Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Welcomes New Board Members
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) announced four new members have joined its Board of Directors as the organization continues its work to strengthen the state’s dynamic manufacturing sector.
“We are pleased to welcome these knowledgeable leaders to support our advocacy for manufacturers across Illinois,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the IMA. “Manufacturing drives economic investment throughout Illinois, and their contributions will help move Illinois – and our makers – forward.”
The new board members for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association are:
Bryan English (United Scrap Metal): English is theChief Financial Officer at United Scrap Metal, Inc. where he directs the accounting, financial reporting and analytics, treasury, risk management and information technology functions across the eleven USM locations within the US. Prior to joining USM, English spent thirteen years at Elkay Manufacturing Company. He began his career in public accounting, leading consulting engagements across a wide range of industries from small private companies to Fortune 500 organizations. He holds an MBA with concentrations in Econometrics and Statistics, Accounting, Economics, and Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeastern Illinois University.
Joe Eppert (Abbott): Eppert serves as Divisional Vice President, Global Operations and Supply Chain at Abbott where he holds responsibility for Global Operations and Supply Chain in the RMDx CMI Business Unit. He previously served as DVP of Operations and Supply Chain in the RMDx Toxicology Business Unit, Senior Director of Operations for the RMDx Infectious Disease Developed Markets (IDDM) Business Unit and Director of Operational Excellence in RMDx IDDM. Prior to RMDx, Eppert worked in Abbott Vascular for 15 years, spanning multiple sites and roles in Puerto Rico, Ireland and California. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Natalie Higgins (John Deere): Higgins is the Manager of State Government Affairs for John Deere, leading government relations efforts across the Midwest and Southern regions. Since joining John Deere in 2021, she has worked closely with state policymakers and industry stakeholders to advance public policy initiatives impacting agriculture, equipment manufacturing, and rural communities. Higgins previously served as Vice President of Government Relations and General Counsel for the Equipment Dealers Association and was a partner at Hughes Lawyers, LLC. She serves on the boards of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Missouri and is an active member of the Defense Research Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University.
Luis Mar-Silva (World’s Finest Chocolate): Mar-Silva is Senior Vice President of Operations at World’s Finest Chocolate (WFC), based in Chicago’s South Lawndale neighborhood. In this role, he leads enterprise-wide operations spanning manufacturing, quality, engineering, environmental health and safety, and continuous improvement across six value streams. Mar-Silva brings more than 25 years of operations leadership in food and consumer packaged goods manufacturing. Prior to joining WFC, he held senior operations roles at Perrigo Company, Hilmar Cheese Company, The Boston Beer Company, Diamond Foods, Abbott Nutrition, Dean Foods, and Mars Inc. and Wrigley. He holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso.
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, visit https://ima-net.org/
CONTACT:
Monique Garcia, 217-502-4832
