Booth Appointed to U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce today appointed Gregory W. Booth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zippo Manufacturing Company, Bradford, Pa., to the Department’s 2012 Manufacturing Council, according to U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Representative Thompson initiated a letter in support of Mr. Booth’s candidacy in July of 2011 that was signed by Senator Bob Casey along with twelve other members of congress from the Commonwealth. Both Thompson and Booth praised the news upon hearing of the Department’s announcement.

“With his steadfast commitment to American manufacturing and the iconic Zippo brand, it was easy to nominate Mr. Booth to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council,” said Representative Thompson. “I want to congratulate Mr. Booth on this appointment and look forward to working with him to advance the competitiveness of manufactures in our region, the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and across the country,” added Thompson.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to have been selected to serve our country as a Manufacturing Council member. Helping to develop a business environment here in the U.S. conducive to rebuilding our manufacturing industry is a challenge I passionately look forward to,” said Gregory Booth. “Working with the Department of Commerce and the advisory Council to develop realistic and meaningful solutions to improve the manufacturing climate in the U.S. will be incredibly rewarding. I anxiously await my first Manufacturing Council meeting next month in Austin, Texas.”

“I am pleased to welcome seven new members to the Manufacturing Council, who will help us continue to support U.S. manufacturers building things here and selling them everywhere,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson, in a statement issued earlier today. “Each of the new appointees brings enormous experience in this critical sector for our economy, and will play an important role in our ability to promote innovation, economic growth, and continue to level the playing field for American manufacturing firms and workers.”

The Manufacturing Council serves as the principal private sector advisory committee to the Secretary of Commerce on the manufacturing sector. The Council is charged with ensuring regular communication between the federal government and the manufacturing sector, advising the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect manufacturing. Following a notification of an existing vacancy, Representative Thompson approached Mr. Booth about applying for a seat on the Council.

Mr. Booth was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Zippo Manufacturing Company on February 25, 2001. Zippo employs approximately 900 people in Bradford, Pa., manufacturing $100 million worth of pocket lighters each year marketing them in over 160 countries around the world. Prior to his work at Zippo, Booth spent nearly 30 years with Kendall Motor Oil and Sunoco Lubricants in a variety of sales and marketing and management positions.

Mr. Booth is one of seven new members of the Manufacturing Council. Each of the appointments fills an existing vacancy, and will bring the Council up to a total of 25 members.

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