March 2, 2021 — MxD announced today that former Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Carroll Thomas has joined its Board of Directors.
In her role as Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s NIST MEP, Thomas helped U.S. manufacturers compete globally by accessing new technology and strengthening supply chains. With more than 400 manufacturing extension offices located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, MEP services have a measurable track record of providing manufacturers enhanced growth, improved productivity, and expanded capacity.
With more than 30 years of entrepreneurial and small business development experience, Thomas’s accomplished public and private sector career demonstrates her leadership expertise as a catalyst for creating effective partnerships and advocating economic development by supporting dynamic innovation ecosystems.
Thomas currently serves on the boards of the Information Technology Innovation Foundation and the State Department Federal Credit Union. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University in Design and a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University in International Business. She is now retired.
“I am thrilled to welcome Carroll Thomas to our board to bring a more intimate familiarity with the challenges and strengths of the small and mid-sized manufacturers,” said Chandra Brown, MxD CEO. “Carroll’s leadership will bolster MxD’s efforts to digitize the hundreds of thousands of smaller firms that form the backbone of the nation’s manufacturing economy.”
The addition of Thomas to MxD’s board builds upon the institute’s strong track record of working with MEP to disseminate resources to manufacturers embarking on their digital journey and seeking to improve their cyber posture.
About MxD
MxD, the nation’s digital manufacturing institute, is where innovative manufacturers go to forge their futures. In partnership with the Department of Defense, MxD equips U.S. factories with the digital tools, cybersecurity, and workforce expertise they need to begin building every part better than the last. As a result, our nearly 300 partners increase their productivity and win more business.
