East Manufacturing, manufacturer of aluminum flatbed, drop deck, dump, and refuse trailers as well as aluminum truck bodies and steel dump trailers, announced the promotion of Gary Brown to senior vice president of Operations.

In his new position, Brown will be responsible for all aspects of Operations including Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials, warranty and new trailer product development.

After beginning his career in the aircraft industry, Brown joined East in 1976 as a Supervisor of several production lines. During his East tenure, Brown has held supervisor positions in the Service Center and Inspection as well as Plant Superintendent. In 2000, he was promoted to Plant Manager and subsequently promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing in 2012.

He was instrumental in initiating Innovation, Smart Manufacturing in 2015, a program that facilitates a technology driven, computer-integrated manufacturing process. Optimizing interoperable systems on a multi-scale dynamic resulting in increased efficiency, fast production level changes, optimize supply chain, and ease of integration between robotics and humans within manufacturing processes.

In his career at East, Brown has implemented educational programs at the local technical schools that educate welders as well as other important manufacturing jobs. He has served in many charity organizations both local and across the country, including Blocks for Haiti, a non-profit helping the Haitian people build and rebuild homes and communities; rebuilding homes in areas that have been devastated by weather like Joplin, Mo. and West Virginia. In addition, he serves as a Portage County Development board member and a previous board member of Lake Center Christian School.

“Gary has been an integral part of the growth and success of East over the past 44 years,” said Howard Booher, CEO & COO of East. “With Gary’s strong background in manufacturing, he will continue to lead efforts to help advance East.”