Vermeer's Andringa elected chair of the National Association of Manufacturers

Mary Vermeer Andringa, president and chief executive officer of Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa, was elected chair of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) board of directors on October 7. She will begin her two-year term on January 1, 2011. Andringa succeeds Michael Campbell of Arch Chemicals Inc. in this voluntary leadership position.

Andringa is the first female and the third executive from a small or medium-sized manufacturing company to chair the NAM board. She also is the third executive from Iowa to chair the NAM, following Richard Kautz of Grain Processing Corporation (1976) and Daniel J. Krumm of Maytag Corporation (1990).

“Mary is a strong leader who understands modern manufacturing and how to run a business,” said NAM president and CEO John Engler. “Vermeer’s global reach and exemplary employee-focused initiatives in health care and skills training are a testament to Mary’s leadership. She constantly strives for quality and efficiency improvements that have driven innovation and productivity at Vermeer. As NAM vice chair, Mary has been a forceful advocate for manufacturing. As one of just 18 private sector members of the President’s new National Export Council, she is well positioned to represent the manufacturing sector on important trade matters.”

“It has been a pleasure to work with Mary over the past two years,” said outgoing NAM chairman and Arch Chemicals chairman, president and CEO Michael Campbell. “Her broad experience and knowledge will be invaluable as manufacturers work with the Administration and Congress to advance a comprehensive strategy to strengthen manufacturing and create more jobs.”

“It is an honor to serve America’s manufacturers in these competitive times,” Andringa said. “As NAM chair, I will vigorously pursue policies that promote a successful business environment both domestically and globally. The United States is the world’s largest manufacturing economy and supports more than 18 million jobs in America. However, manufacturing in the United States faces unprecedented challenges. We must focus on critical priorities such as tax relief, energy, trade, health care, labor, infrastructure and education if we want our manufacturing sector to continue to create high-paying jobs and compete in the global market,” she said.

Andringa is president and CEO of Vermeer Corporation, an international, family-owned agricultural, construction, environmental and industrial equipment manufacturing company with over 2,000 employees worldwide. Vermeer’s products are used in more than 60 countries worldwide. In addition to her role on the President’s National Export Council, Andringa serves as a director for Herman Miller Company; member of the Board of Councilors for the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development; and trustee for the Fuller Theological Seminary. She received an A.B. degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Also elected to leadership positions during the NAM board of directors meeting on October 7 are Douglas R. Oberhelman, chief executive officer of Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, Ill.), as vice chair, and Kellie Johnson, president of ACE Clearwater Enterprises (Torrance, Calif.), as chair of the NAM’s Small and Medium Manufacturers. Both positions are effective January 1, 2011.

The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, 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, visit www.nam.org.