Gerber's Raczkowski Named President of American Knife & Tool Institute
Gerber Legendary Blades is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Raczkowski, Gerber Knives Category Manager, as the new president of the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI).
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Portland, OR — Gerber Legendary Blades, a leader in the outdoor industry for over 70 years, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Raczkowski, Gerber Knives Category Manager, as the new president of the American Knives & Tool Institute (AKTI). A non-profit advocacy group, AKTI is committed to ensuring individual rights to buy, sell, own, carry and use knives and edged tools.
First announced during the 2011 Blade Show in Atlanta, GA, Raczkowski’s appointment is effective immediately. Bill replaces president Goldie Russell, President of A.G. Russell Knives, who served a four-year term.
“My goal as AKTI’s new president is to be pro-active in identifying and addressing laws that negatively affect knives and edged tools,†said Raczkowski. “In addition, I see AKTI taking an active roll in educating the public as to what’s legal to carry and what’s not. I think we can perform a very real community service there between our constituents and law enforcement and help avoid unnecessary conflicts.â€
As a knife-industry veteran, Raczkowski has been involved in manufacturing, engineering and marketing within the industry for thirteen years. His current roll as Gerber’s Knives Category Manager includes new product development, market research and quality control.
About Gerber:
Gerber is a leading global supplier of personal outdoor, tactical and industrial gear. Founded in 1939 as Gerber Legendary Blades, the trusted brand now includes a diverse portfolio of innovative activity-essential equipment for enthusiasts and professional end users.
Gerber is a division of the Fiskars Corporation, a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden, and outdoors. Founded in 1649, Fiskars has over 360 years of product quality excellence and is Finland’s oldest company. Please visit www.gerbergear.com.
About AKTI
As a nonprofit association, AKTI’s role is to be the reasonable and responsible advocate for the knife-making and knife-using community, providing the focal point for sensible evolution, development, and the consistent enforcement of knife legislation.
http://www.akti.org
