Rome, Ga. — The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), an outreach program of the Georgia Institute of Technology, is pleased to announce John Zegers as the new Northwest Georgia region manager.
In this role, Zegers will serve manufacturers in 15 counties across Northwest Georgia, with his office based in Rome. He and his team of project managers will work closely with local manufacturers to help them develop top-line growth and reduce bottom-line costs through process improvement efforts, ISO management systems, energy and sustainability initiatives, innovation growth strategies, and connections to Georgia Tech. These valuable services contribute to Georgia’s economic growth because they support Georgia’s strong manufacturing sector and bring new jobs to Northwest Georgia.
Zegers, a manufacturing industry veteran with more than 26 years experience, was former director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Manufacturing at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, a role he held for eight years before joining GaMEP in 2015. In that role, Zegers expanded the focus of the Center of Innovation for Manufacturing by opening an office at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and developing close ties with the resources at Georgia Tech and Georgia’s other universities and technical colleges.
Zegers succeeds David Apple, who has taken on a project manager role within GaMEP.
“I’m going to carry on the great work that David has done in the region and just remain focused on continuing to provide the assistance, expertise, and access to the resources our manufacturing clients have come to expect from GaMEP and Georgia Tech,” Zegers said. “We focus on the true needs of every individual manufacturer and determining what their greatest challenge is and how we can best help them by bringing in the right resources and services to them.”
In this position, Zegers will work closely with the local chambers and economic development groups, as well as connect local manufacturers to the variety of programs that Georgia Tech offers to manufacturers across the state.
“John has truly understood the industry from an early age because he grew up in it with his family-owned manufacturing business,” said Karen Fite, GaMEP director. “He’s passionate about the industry and serving Northwest Georgia to create real impact with the companies we serve.”