The announcement was made last April during the group's 69th Annual Meeting in Tucson, Ariz. In other news:
- GAMA will open an office in Beijing later this summer. The office will serve as an information resource for GAMA members. The office will be a joint venture with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
- Ian Stewart Farwell, executive vice president and COO of Rheem Mfg. Co., was elected chairman of GAMA for 2004-2005.
- GAMA also unveiled GAMAzine, a new magazine that will be published twice a year. The publication will be featured in specific issues of Plumbing & Mechanical and The ACHR News, both published by BNP Media.