Goldie Russell Becomes Fifth AKTI President

Atlanta, GA (June 7, 2007) – At the 10th annual meeting of the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI), Goldie Russell was elected as the fifth president of the knife industry’s advocacy group, as well as the first woman president. AKTI was formed in 1997 as the first-ever knife industry organization representing all segments of the industry … from individual knife owners to retailers to distributors to manufacturers.

Goldie Russell is the CEO and President of A.G. Russell Knives, Inc., Rogers, Arkansas. The company was founded by her husband, A.G. Russell, in 1964. Mrs. Russell has been involved with the company since 1989. In 2005 she and A.G. were individually designated Arkansas Small Business Persons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The company operates a retail store in Rogers, has a significant internet catalog business and is one of the industry’s largest direct mail sellers of sporting knives and other merchandise for men with outdoor interests.

“AKTI has a long history of successfully working for the knife rights of individual owners and every other segment of the industry,” Russell said. “We are moving forward to draft and pass legislation in several states where knife possession in various forms is considered a criminal offense. Our recent repeal of the 3 ½” blade limit in Arkansas is a perfect example of what we do. In our history, AKTI has supported legislation that has protected at least 21 million individual knife owners,” she added.

Jeff Goddard, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kershaw Knives, Tualatin, Oregon, was elected AKTI’s new Vice President. Both officers will have two-year terms. Goddard, an 18-year veteran of the knife industry, has been with Kershaw for eight years. The
company manufactures sporting and military knives and Shun household cutlery.

“I am passionate about the issues that AKTI deals with on our behalf,” Goddard said. “We need even more involvement from more individual knife owners and more companies who depend on this industry for their livelihood. We’re protecting the rights of everyone to carry knives and I know we will move forward aggressively in that area in the coming years. For example, our Grassroots Supporter program will enlist the help of potentially thousands of new supporters. We have found that lawmakers respond to letters, phone calls and emails from knife owners. Please go to our website and register so you will be ready when we issue our next call to share your opinions with lawmakers,” he concluded.