Washington, D.C. — March 26, 2014 — The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) announced that Sherri Hotzler, president and CEO of Vantec, Inc., and Mike Lind, vice president of operations for Pella Corporation, have been elected to the NAM Board of Directors. Hotzler and Lind joined the NAM Board to advance a robust, pro-growth manufacturing policy agenda. Founded in 1895, the NAM, guided by its Board of Directors, is the largest industrial trade association in the United States with more than 12,000 members and is the nation’s most influential advocate for manufacturing. The NAM is at the forefront of every important policy debate for manufacturers.
 
Executives on the NAM Board, which is comprised of more than 200 manufacturing leaders and represents companies of all sizes in every industrial sector, are the driving force behind the NAM’s advocacy efforts to make the manufacturing comeback in America a reality. “Sherri Hotzler and Mike Lind bring a wealth of manufacturing knowledge to the table, particularly in advancing workforce development and improving the perception of modern manufacturing,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “As leaders in their communities, companies and industry, they have proven time and again that they are an important part of a new era in manufacturing. Sherri and Mike will serve a valuable role in setting the manufacturing agenda and driving pro-growth policies.”
 
“As a former chair of the NAM Board of Directors, I know how critical it is to have a Board of bold thinkers and committed manufacturers,” said Mary Andringa, president and CEO of Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa. “Sherri Hotzler and Mike Lind will continue this tradition. They have had an outstanding impact on manufacturing in Iowa, and manufacturers across the nation will benefit as they lend their expertise to the NAM. I look forward to working with them to advance a pro-manufacturing agenda.”
 
“I am honored to serve on the NAM Board, and I am passionate about creating jobs in America,” said Hotzler. “The regulatory environment has created a major roadblock to growth, and I look forward to working to ensure that manufacturers are competing on a level playing field. As we create more jobs, we need a workforce with the skills to match our technological industry. The need for skilled labor in robotics, industrial automation and integration and welding is growing at an astounding pace, and we must train more STEM graduates with the understanding that manufacturing is a pathway to a successful career.”
 
“Policies that come out of Washington have a significant effect on manufacturers in the United States, and it is essential that we have a strong, coordinated voice,” said Lind. “We must trumpet the power of manufacturing because it will deliver a bright future for our youth and, in turn, create the 21st-century workforce we need to compete. Manufacturers are building blocks of their communities, and I look forward to working with the NAM to enhance the perception of modern manufacturing.”
 
ABOUT NAM
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States,representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.