PMPA’s New Executive Director: Emily Riley, MBA
Emily Riley brings vision, energy and a deep commitment to manufacturing excellence and member service.
by Carli Kistler-Miller
Director of Programs & Marketing, PMPA
Published August 1, 2025
I am honored to welcome Emily Riley as PMPA’s new executive director. With a career that spans education, manufacturing, innovation consulting and leadership, Emily brings a mix of experience and vision to PMPA at a time of both opportunity and growth for our organization. As stated by PMPA Board President Brian Adams, “We’re excited to welcome Emily Riley as PMPA’s executive director. Her strong leadership skills, industry insight and member-focused approach are exactly what we need to guide the association into its next chapter.”
Professional Journey
Emily began her professional journey as a high school chemistry teacher before moving into research and development and supply chain operations in the manufacturing sector. Over 15 years, she supported teams in new product development and category growth across industries including food and consumer electronics. Her experience as a consultant further broadened her impact, allowing her to help organizations develop innovation strategies and align operations with business goals. Additionally, Emily served as a program director at Rowan University, where she helped launch a sustainable food systems degree program.
Why PMPA?
Emily was attracted to PMPA because of its unique position in the manufacturing world. “PMPA is a niche within manufacturing, and it’s a powerful one,” she says. “Our members produce precision components for critical, no-fail applications. That level of excellence and commitment really resonates with me.” She can already see strong parallels between the service-oriented nature of consulting and PMPA’s mission to support member companies through resources, networking and advocacy.
At the time of this writing, Emily was just weeks into her new role and she already sees tremendous potential. “There’s a deep sense of community and passion among our members and staff,” she notes. “My vision is to increase awareness of PMPA’s value, expand our reach regionally through chapters and encourage members to both leverage and contribute to the association’s resources.”
Emily also brings a solid grounding in nonprofit management, holding a certificate from Georgetown University. PMPA offers her the chance to apply that knowledge in a hands-on way, working alongside a “small but mighty” team deeply committed to the association’s legacy of over 90 years of excellence.
As she settles in, Emily encourages members to not only take full advantage of PMPA’s offerings, but also to share their time and expertise to help strengthen the organization. “This is a community built on excellence, service and collaboration,” she says. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Author
Carli Kistler-Miller, MBA has over 25 years of experience with operations, event/meeting planning, marketing, writing and communications.
Email: gro.apmp@rellimc — Website: pmpa.org.