]
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