Bush Administration To Nominate Al Frink Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing and Services
April 14, 2004
MT. VERNON, Ohio - Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today announced, during a town hall meeting with employees of Ariel Corporation, the Bush Administration's intention to nominate Al Frink for the position of Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing and Services. Once nominated and confirmed, Frink will serve as the Bush Administration's point person on manufacturing and will focus on ways to help the sector grow, create jobs and compete in the global economy.
"Al's extensive background as a manufacturer makes him a great candidate to serve because he has walked in their shoes and knows first hand the barriers that are challenging American manufacturers," said Evans. "President Bush understands that manufacturers are the engine that creates jobs, grows our economy and raises our standard of living."
Evans also appointed Don Wainwright as Chairman and Karen Wright as Vice-Chair of the Manufacturing Council. The Manufacturing Council will ensure manufacturers of all sizes have a voice in the ongoing implementation of the administration's manufacturing initiative.
Frink, an Hispanic-American, is Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Fabrica International, a manufacturer of carpets and rugs, in Orange County, California. Thirty-years ago, Frink helped lead the business into an internationally recognized company. Fabrica's commitment to research and development has helped the company grow in the last decade and stay on the cutting edge. Fabrica has been in business since 1974 and employs more than 400 people.
Frink has held numerous leadership positions and served as a member of the Commerce Department's Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee. Frink is a 2004 inductee to the Small Business Administration's Hall of Fame.
As the Assistant Secretary, Frink will advocate, coordinate and implement policies that will help U.S. manufacturers compete globally. Some of the challenges he will focus on include:
1. Enhancing Government's Focus on Manufacturing Competitiveness;
2. Creating the Conditions for Economic Growth and Manufacturing Investment;
3. Promoting Open Markets and a Level Playing Field;
4. Lowering the Cost of Manufacturing in the United States;
5. Investing in Innovation; and
6. Strengthening Education, Retraining, and Economic Diversification.
Wainwright is the Chairman/CEO of Wainwright Industries headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Wainwright Industries manufacturers stamped and machined parts for customers in the automotive, aerospace, home-security, and information-processing industries. In 1994, the company won the Commerce Department's prestigious Baldrige Award. In 1996, Industry Week tapped Wainwright's company as one of the best-run plants in America
Wright is president and owner of Ariel Corporation. The company founded in 1966 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, designs and manufacturers compressors for natural gas gathering, pipeline and gas storage markets. Today Ariel designs a wide variety of compressors that are in service world-wide in refineries, gas fields, pipeline service and gas gathering.
Today's announcement fulfills some of the recommendations made in a comprehensive report by the Commerce Department, Manufacturing in America, that identified challenges facing the manufacturing sector and outlined recommendations that will aid American manufacturing and create jobs.
"We need leaders with practical experience. We need leaders with strong records of success. These business leaders will bring a wealth of practical experience from the manufacturing sector to Washington," said Evans. "They will help the President pursue advanced policies that will make it easier for American businesses, specifically the manufacturing and services sectors, to succeed and create jobs."
"Al's extensive background as a manufacturer makes him a great candidate to serve because he has walked in their shoes and knows first hand the barriers that are challenging American manufacturers," said Evans. "President Bush understands that manufacturers are the engine that creates jobs, grows our economy and raises our standard of living."
Evans also appointed Don Wainwright as Chairman and Karen Wright as Vice-Chair of the Manufacturing Council. The Manufacturing Council will ensure manufacturers of all sizes have a voice in the ongoing implementation of the administration's manufacturing initiative.
Frink, an Hispanic-American, is Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Fabrica International, a manufacturer of carpets and rugs, in Orange County, California. Thirty-years ago, Frink helped lead the business into an internationally recognized company. Fabrica's commitment to research and development has helped the company grow in the last decade and stay on the cutting edge. Fabrica has been in business since 1974 and employs more than 400 people.
Frink has held numerous leadership positions and served as a member of the Commerce Department's Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee. Frink is a 2004 inductee to the Small Business Administration's Hall of Fame.
As the Assistant Secretary, Frink will advocate, coordinate and implement policies that will help U.S. manufacturers compete globally. Some of the challenges he will focus on include:
1. Enhancing Government's Focus on Manufacturing Competitiveness;
2. Creating the Conditions for Economic Growth and Manufacturing Investment;
3. Promoting Open Markets and a Level Playing Field;
4. Lowering the Cost of Manufacturing in the United States;
5. Investing in Innovation; and
6. Strengthening Education, Retraining, and Economic Diversification.
Wainwright is the Chairman/CEO of Wainwright Industries headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Wainwright Industries manufacturers stamped and machined parts for customers in the automotive, aerospace, home-security, and information-processing industries. In 1994, the company won the Commerce Department's prestigious Baldrige Award. In 1996, Industry Week tapped Wainwright's company as one of the best-run plants in America
Wright is president and owner of Ariel Corporation. The company founded in 1966 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, designs and manufacturers compressors for natural gas gathering, pipeline and gas storage markets. Today Ariel designs a wide variety of compressors that are in service world-wide in refineries, gas fields, pipeline service and gas gathering.
Today's announcement fulfills some of the recommendations made in a comprehensive report by the Commerce Department, Manufacturing in America, that identified challenges facing the manufacturing sector and outlined recommendations that will aid American manufacturing and create jobs.
"We need leaders with practical experience. We need leaders with strong records of success. These business leaders will bring a wealth of practical experience from the manufacturing sector to Washington," said Evans. "They will help the President pursue advanced policies that will make it easier for American businesses, specifically the manufacturing and services sectors, to succeed and create jobs."
