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[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                        HONORING JOHN MANIATAKIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 13, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John 
Maniatakis upon his retirement as the vice president of NI Industries, 
Incorporated in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Maniatakis is retiring at the 
beginning of 2009 after a 50-year career.
  Mr. Maniatakis was born on April 4, 1936. He graduated from Babson 
College, in Massachusetts, with a bachelor of science degree in 
economics in 1958. Upon graduating from college, he went to work for 
Hesse-Eastern, a division of Flightex Fabric Industries, as a contract 
coordinator. One year later he was assigned to Lone Star Ordnance Plant 
where he was responsible for overseeing production of the LAW system at 
the load and assembly facility. In 1961, Mr. Maniatakis returned to 
Boston and was quickly transferred to New Jersey and assigned as the 
field product assurance representative, handling field problems 
relative to the production of LAW components.
  Throughout his professional career Mr. Maniatakis furthered his 
education by obtaining various degrees. In addition to attending Babson 
College, he received his master's degree from Boston University in 
1960. The company sponsored his education, and he was able to complete 
programs from Northwestern University (metallurgy), Newark College of 
Engineering, Division of Technology (math and metallurgy), William and 
Mary University (contract law) and University of Southern California, 
Graduate School of Business (Executive Management Policy Institute). 
Through his education he was able to advance his career.
  In 1965, Hesse-Eastern was acquired by NI Industries, Incorporated. 
Mr. Maniatakis stayed with the company and worked with the U.S. Army as 
an ordnance sales engineer at Picatinny, Frankfurt and Edgewood 
Arsenals. He was responsible for all contract and subcontract activity. 
In 1967 he was assigned to Washington, DC APSA and acted as a liaison 
between the customer and the Vernon Division of NI Industries, Inc. 
Just 2 years after this assignment, Mr. Maniatakis was transferred to 
Los Angeles, CA and became the marketing manager for sales and 
marketing. It is through this position that he became involved with 
contract administration for NI Industries. He remained in that position 
until 1977, when Mr. Maniatakis was promoted to the position of vice 
president, Sales and Marketing. One year later, he was given additional 
responsibility for contract administration and international sales. In 
1984, he was appointed to the position of vice president of NI Foreign 
Military Sales Corporation.
  Mr. Maniatakis is involved with many organizations. He is a longtime 
member of the American Defense Preparedness Association, ADPA, and has 
held many positions including chairman of the Metal Parts Section of 
the Technical Division, board of directors past president for the Los 
Angeles Chapter and was a member of the advisory board of the Picatinny 
Chapter. He has been on the board of directors for the National Defense 
Industries Association, Munitions Industrial Base Task Force, Vernon 
Chamber of Commerce and the Advisory ``LAW'' Board. He was a vice 
president of the Association of the United States Army, AUSA, and the 
founder and past president of the Committees of American Ammunition 
Manufacturers.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate John 
Maniatakis upon his retirement from NI Industries, Incorporated. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Maniatakis many years of 
continued success.

                          ____________________
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