San Antonio Manufacturers Association's new President Dan Yoxall takes over the leadership role on July 1 and he has big plans for the organization's growth. Outgoing President Rey Chavez is retiring. He's led the trade association for 12 years.
It's a challenging time for the manufacturing industry, Yoxall told the Business Journal, with escalating fuel costs, continued supply chain delays and a shortage of workers.
"Finding and retaining a well-trained, skilled workforce is a priority for all of SAMA’s members in this competitive labor market," he said.
Yoxall has a background in communications, nonprofit marketing, fundraising and management — most recently as vice president of community engagement and Development at loan agency LiftFund and vice president for institutional advancement at Our Lady of the Lake University.
Yoxall said his time in higher education and serving the small-business community through LiftFund showed him how urgent workforce development is to a community and how economic growth changes lives.
Yoxall's goals for SAMA are fourfold: growing the organization's membership by networking and continuing education; serving as an advocate for San Antonio's manufacturing community; increasing public awareness that manufacturing is a leading sector in the city for economic impact and new jobs; and working with the board to develop and acquire volunteer talent.
SAMA was founded in 1914 and represents the interests of more than 400 businesses in San Antonio and the South-Central Texas region. The businesses range from the manufacturing sectors ranging to transportation, medical products, diversified products, materials and electricity.
Under Rey Chavez's leadership, SAMA built partnerships with Alamo Academies, greater: SATX, Workforce Solutions Alamo, TexasFAME and Texas Fast, as well as the Department of Labor's certified apprenticeship programs. They are relationships Yoxall said he will continue to maintain and grow. And SAMA's strong volunteer base is working behind the scenes to recruit — and retain — new talent.
Chavez told the Business Journal that Yoxall comes to the table familiar with both member and sponsor processes, and is keenly aware of concerns manufacturers have on their minds.
In the near term, Chavez hopes the organization expands under Yoxall's leadership, saying his successor will focus on issues most important to manufacturers: workforce development, supply chain and logistics, regulations, environment and growing their businesses."
Covid was rough on many trade associations, including SAMA, he said. Many left due to lost income, workers and production. But there has been a turnaround as more manufacturers and associates begin to join SAMA again.
Chavez noted it's important for manufacturers to be able to pivot on the fly, citing the many retooling operations processes local manufacturers took to make personal protective equipment during the pandemic.
"I think Dan is well suited to continue keeping manufacturers informed of any other crises in the future," Chavez told the Journal. "He gets it."
