MAM switches up leadership

The Missouri Association of Manufacturers has an interim executive director in place as its seven-year leader transitions out of the organization.

Michael Eaton was named interim executive director by the MAM Board of Directors, according to a news release issued yesterday. Eaton came on board in July as MAM's marketing and development manager after previously serving as director of patient and community relations for Jordan Valley Community Health Center.

Eaton takes over for Kim Inman, the organization's top executive since November 2013.

Eaton said Inman submitted her resignation to the board, and they are currently working on a transition process.

"She obviously is a wealth of knowledge and we are grateful for her desire to see future success and growth of the association," Eaton said. "She is playing a vital consulting role during the transition."

Reached this morning, Inman said she's "ready to look at new opportunities." Inman said she's exploring new career moves, though a new role has not been secured. Prior to joining MAM, she worked for six years as vice president of sales and marketing for the Springfield Cardinals.

At MAM, she said the organization is in a good place for a leadership change as the industry group is debt-free.

"I want to make sure that they've got a good future ahead of them," she said of the transition plan.

During her tenure, Inman cited the organization's creation of the state’s first private industry health insurance consortium, dubbed HealthSource, and the growth of the organization to a statewide industry association.

Eaton said the MAM board currently is discussing future plans regarding a permanent leadership change.

Declining to disclose membership numbers for MAM, Eaton said the organization’s advocacy efforts are conducted on behalf of all manufacturers in the state, a figure that exceeds 6,500 companies. He said HealthSource has around 75 member organizations. Eaton leads a team of six employees at MAM, he said.