Vermeer’s Andringa Elected Chair of the National Association of Manufacturers

Mary Vermeer Andringa, president and CEO of Vermeer Corp. in Pella

, Iowa, was elected chair of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Board of Directors Oct. 7. She will begin her two-year term on Jan. 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-size 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 Corp. (1976) and Daniel J. Krumm of Maytag Corp. (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 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 Corp., an international, family-owned agricultural, construction, environmental and industrial equipment manufacturing company with more than 2,000 employees worldwide. Vermeer’s products are used in more than 60 countries worldwide. In addition to her role on President Obama’s National Export Council, Andringa serves as a director for Herman Miller Co.; 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 are Douglas R. Oberhelman, CEO 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 Jan. 1, 2011.