Chuck Hess was recently elected president of the Association of Diesel Specialists. He began his term August 4 during the 2010 ADS International Convention & Tradeshow, which attracted a record number of attendees.

Hess is vice president of H.G. Makelim Co. (San Francisco), a leading provider of power products throughout the western United States. H.G. Makelim Co. distributes industrial engines, diesel fuel injection systems, test equipment, rotating electrical products, turbochargers and generator sets. Started in San Francisco in 1922 by Howard G. Makelim as a magneto repair shop, the company was purchased by Robert Hess (Chuck's father) and Jim Hess (Chuck's brother) in 1956.

Over the course of Hess's 40-year career, he has held various board positions for several trade associations and has served as treasurer of the Association of Diesel Specialists since 2006.

Other ADS officers include some of the industry's leading diesel specialists, including Andy Girres (ADS vice president) owner of Diesel Specialties Inc. in Sioux City, Iowa; Carl Fergueson (ADS secretary) general manager of the Taylor Diesel Group in Nashville, Tenn.; Chuck Oliveros (ADS treasurer) President of Williams Diesel Service, Inc. in Ocala, Fla.

The Association of Diesel Specialists hit record attendance numbers at the 54th annual ADS International Convention and Tradeshow - "Branding Clean Diesel" - August 3-6, in Grapevine, Texas.
 
More than 650 attendees -- the most ever to attend the event -- gathered for seminars and workshops, technical training, panel discussions and networking social events.
 
The 2011 ADS Convention & Tradeshow is scheduled for August 2-6, 2011, at the Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas.