Van Meter board appoints new CEO

Van Meter Inc., an employee-owned Cedar Rapids electrical and mechanical product distributor, has named a new president and chief executive officer.

Lura McBride, previously chief operating officer, joined the company in 2008 as vice president of organizational effectiveness. She replaces Kevin Powell, who by mutual agreement with the Van Meter board of directors, left to pursue other interests.

As chief operating officer, McBride had responsibility for the operational functions of Van Meter, including distribution, sales support, information technology, facilities, marketing and business planning, and organizational effectiveness.

'I believe that Van Meter is not just a place to work. It's a place to grow and learn. It's a place to make a difference,' McBride said in a news release.

Before joining Van Meter, McBride led an operations team at Accenture in Chicago where her group defined business strategies and aligned people, processes and technology to achieve goals for the office of the chief operating officer.

McBride holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Iowa as well as a master's degree in business administration from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

'Lura is a true change agent. She is a 'doer' and makes things happen,' said Barry Boyer, chairman of Van Meter's board of directors, in a news release.

'I know Lura will take Van Meter to new heights. She has a keen mind for strategy, a deep commitment to company culture, and a critical understanding that people are the engine that power progress.'

McBride is a member of the board of directors for Tanager Place, volunteers as a mentor for Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates, and serves on the advisory board for Iowa BIG — an initiative-based school that provides high school students with real life, hands-on experiential learning by partnering with businesses and organizations in the community.