FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mandi Ross
703-358-2976
mross@aluminum.org

Aluminum Association Announces Staff Promotions

Karen Bowden New Vice President, Administration & Corporate Treasure; Parvaneh Shafiee New Director, Alloys & Product Standards

ARLINGTON, Va., July 1, 2010 (News Release) — The Aluminum Association today announced the promotion of Karen Bowden as Vice President of Administration & Corporate Treasurer. Karen joined the Association in March 2006 and has served as Director of Administration and Treasurer since 2007. Karen brings 17 years of management accounting experience from a wide variety of environments including retail, agricultural, non-profits and manufacturing. She also served for over seven years with the Royal Navy.  Karen’s financial qualifications were awarded by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
 
The Association also announced the promotion of Parvaneh Shafiee to the position of Director, Alloys & Product Standards.  Parvaneh joined The Aluminum Association in 1989 and prior to obtaining her current position, served as the Manager, Alloy and Product Standards Registration as well as other positions supporting the Association’s standards activities. Parvaneh has lived and worked in the U.S. and abroad in a variety of administrative and managerial capacities in diverse work environments.  Prior to joining the Association, she was the Director of Customer Services at Darcar Automotive Group and Manager of Employment and Placement in Iranian Offshore Oil Company.  She graduated from Carlisle Technical College, England, and has studied Business Management at the University of District of Columbia. 
 
“Karen and Parvaneh bring the best combination of leadership and experience in these key positions,” said Steve Larkin, President of the Association.  “The aluminum industry is fortunate to be able to call on their expertise in these critical times.”

The Aluminum Association, based in Arlington, Virginia, works globally to aggressively promote aluminum as the most sustainable and recyclable automotive, packaging and construction material in today’s market. The Association represents U.S. and foreign-based primary producers of aluminum, aluminum recyclers and producers of fabricated products, as well as industry suppliers. Member companies operate more than 200 plants in the United States, with many conducting business worldwide.