AAFA announces Rick Helfenbein as next President and CEO

By

Dani Greene

Published
Jan 12, 2016

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Board of Directors just announced that Rick Helfenbein will replace Juanita Duggan as the association’s President and CEO on February 15. Helfenbein will leave his 2-year tenure as AAFA Chairman, to assume the position. He has also been an AAFA Board Member since 2008.

 
While serving as a board member, Helfenbein spent a large portion of his time on the Hill. He was key to the passage of the Generalized System of Preference Update legislation, which was the first significant change to the GSP program in 40 years. Helfenbein also oversaw USA operations for Luen Thai, an apparel and footwear leader based in Hong Kong.

“As a board member, former chairman, and active member of AAFA, I know the caliber of the work at AAFA,” Helfenbein said. “I look forward to working closely with the AAFA team to enhance our leadership position on trade issues, protect our members’ intellectual property, and to be the number one trade organization for our industry, where members can discuss and act on our most important issues.”

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The American Apparel & Footwear Association is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear, and other sewn products companies that participate in the global marketplace. The Association was forged in 2000 through the merger of the American Apparel and Manufacturers Association and Footwear Industries of America.