ANN ARBOR, MI-The Automated Imaging Association (AIA) promoted Dana Whalls to managing director.

Whalls has more than 18 years’ experience in marketing, business development and finance in metropolitan Detroit-area advertising agencies, including eight years at an agency specializing in manufacturing and technology clients. She has served as marketing and public relations manager for the AIA since 2004.

“In the three years Dana has been with AIA, she has played a pivotal role in our growth to more than 280 member companies in 26 nations. She has helped us expand our reach in Europe and Asia, which is critical to our mission to promote machine vision on a global basis. I’m certain she will do an outstanding job in leading AIA and the machine vision industry to great accomplishments in the years ahead,” says Jeff Burnstein, executive vice president of the Automation Technologies Council, the umbrella organization governing the AIA and its sister associations, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) and the Motion Control Association (MCA).

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the dynamic team Jeff Burnstein put together here at AIA and helping to grow the industry through increased awareness and use of this technology that touches all of our lives,” says Whalls. “It is gratifying to be an advocate for such an exciting industry.”