AEM Names New Director of PR

Richard Jefferson

January 16, 2008 • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has named Richard Jefferson to the newly created position of senior director of public relations. He will oversee the trade group's efforts to expand the scope of its activities for increased awareness to represent equipment manufacturers, particularly in the areas of public policy, global business development and workforce issues.

“We continue to grow programs for all our industry sectors and have embarked on ambitious strategic plan initiatives, including an expanded focus on public policy, global business development and workforce development. Rich's breadth of expertise will be invaluable to developing and overseeing public relations activities that gain increased visibility for the AEM membership and industry issues,” said Dennis Slater, AEM president.

Jefferson has a solid communications and managerial background of 20-plus years working in a variety of government, educational and business settings. He has focused on external affairs, strategic planning, writing, reporting and message management.

Jefferson most recently served as director of external affairs for the USDA Farm Service Agency's Office of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. He has also managed the public relations activities of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and was legislative liaison with Virginia's secretary of natural resources. Early in his career he was a newspaper reporter and photographer in Summerville, Ga., and Greenville, Tenn.

AEM also recently elected 14 companies as new members, including Alps Wire Rope Corporation, based in Glendale Heights, Ill., which manufactures wire rope and associated fabrications.