Siekerka named chair of Conference of State Manufacturers Associations

New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michele Siekerka has been named Chair of the Conference of State Manufacturers Associations (COSMA).

Siekerka, who previously served as vice chair in 2023-2024, will serve, the network of 50 state-based manufacturing partners for a two-year term.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) CEO Jay Timmons is thrilled.

“Michele’s leadership as COSMA chair is instrumental to ensuring the manufacturing community can speak with a strong and unified voice,” he said. “We will continue to rely on Michele’s counsel as we work with a new Congress and administration to enact pro-growth tax and regulatory reforms that will help improve the quality of life for all Americans.”

“New Jersey manufacturers share the same challenges their counterparts in other states face – workforce shortages, high interest rates that limit access to capital, global supply chain disruptions, overregulation, and government red tape that strangles growth,” Siekerka said.

Siekerka, who also joined NAM’s board of directors last year, spearheaded COSMA’s efforts to bring its annual conference to New Jersey last summer.

The national event, held July 28-31 at the Seaview in Atlantic County, brought together U.S. manufacturing industry leaders to share bold ideas and strategies for advancing manufacturing priorities.

This year’s annual COSMA gathering will take place in Portland, Oregon in late July of 2025.