Proud to be helming Kentucky’s leading industry and business organization, the 113-year-old Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, where our mission is to make a better Kentucky by promoting and growing manufacturing, industry, entrepreneurship, and the opportunities they create for Kentuckians and all Americans. In doing so, we aim to accelerate Kentucky’s success as a pro-business, low-cost, advanced manufacturing location of choice to make world-class products. America and the American system of free enterprise remain beacons of hope for the world, and manufacturing is the bedrock of the American free enterprise system. Manufacturers employ nearly 13 million Americans, conduct well over half of the country's annual R&D spending, and have the largest multiplier of any part of the U.S. economy.Kentucky manufacturers directly and indirectly support 37% of all Kentucky jobs and produce a huge share of our state’s economic growth. For example, 90% of Kentucky’s record 2021 expansion and new job announcements were manufacturing-related. Manufacturing offers the solution to many of the challenges facing Kentucky and America if the right public policies are put into effect.