MILWAUKEE, Wis., Feb. 14, 2003 -- Badger Meter Inc. announced that Thomas J. Fischer, a Milwaukee-based consultant and retired managing partner of the Milwaukee office of Arthur Andersen LLP, has been elected a director of the company.
"Tom brings a great deal of talent and experience to our board that will be very valuable as we move forward with our growth strategies," said Richard A. Meeusen, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter. "His extensive background in accounting, finance, acquisitions, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, corporate governance practices of public companies and international business will be an asset to our board."
For the past year, Fischer, age 55, has been president of Fischer Financial Consultants, working with both large and small public and private companies in the areas of acquisitions, finance and accounting. Prior to that, he had a 33-year career with Arthur Andersen. He joined the public accounting firm's Milwaukee office in 1969, working his way up from an engagement auditor to managing partner of the office.
He was managing partner of the Milwaukee office from 1993 to 2002 and also served as deputy managing partner for Arthur Andersen offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, and Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1998 to 2002. While at Arthur Andersen he served as the firm's engagement partner for companies in a variety of industries with an emphasis on manufacturing and consumer products.
He serves on the advisory board of directors of Meridian Industries, Inc., a large privately-held Milwaukee-based diversified manufacturer. Long active in civic, education and charitable endeavors, Fischer is a former board member of the Milwaukee County Council, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, United Performing Arts Fund, Greater Milwaukee Committee and Competitive Wisconsin, Inc. He served as a trustee of the University of Notre Dame, a member of the university's audit committee and as president of the school's alumni association. He also served as a board member and treasurer of the State of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and as a member of the financial advisory committee of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Fischer is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Notre Dame.
Fischer's election increases the size of the Badger Meter board to eight members. He will stand for reelection to a two-year term at the company's 2003 annual meeting on May 2, 2003.
Badger Meter is a marketer and manufacturer of flow measurement and control technology, developed internally and with other companies, as well as the leader in providing digital connectivity to leading automatic meter reading technologies. Its products are used to measure and control the flow of liquids in a variety of applications.
Badger Meter company news is available 24 hours a day, on-line at:
http://www.badgermeter.com.
