Washington, D.C. – In a significant recognition of her contributions to American manufacturing, Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President, was named the inaugural recipient of the Alexander Hamilton Award by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). This prestigious award, announced today, marks the 125th anniversary of the NAM and the commencement of its crucial “Creators Wanted” workforce campaign.
The Alexander Hamilton Award is designed to celebrate leaders who, much like Hamilton himself, inspire a national commitment to promoting, perpetuating, and preserving manufacturing within the United States. Ivanka Trump’s selection for this honor underscores her prominent role in advocating for American manufacturing in recent years.
NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons emphasized Ivanka Trump’s unique qualifications for this recognition. “Ivanka Trump,” Timmons stated, “embodies the collaborative spirit and relentless drive essential to tackling the most pressing challenge facing manufacturers: the workforce crisis. Her leadership in government has been unparalleled, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to modern manufacturing in America. The Alexander Hamilton Award is bestowed upon those who have made exceptional strides in bolstering U.S. manufacturing and empowering Americans with advanced, well-compensated manufacturing careers.” He further added, “Ivanka’s exceptional work in uniting leaders across industry, government, and academia to make in-demand careers accessible to all Americans makes her the ideal first recipient of this award.”
Ivanka Trump has been a vocal proponent of diverse pathways leading to high-skilled, high-paying manufacturing jobs. Her engagement includes attending events like the one at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park in Huntsville, where she championed the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) program. The Manufacturing Institute, NAM’s workforce and education partner, has since taken over the FAME program, initially developed by Toyota, a transition announced during the Huntsville event. FAME stands as a leading earn-and-learn manufacturing apprenticeship program, driven by employers and focused on instilling a strong manufacturing culture alongside essential technical skills. Furthermore, as chair of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, Ivanka Trump has been instrumental in advising on strategies to encourage private sector and educational institution involvement in bridging the skills gap. A significant moment was last July when Timmons joined President Trump and Ivanka Trump to sign the Pledge to America’s Workers, where manufacturers pledged to provide training opportunities to 1,186,000 manufacturing workers over the next five years.
Reflecting on the evolving economic landscape, Ivanka Trump commented, “As technological advancements and automation reshape the national economy, our education and job training systems must adapt to equip Americans for the emerging industries of the future, particularly advanced manufacturing. America boasts the world’s best workforce, but the skills required today are not the skills of tomorrow. I am dedicated to ensuring our workforce is prepared to seize the significant opportunities that lie ahead.”
The Alexander Hamilton Award presentation is scheduled for February 12, 2020, in Washington, D.C., at a NAM event launching the “Creators Wanted” campaign. This nationwide initiative aims to transform public perception of manufacturing and address the industry’s growing skills gap through an interactive mobile tour across more than 20 states, inspiring Americans to pursue high-tech, well-paying careers in modern manufacturing.
Timmons highlighted the urgency of this campaign, stating, “The manufacturing industry faces a critical need to fill 4.6 million jobs by 2028, as indicated by a study from The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte. To meet this challenge, NAM will continue its collaborative efforts with leaders from both parties to resolve the workforce crisis and strengthen the future of manufacturing.”
-NAM-
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the U.S., representing manufacturers across all industrial sectors and states. Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the American economy, employing over 12.8 million individuals, contributing $2.37 trillion annually, and driving 63% of private-sector research and development. NAM serves as a powerful advocate for policies that enhance manufacturers’ competitiveness and foster job creation in the United States. For more information, visit www.nam.org.
-The NAM’s Alexander Hamilton Award-
Named after Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, the award commemorates his pivotal “Report on Manufacturers” in 1791. Hamilton advocated for fostering manufacturing to address national debt and dependence on agriculture, promoting economic growth and national security. His vision, initially considered radical, is now recognized as the blueprint for the United States becoming a global industrial powerhouse.
