The National Association of Manufacturers announced that Jason L. Brown, vice president, general counsel of GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, has been named to the NAM Board of Directors. Brown joins the NAM Board to bolster the association’s leadership in policy advocacy, workforce solutions, legal action, operational excellence and news and insights. He will help the industry advance an agenda that promotes opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.
Founded in 1895, the NAM, guided by its Board of Directors, is the largest industrial trade association in the United States, with more than 14,000 members. The NAM is the nation’s most influential manufacturing advocate, and its membership includes some of the world’s most iconic brands and many of the small manufacturers that power the U.S. economy. 90% of the NAM’s members are small and medium-sized businesses.
“I am honored to be a part of the NAM Board and continue to fight for policies that will ensure our continued growth and success as manufacturers,” said Brown. “It is critical for lawmakers to understand how their policies affect the more than 12 million men and women employed in manufacturing. The past 18 months have been some of the most challenging and rewarding of my career. I look forward to representing GE Appliances and sharing the work we are doing in Louisville and around the country to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and to giving a voice to the 15,000 men and women who work each day to make and deliver the appliances that make our homes better.”
The NAM and its members are at the forefront of every important policy debate for manufacturers and have led the nation’s response to COVID-19. Manufacturers are also leading by example with campaigns encouraging Americans to get vaccinated. Executives on the NAM Board, which comprises leaders representing companies of all sizes in every industrial sector, are the driving force behind the NAM’s efforts.
Board members play a key role in the NAM’s “Creators Wanted” campaign, a member-driven initiative to inspire, educate and empower more Americans to pursue careers in modern manufacturing—and to shift perceptions about careers in the industry. The campaign, which supports MI programs for students, women, veterans and other underrepresented communities and features a first-of-its-kind mobile experience and tour, seeks to cut the skills gap by 600,000 workers by 2025 and increase the number of students enrolling in technical schools, vocational schools and apprenticeships by 25%, as well as the number of parents who would encourage their children to pursue a career in modern manufacturing to 50% from 27%.
“Jason Brown is a recognized leader in our industry, and the NAM will be stronger thanks to his service on our Board of Directors,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Manufacturers are the driving force behind our economic recovery and our fight to defeat COVID-19—with a commitment to getting Americans vaccinated. We are working with lawmakers to ensure they deliver the long-term policy work on issues like infrastructure investment, immigration reform, trade expansion and workforce development. We will also defend the progress we’ve made on tax reform and regulatory certainty to ensure we can keep our promises to invest in our people and communities and build the strongest economy possible. The NAM’s mission is to ensure we always keep moving forward, and Jason will bring invaluable insights as we advocate for the men and women of our industry and advance the values that have made America exceptional and our industry strong—free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity.”
Brown joined GE Appliances in November of 2018, bringing 20 years of legal experience in consumer product manufacturing. He has been invaluable in helping the company increase its U.S. presence, navigate the challenges of the pandemic, lead enterprise risk management, and expand its focus on sustainability and citizenship.
A staunch believer in the power of education and inspiring the next generation of leaders, Brown is the board chair for Chicago’s Legal Prep Charter Academy and serves on the board for The Jefferson Community and Technical College Foundation in Louisville. He also serves on the global board of directors for the Association of Corporate Counsel, a global organization serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations, nonprofits and other private-sector organizations. Brown has been recognized twice as one of the “Most Influential Black Lawyers” in America by Savoy magazine.
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