NAMII, or America Makes, announces leadership team changes

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, known as America Makes, has announced changes to its leadership team.

Darrell Wallace, currently NAMII deputy director of workforce and educational outreach, will become the deputy director of Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise.

Michael A. Hripko, the former director of Youngstown State University’s STEM College Research and Technology-based Economic Development, will fill Wallace’s old post.

NAMII, specializing in 3-D printing technology and located on West Boardman Street in downtown Youngstown, is an advanced-manufacturing hub driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining, a collaborative organization that enhances the development of defense systems.

Staff members said they were excited about the changes in NAMII’s leadership team.

“I want to thank Darrell for all of his accomplishments to date and for agreeing to move to a new and exciting role within America Makes. I cannot think of anyone more knowledgeable for the demanding position of deputy director of AME,” Ralph Resnick, NCDMM president and executive director and America Makes founding director, said in a statement.

“As for Mike,” Resnick continued, “it truly feels like he has already been a member of our team since he has been so supportive of America Makes from our very first Youngstown encounter.”

First announced in 2012, NAMII is a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government and workforce-development resources.