SAVAGE, Minn. — Kevin Barker, president, Beckhoff USA, is taking on an influential role that drives motion control and automation priorities at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Barker was elected as the newest member of A3’s Motion Control & Motors Technology Strategy Board for the 2023-2024 term, which began during the recent A3 Business Forum in Orlando. Barker’s demonstrated experience in motion control and industrial automation, strategic leadership, and commitment to improving the automation and controls industry were all factors in his election to the board.
Barker has served in a range of sales and engineering roles, focused heavily on motion control throughout his career. Prior to joining Beckhoff as president in 2019, he spent eight years at Yaskawa America Inc., working up to director of sales – motion division. He also held director-level positions at Mitsubishi Electric Automation and Omron Electronics after starting his career with a high-tech distributor in Chicago.