The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has announced that Heidi Brock, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association, has been elected chair of the NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA) to serve a one-year term.

The CMA, made up of nearly 260 industry-specific manufacturing associations, is a vital component of the NAM, providing resources and networks to members to broaden the reach of the NAM’s advocacy efforts.

“No executive is better equipped than Heidi to lead manufacturing association executives in this critical time in history,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Her ability to transcend Washington rhetoric and advocate on behalf of her members is inspirational. She is a true leader in the business advocacy community. Heidi continues to forge new life into her association, with her members and the sector she represents. She is a role model, not only within the Aluminum Association but also for all manufacturers across the United States. Her innovative leadership has resulted in building a culture of advocacy, including a relaunch of the Aluminum PAC; overseeing the creation and growth of the Congressional Aluminum Caucus; building a grassroots network and tool, AluminumNation; expanding her association’s advocacy programs outside of Washington; and growing membership by nearly 20 percent during her tenure. I am thrilled to welcome Heidi’s leadership to the CMA and look forward to working closely with her to advance pro-growth policies for all manufacturers.”

Brock has been a CMA member for more than four years, serving as a vice chair for the past year. Prior to joining the Aluminum Association, Brock served as vice president of federal and international affairs at Weyerhaeuser, leading the company’s Washington, D.C., office. Over the past 20 years, Brock has held the positions of vice president for e-business, director of strategic planning and manager for government affairs, and she has served on the staffs of former Sens. Dan Evans (R-WA) and Slade Gorton (R-WA).

“It’s a true honor to take on this new role with the CMA at a critical time for manufacturers in the United States,” said Brock. “The U.S. aluminium industry directly employs more than 155,000 workers and is a bellwether for many segments of the modern manufacturing economy, from auto, to aerospace, to packaging, to building and construction. We have a tremendous opportunity to grow this vital sector by pursuing policies that ensure the global competitiveness of domestic manufacturing.”

William Carteaux, president and CEO of SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, was elected vice chair, and Chris Jahn, president of The Fertilizer Institute, was elected second vice chair. The CMA also adds the following new board members in 2016:
· Philip Bell, president, Steel Manufacturers Association
· Kate Offringa, president, Vinyl Siding Institute, Inc.
· Robert Risser, president and CEO, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
· Steve Young, president, AICC