WASHINGTON, D.C.--National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler today announced that Emily Stover DeRocco will become President of the Manufacturing Institute’s National Center for the American Workforce, which is dedicated to fostering a new generation of manufacturing workers for the 21st century, and a Senior Vice President of the NAM.

“Emily provided exemplary leadership as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training and is widely regarded as a leading authority on workforce development,” Engler said. “Finding qualified employees is a daunting challenge for the great majority of manufacturers and the skills gap will become an ever greater problem as older manufacturing workers retire. Emily comes to us at a pivotal moment when her leadership is greatly needed.”

Nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as head of the Employment and Training Administration in the summer of 2001, DeRocco was responsible for managing an annual budget of more than $10 billion funding the country’s workforce investment system. She represented the United States in numerous international forums and led boards and commissions in areas ranging from the future of the aerospace industry to the aging of the American workforce, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Interagency Working Group on Manufacturing, Education and Workforce Committee. She also served as vice chair of the Secretary of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure Economic Adjustment Committee.

“As a result of Emily’s strong, steady and articulate leadership, the Employment and Training Administration has significantly expanded the availability of the postsecondary education and training that are the cornerstone of workforce competitiveness,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao upon DeRocco’s departure from federal service. “Her seminal leadership on behalf of America’s workers will be missed.”

“The government’s loss is our gain,” Engler said. “The NAM has made substantial progress through our Dream It! Do It! campaign encouraging bright young people to pursue careers in modern manufacturing. Emily will take this excellent program to a higher level as we create an enticing career path into the future that millions of our best and brightest young people will want to pursue.”