The Material Handling Industry (MHI), the trade association that holds the ProMat and MODEX exhibitions, has acquired the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC). MHI plans to operate WERC as a division of MHI. Financial terms were not disclosed.
WERC was founded in 1977 when a number of individuals from the distribution field came together in search of education, research and networking opportunities in the field of warehousing. Since then, WERC has developed educational programs and conducted research concerning the warehousing process and to refine the art and science of managing warehouses.
WERC offers a variety of networking and educational opportunities for warehousing professionals, including the annual WERC educational conference, local WERC chapters, industry research, online learning and facility certification programs. WERC members are involved in the warehousing, distribution and fulfillment industries, across North America and around the world.
“The combination of WERC’s members and their expertise in the warehousing and distribution space supports MHI’s strategy to bring material handling and logistics solution providers and users together in a collaborative environment for connecting, educating, and advancing the industry,” says John Paxton, MHI COO and CEO-designate.
Michael Mikitka, CEO of WERC, will join MHI as executive vice president of the MHI Knowledge Value Center and will lead the WERC division within MHI.
The expanded association will serve MHI’s 840 member companies and WERC’s 750 professional members. “This addition of the WERC division will expand our opportunities to better align supplier and user objectives and deliver value to both member audiences,” says George Prest, CEO of MHI.
