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ARMA Kicks Off 2022 By Welcoming New Board Members


AUSTIN — The Austin Regional Manufacturers Association (ARMA) today announced the appointment of new board leadership and three new board members to lead the organization’s work promoting manufacturing in schools and in the community and ensuring the Central Texas labor pool has the skills necessary to support growth in the industry. 

In 2022, ARMA will continue its work with business and political leaders toward cementing Central Texas’ place as the nation’s advanced manufacturing capital. This work includes continuing to advocate for the 1,800 manufactures in the region to ensure companies are able to operate in business-friendly environments; creating training and certification programs in K-12 schools and community colleges to address the industry’s talent shortage; keeping member companies abreast of new workplace rules and regulations; and advocating for federal and state resources for manufacturers. To date, ARMA has successfully delivered more than $2 million in federal and state funds to ARMA members.  

The new board chair will be Carl Rounds, Director of Operations for Applied Materials. Tom Hibbs, Director of Operations for TECO Westinghouse Motor Company, will be the chair-elect. 

“The manufacturing community in Central Texas is growing, and under the leadership of Carl and Tom, I am confident ARMA will continue to meet the diverse needs of our members, especially in representingmember interest with policy makers and ensuring we do everything possible to scale workforce programs” said Ed Latson, executive director of ARMA. 

The new ARMA board members, who will each serve a three-year term, are:

• Farah Tuten, Vice President at NXP Semiconductors 
• Marsha Osborn, COO at Alen Corp
• John Newman, CFO at Athena Manufacturing
  
  One of ARMA’s original founders, Tom Lonsdale, CEO of Cypress Industries, will transition off the board, as will Stephanie Boone, CEO/founder of Wondercide, and Gerry Cairns, VP of Operations at NXP Semiconductors.
  
  “We are very grateful for Tom, Stephanie, and Gerry’s contributions to ARMA, and look forward to their continued support,” Latson said. “All three of these individuals have been instrumental in forming ARMA into what it is today.”
  
  

  ARMA is a trade association focused on strengthening the manufacturing community through advocacy, workforce development, and networking. Manufacturers account for 1,800 companies in the area, employee 65,000 people, and contribute over $18 billion to the regional economy.