SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) is proud to announce Kara Demirjian Huss will serve as the new Chair of the IMA Board of Directors, bringing visionary leadership and deep industry expertise to further advance the state’s dynamic manufacturing sector.
Demirjian Huss is an Owner and Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Sustainability & Government Affairs at TCCI Manufacturing in Decatur, a global leader in compressor technology and electric vehicle components. There, she leads initiatives that support onshoring, supply-chain resilience, clean-technology development, policy advancements, and workforce innovation across TCCI’s global operations. She is also the Founder and President of DCC Marketing, a WBENC-certified agency that partners with state and federal agencies, industry coalitions, and Fortune 500 companies on issues central to the manufacturing sector.
Demirjian Huss also serves on the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, leading the state’s Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Committee where she helps guide statewide strategies to strengthen the manufacturing workforce pipeline, expand apprenticeship pathways, and align education and training systems with industry needs. She was named a 2025 Notable Leader in Sustainability by Crain’s Chicago Business and a Top 10 Executives to Watch in 2025 by the Chicago Business Journal. Demirjian Huss replaces Renee Togher, President of Azteca Group Inc., who was elected IMA Chair in 2023 and will continue to serve on the Board.
“Illinois is a national and global manufacturing leader thanks to the hard work of women and men on shop floors across our state as well as the impactful advocacy work of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association,” said Demirjian Huss. “I look forward to building on partnerships with manufacturers throughout the state to continue championing policies that support growth, develop a modern workforce, and create opportunities for generations to come.”
The IMA Board of Directors leadership team will also include Tom Welge, President of Gilster-Mary Lee in Chester, who will hold the position of Vice Chair, and Keith Carman, Owner and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at StandFast Packaging in Carol Stream, who will serve as Treasurer. All Board leadership terms are for two years.
“We are thrilled to be guided by these talented leaders whose knowledge and expertise will help us strengthen the manufacturing sector, grow jobs and advance our state’s economic prosperity,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the IMA. “Manufacturing is Illinois’ largest and most important industry, but we must not rest on our successes. We need strong pro-manufacturing policies and regulations to maintain our standing against outside challengers and ensure we keep pace with evolving technologies.”
Welge leads Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, a leading private-label food manufacturer that produces food items for virtually every major U.S. retail grocery chain and wholesaler. He is also President of St. Nicholas Brewing Co. which operates three brewpubs in southern Illinois, in addition to serving as Chair of the Board of Buena Vista National Bank in Chester, and as a board member of the SI-NOW! Foundation and the Greater St. Louis Area Council of Scouting America. Welge holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis.
Carman serves as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at StandFast Packaging, a leading corrugated packaging manufacturer and supplier, specializing in corrugated boxes, retail displays, retail packaging, graphic packaging, and fulfillment services. He began his career in accounting for the steel industry before starting a career in the family business, where he developed a sturdy foundation in customer relationships and market dynamics, helping to shape StandFast’s evolution from a traditional box manufacturer to a solutions-driven packaging partner. Carman holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University and an MBA from Roosevelt University.
Also joining the Board is Laura Eiklor, Plant Manager at ExxonMobil’s Joliet Refinery. Eiklor leads the overall management and operations at one of the most energy-efficient refineries of its size in the country. She joined ExxonMobil as an Aromatics Process Engineer before rising through the ranks to her current position. She brings 18 years of experience with ExxonMobil that includes manufacturing roles in Beaumont and Baton Rouge, business roles in Houston and time as the Baton Rouge Plastics Plant Manager. As a strong advocate for women in manufacturing, she wants girls to know that careers in manufacturing plants are available and achievable. Eiklor holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University.
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, please visit http://ima-net.org/.