Dec 18, 2008

Michael R. Withers, vice president of ride engineering for Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, Calif., has been named to the ASTM International board of directors for 2009-2011. The 25-person ASTM board has responsibility for directing the affairs of ASTM International, one of the largest developers of international voluntary consensus standards in the world.

An ASTM International member since 2000, Withers currently serves as vice chair of Subcommittee F24.24 on Design and Manufacture, a part of Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices.

After graduating from Oakland University, Rochester, Mich., with a B.S. in engineering, Withers began his professional career as a project engineer with Autosafety Engineering, also  in Rochester. He then became a project manager at the John Z. DeLorean Corp. in Bloomfield Hill, Mich., and later took the position of vice president with Triad Services in Troy, Mich. In these roles he was involved with mechanical and systems engineering and automotive safety systems. Withers joined Disney Imagineering as director of operations in 1989 and he assumed his current role in 2000.

As vice president of ride engineering at Walt Disney Imagineering, Withers is responsible for amusement ride design and engineering. In addition, he is currently serving as project manager for the Global Ride Safety Enhancement Program for Disney Theme Parks and Resorts.  Outside ASTM International, Withers is a member of SAE International and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

 Release #8137/Dec08