Advanced Technology Services Exec Vlad Bacalu Joins SMRPCO Board

Advanced Technology Services (ATS) announced on August 11 that Vlad Bacalu, its business development manager, has been elected to the board of directors of the Society for Maintenance &Reliability Professionals Certifying Organization (SMRPCO).

"The manufacturing sector remains a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, and Vlad Bacalu brings the expertise and experience essential to serving clients in this high‑profile industry," said Jeffrey Owens, President of ATS. "Vlad has consistently demonstrated a commitment to superior client service and has been a champion of the industry‑recognized Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) program."

In his new role, Bacalu will collaborate with fellow board members to refine existing certifications and elevate the visibility of SMRPCO’s credentialing initiatives. Joining the board will also give him the opportunity to learn from other leading maintenance organizations that share ATS’s focus on embedding maintenance as a core business function.

"I am dedicated to expanding our industry leadership by educating our maintenance professionals in the most advanced theories and principles," said Bacalu. "Production maintenance is our core competency, and by deepening our expertise, we can deliver consistent service that drives higher productivity and lower costs for our clients."

Bacalu has held several leadership roles during his five years with the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP), including chair of the Certified Industrial Maintenance Mechanic (CIMM) Strategic Planning Group. In that capacity, he helped refine and launch the CIMM exam, a third‑party, objective assessment of an industrial maintenance mechanic’s skills. He also served on other committees, such as the SMRPCO Advisory Committee.

Bacalu was the first ATS employee to take and pass the CMRP exam in July 2005, and he subsequently introduced the exam to ATS. Today, more than 90 employees and executive leaders at ATS have earned the CMRP credential. Bacalu joined ATS in 1993.

About Advanced Technology Services:
ATS makes factories run better. Advanced Technology Services (ATS) improves the productivity and profitability for many of the world’s most respected manufacturers through the managed services of production equipment maintenance, information technology and spare parts repair. Born out of the need for American manufacturers to remain competitive in a fast‑changing global economy, ATS is the recognized leader in outsourced production equipment maintenance. ATS is headquartered in Peoria, IL with offices and services centers located in Greenville, S.C.; Chicago; Detroit; Monterrey, Mexico; Puerto Rico; the United Kingdom; and China.