Al Frink Resigns Commerce Department Post

Washington, DC, December 7, 2006--Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez today said that Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services Al Frink, the first to hold that position, will resign his office effective January 31, 2007. Frink, is co-founder of West coast carpet and rug manufacturer, Fabrica, which is now a unit of The Dixie Group. "Al Frink has blazed a new trail in helping increase the competitiveness and health of America’s manufacturing and services industries. American manufacturers and service providers are continuing to expand their competitiveness, and in Al Frink, they’ve had a 'go to' advocate who helped to advance their agenda. His thirty years of direct manufacturing business experience provided us all with invaluable insight, and the team he’s helped build will continue his good work,” said Gutierrez. "We at the Department of Commerce will miss Al’s leadership and we salute his public service." "I’ve been honored to serve President Bush and to work with two great secretaries of commerce, helping to advance America’s manufacturing and services competitiveness. As a public servant, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to try to give back to my country," said Frink. "I’m proud of the accomplishments we’ve made and where we’re headed. American manufacturing is strong, competitive and driven to succeed." Frink noted that American manufacturing employment has been relatively stable since mid-2003, while productivity and exports continue to expand; real hourly compensation in the manufacturing sector grew by 9.6 percent since 2001--faster than in the business sector as a whole; and since the President took office, the services sector has powered U.S. job growth, having produced over 5 million jobs. Gutierrez noted the following accomplishments during Frink’s 27 month tenure: To date, 35 of 57 recommendations in the "Manufacturing in America: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address the Challenges to U.S. Manufacturers" report of 2004 have been implemented; Establishing the Office of Industry Analysis which promotes domestic competitiveness and addresses the burdens of regulatory costs; an advisory manufacturing council Frink set up provided key recommendations that contributed to passage of recent tort reforms, a major presidential legislative success; Frink helped to reorient the traditional trade development function within the International Trade Administration (ITA) towards not only boosting American competitiveness internationally, but also domestically; and, Frink led the production of an award winning study on the negative impact of sugar subsidies.