ACMA appoints Cindy Squires as CEO
The manufacturing industry veteran will assume chief leadership of the composites industry trade association beginning July 1, 2021.
Cindy Squires.
On May 17, the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA, Arlington, Va., U.S.) announced that it has appointed Cindy Squires as its next CEO.
In her new role, Squires will be responsible for leading ACMA’s dedicated team of professionals while driving industry growth and increasing the value of the organization to its membership, sponsors, industry partners and stakeholders.
“As a veteran of the manufacturing industry and the trade association space, I’m excited to join ACMA, the leading trade organization for the composites industry,” says Squires. “ACMA’s commitment to industry-wide innovation and collaboration mirrors my own values. As I embark on this new chapter during this exciting, pivotal time for the industry, I look forward to upholding the organization’s strong thought leadership while expanding opportunities for composites manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in North America and beyond.”
Cindy Squires brings extensive experience in association management, including strategic planning, public policy and legislative affairs. For the last eight years, she served as executive director/CEO of the International Wood Products Association (IWPA, Alexandria, Va., U.S.), where she represented North American companies and trade organizations engaged in the import and use of hardwoods and softwoods from sustainably managed forests in more than 30 nations. Squires is a cleared trade advisor to the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of Commerce and also serves on the boards of the American Hardwood Export Council (Sterling, Va., U.S.), the Global Timber Forum (London, U.K.), the North American Forest Foundation (Collierville, Tenn., U.S.) and the American Boat and Yacht Council (Annapolis, Md., U.S.).
Prior to IWPA, Squires directed the regulatory, legal and trade programs for the recreational boating industry as the chief counsel of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA, Chicago, Ill., U.S.). Her previous positions included practicing environmental and administrative law in private practice, working as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill and a government agency. She is a current member of Maryland and the District of Columbia bars.
ACMA Acting Chief Executive Officer Kevin Barnett says, “As the industry works to increase adoption of composites across all market segments, now is an ideal time to welcome new leadership. ACMA is moving past the challenges created by COVID-19, and we are seeing our programs return to a resemblance of normalcy. We are poised for tremendous growth, and the industry must be prepared to meet growing demand for composites materials and solutions. Cindy Squires will be a creative, passionate and dynamic leader. We are elated that she will be joining us to lead our organization in serving and growing the composites Industry.”
Squires will be joining ACMA on July 1, 2021. The search was conducted by association and non-profit search experts Vetted Solutions.
