AMHERST, NY – April 2, 2009: By a recent Board of Directors membership ballot, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) voted Thomas Lynch, Senior Vice President of Bureau Veritas, to the Board of Directors through 2012.  Mr. Lynch had previously served out the remaining months of a three-year term of a retiring member on the AAFA Board. The American Apparel and Footwear Association is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies and their suppliers.  AAFA’s mission is to promote its members’ competitiveness and profitability in the global market by minimizing regulatory, commercial, political and trade restraints.

In response to a question about why he is interested in serving on the American Apparel and Footwear Association Board, Mr. Lynch remarked: “I am pleased to continue my work with the AAFA and contribute to their involvement in the issues that have an impact on the apparel, footwear and textile industries.  Organizations like this bring together diverse participants with a shared goal of marketing goods globally, while managing their risk and delivering quality products to consumers.”

The new Board members were announced at the AAFA’s Annual Executive Summit held in Bonita Springs, Florida, Mr. Lynch is one of fourteen Board of Director’s members to be re-elected along with four new nominees.  New Board Chairman Carol Hochman emphasized the importance of the Board and its members in helping the footwear and apparel industry deal with the challenges of a difficult economic climate.

Mr. Lynch has worked in various positions for Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services in the U.S., one of the world’s leaders in quality assurance,  conformity assessment and certification services, for seven years.  The company provides an extensive array  of services including consulting, testing, inspections and training for  a full-range of consumer products including softlines, hard goods, toys and juvenile products,  electrical and electronic products and health, beauty and household products. 

For more information, please contact: Susan.Doughtie@us.bureauveritas.com

For more information on the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), visit: http://www.apparelandfootwear.org/