SCMA Announces New Board Leadership Kevin Brown to Chair South Carolina’s Premier Association for Manufacturers

The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) has elected Kevin Brown, Senior Vice President of Global Operations for the Textile Division at Milliken & Company, as the chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. The election took place at SCMA’s two-day annual meeting.

 “I am honored to be elected by my colleagues to serve as Chair of the SCMA,” said Brown. “Manufacturing is the backbone of South Carolina’s economy, and the SCMA has served a significant role in advocating policies and initiatives that drive our industry towards continued prosperity and growth. I look forward to continuing this work and advancing our industry throughout the Palmetto State.”

Kevin Brown currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Global Operations for the Textile Division at Milliken & Company, where he oversees Manufacturing, Sourcing, and Supply Chain across the firm’s 26 textile manufacturing sites worldwide, leading a team of over 4,000 employees. As he steps into his 30th year with the company in 2025, Kevin takes pride in working towards enhancing Milliken’s comprehensive lean-based, continuous improvement program applied across their global network.

His journey with Milliken began in 1995 as a Process Engineer at the Enterprise Plant. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles, including his time as the Nonwovens Commercial Director and multiple plant leadership positions. Throughout his tenure, Kevin has been instrumental in driving cost improvements, ensuring better safety measures, and fostering diversified product development both domestically and internationally.

Kevin is a proud alumnus of Clemson University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1994.  He served as Vice President of Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers for the SC Chapter and has served as a member and past chairman of Clemson University’s Industrial Engineering Advisory Board, contributing to his long-standing relationship with the University.

Chair – Kevin Brown, Milliken & Company
Immediate Past Chair – Tommy Preston, The Boeing Company
First Vice Chair – Grant Burns, AFL
Second Vice Chair – Andrew Dill, Lockheed Martin
Treasurer – Curtis Hutto, Thompson Construction Group, Inc.
Textile Council Chair – Ellis Fisher, Inman Mills

Automotive Council Chair – Matthew Hamrick, Mercedes-Benz Vans
Chemistry Council Chair – Nicole McCracken, BASF
Lowcountry Manufacturers Council Chair – Nate McGaughey, Nucor Steel Berkeley
Tire Council Chair – Chris Gullott, Bridgestone

Dex Battista, Magna
Matthew Bowers, Sage Automotive Interiors
Ron Freed, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. South Carolina Manufacturing
Keller Kissam, Dominion Energy
Jason Meredith, Continental
Hunter Mottel, Sleep Number
Michael Tschantz, Ingevity

Scott Craig, JTEKT
Cameron Hamrick, Hamrick Mills
Mike Lee, Nucor Steel Berkeley
Jann Moore, Caterpillar Inc.
Francesca Mosteller, Michelin
Dan Royston, A.O. Smith
Katie Yehl, Volvo Cars

Bill Alexander, Celanese Polymer Products, LLC
Blair Belk, Coca-Cola Consolidated
Michelle DiMaio, Tetramer Technologies
Kate Konopasek, Toray Composite Materials America, Inc.
Scott Medley, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
Tim Pearson, Duke Energy
Mark Whitten, Spartanburg Steel Products

SC Future Makers Chair – Sidney Locke, Sage Automotive Interiors

The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance is the only statewide organization dedicated exclusively to the interests of manufacturers. Its mission is to strengthen and advance South Carolina manufacturing by advocating for our members, fostering a world-class workforce, and bringing together manufacturers to connect, share, and solve industry challenges. The SCMA membership is comprised of more than 200 manufacturing companies that represent more than 100,000 associates in South Carolina.