SALT LAKE CITY, July 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Diamond Equipment, a global innovator in climbing, skiing, mountain sports equipment and apparel, and a subsidiary of Black Diamond, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDE ) (the “Company”), has appointed Rick Vance as director of quality, effective August 1, 2016.
Vance will oversee all aspects of Black Diamond Equipment’s quality policy, controls and processes. This includes controls and practices within Black Diamond Equipment’s Salt Lake manufacturing operations and the integration of the quality department into product design and development. Vance will serve on Black Diamond Equipment’s management team and participate in executive-level management of the company.
“As Black Diamond Equipment’s U.S. manufacturing capacity grows alongside the demand for our products, it is critical that we maintain the integrity of our supply chain and the quality of our products,” said Mark Ritchie, president of Black Diamond Equipment. “In joining our executive team, not only does Rick fulfill a key role, but he also brings a wealth of working knowledge capable of refining operations across our business and developing the next generation of our global supply chain.”
Vance previously worked at Petzl America, where he was responsible for product quality control and managed the Petzl Technical Institute as their technical director. He was also a member of Petzl’s global management team and reported directly to the company’s chairman and CEO.
Prior to Petzl, Vance served as a senior research engineer for Harold K. Dunn M.D. Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, managing contracts specific to experimental design, testing and reporting of novel prototype orthopedic implant and surgical techniques. In that role, his responsibilities ranged from design of custom automated electro-mechanical testing apparatuses, to control and data acquisition software, to statistical validation and delivery of results to customers.
Earlier, Vance worked for the Naval Surface Warfare Center as a mechanical engineer, performing prototype design and testing of automated electro-mechanical, magnetostrictive and hydraulic systems to ensure the U.S. Navy’s compliance with MARPOL Annex V legislation to prevent pollution from ships.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Black Diamond team,” said Vance. “Black Diamond is anchored in a rich heritage serving the core climbing and backcountry ski communities with innovative and beautifully designed products, driven by its core values and ethics. As an industry veteran, I’m very appreciative of the authenticity it lends to our products.”
Vance received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Widener University. His experience in the outdoors industry includes more than two decades of rock, alpine, ice, mountaineering experience and backcountry skiing. Notably, he was a 2015 and 2016 alpine grant recipient of the Mugs Stump Award. Vance serves as secretary of the board of directors for the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) and on the Fall Protection Committee for American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
About Black Diamond Equipment
Black Diamond Equipment is a manufacturer of equipment and clothing for climbing, skiing and mountain sports. By consistently building innovative, standard-setting products and actively preserving the mountain/canyon environment, Black Diamond Equipment has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond Equipment, visit www.blackdiamondequipment.com
About Black Diamond, Inc.
Black Diamond, Inc., through its ownership of Black Diamond Equipment, is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing innovative active outdoor performance equipment and apparel for climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing and a wide range of other year-round outdoor recreation activities. Our principal brands, Black Diamond® and PIEPS™, are iconic in the active outdoor and ski industries, and linked intrinsically with the modern history of these sports. Black Diamond Equipment is synonymous with performance, innovation, durability and safety that the outdoor and action sport communities rely on and embrace in their active lifestyle. Headquartered in Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, our products are created and tested on some of the best alpine peaks, slopes, crags, and trails in the world. These close connections to the Black Diamond Equipment lifestyle enhance the authenticity of our brands, inspire product innovation and strengthen customer loyalty. Black Diamond Equipment's products are sold in approximately 50 countries around the world. For additional information, please visit our corporate website at www.blackdiamond-inc.com , as well as www.blackdiamondequipment.com or www.pieps.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
Please note that in this press release we may use words such as “appears,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “future,” and similar expressions which constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, the overall level of consumer spending on our products; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; the financial strength of the Company's customers; the Company's ability to implement its reformation and growth strategy, including its ability to organically grow each of its historical product lines, the ability of the Company to identify potential acquisition or investment opportunities as part of its redeployment and diversification strategy; the Company’s ability to successfully redeploy its capital into diversifying assets or that any such redeployment will result in the Company’s future profitability; the Company’s exposure to product liability or product warranty claims and other loss contingencies; stability of the Company's manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; the Company's ability to protect patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products as well as foreign currency fluctuations; our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards; and legal, regulatory, political and economic risks in international markets. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included from time to time in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, and speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
Company Contact: Warren B. Kanders Executive Chairman Tel 1-203-428-2000 warren.kanders@bdel.com or Aaron Kuehne CAO & CFO Tel 1-801-993-1364 aaron.kuehne@bdel.com Investor Relations: Liolios Cody Slach Tel 1-949-574-3860 BDE@liolios.com
