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About SPESA
Bringing Together Leaders from Across the Sewn Products Industry
Our Story
The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) is the industry association for suppliers to the sewn products industry, which includes apparel, upholstered furniture, home textiles, transportation interiors, leather goods, footwear, industrial textiles, and more.
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These suppliers are manufacturers and distributors of machinery, systems, technology, supply chain solutions, equipment, and parts, along with other products and services used for the development, manufacture, or distribution of sewn products.
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It’s our mission at SPESA to provide members with the highest quality networking, education, and advocacy for advancing their businesses within the global sewn products industry.
"Our main goal, in everything we do, is to help our members
get what they need to meet customers and expand their business."
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- SPESA President Michael McDonald
Our Board of Directors
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Our Team
Michael McDonald
President
Michael McDonald’s favorite thing to say: “You were either born into the textiles industry, or you were tricked into it.” He represents the former and has spent his career advocating for — or “tricking” — people to join the industry he represents and loves. Since 2018, Michael has served as President to SPESA, the Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas. SPESA represents the vast network of sewn products equipment suppliers and technology providers across the globe, namely with a focus in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to his role with SPESA, Michael serves on Walmart’s American Lighthouse Initiative Board of Directors, where he, alongside other industry leaders, work to drive more manufacturing efforts in the U.S.
Michael began his career in the D.C. metro area, previously serving as the Manager of Government Relations for the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). He was staff liaison for AAFA’s Product Safety Council, Government Contracts Committee, Brand Protection Committee, Financial Management Committee, Labeling and Transportation Mailing Lists. He oversaw a diverse array of issues as lead lobbyist including product safety, intellectual property, military contracting, domestic sourcing, environment & chemical management, corporate tax reform, transportation & infrastructure, patent reform, labor, state chemical regulations, international trade, and internet sales tax. Today, he calls himself a “Reformed Lobbyist”.
When Michael isn’t talking sewn products, he is either wrangling his two small boys or working to finalize his doctoral degree in Textile Technology Management at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles.
Maggie McDonald
Vice President, Communications
Maggie McDonald serves as SPESA’s Vice President of Communications, a role she’s held for the past six years. She oversees SPESA’s ongoing integrated communications strategy, including marketing, advertising, event promotions, and member and association awareness. A Raleigh, N.C. native, Maggie has spent more than fifteen years working across multiple communication divisions including public affairs, public relations and brand marketing. In a past life, she served as an account director at a midsize comms agency where she managed brand marketing efforts onbehalf of VFC Jeanswear (now Kontoor). Prior to that, Maggie worked on behalf of major global brands including The Clorox Company, Hershey’s and FedEx, during her five-year tenure at Ketchum’s Washington, D.C. practice. Maggie received her Master’s in corporate communication from the beautiful College of Charleston and a Bachelor’s in psychology from North Carolina State University. Let’s Go Pack!
Aside from her work with SPESA, Maggie keeps busy wrangling three rambunctious boys including her six- and four-year-old sons, plus her husband and SPESA President, Michael McDonald.
Marie D'Avignon
Vice President, Operations
Marie D’Avignon joined SPESA in October 2018 as Vice President of Operations. She is involved in SPESA’s member services, event planning, and marketing initiatives, and supports the SPESA President with managing day-to-day operations of the association. Most recently, Marie served as Writer and Member Communications Manager for the Washington, D.C.-based American Association for Justice. She was also previously Manager of Government Relations for the American Apparel & Footwear Association, leading initiatives in trade, sustainability, and supply chain and regulatory compliance. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., she worked at the North American Development Bank in her home state of Texas. Marie has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a Master’s in International Relations from Webster University’s global program.