The SPESA Team Grows with New Membership-Focused Position

Press Release

Raleigh, N.C. - April 14, 2025 - The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Ambar Campos as Director of Industry and Member Relations, bringing SPESA’s management team up to four. Campos is the small team’s first hire since the current management team took over the association’s reins in 2019.

SPESA introduced Campos to association members during the recent 2025 SPESA Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference in Austin, TX. “They say everything is bigger in Texas, and now SPESA is too,” SPESA President Michael McDonald joked to the crowd gathered at the Austin Central Library to discuss manufacturing automation, technology integration, and workforce development.

Campos has spent the last two decades learning the ins and outs of the sewn products industry with the Chicago-based Apparel Industry Board, Inc. (AIBI). Starting out in a temporary data entry position while studying for her BFA in Fashion Design, Campos has since worn many hats at AIBI, cultivating skills in garment construction, machine operation, digital pattern making, graphic design, fundraising, grant writing, and event planning. Ambar was responsible for producing the “Chicago is Red Hot” and “REVUP Chicago” events, before stepping up as AIBI’s Executive Director in 2019.

Campos will remain on the AIBI Board of Directors, and will temporarily work part time for both SPESA and AIBI as she helps the latter search for its next leader. She will begin her full time position with SPESA — focusing on membership and business development — at the beginning of May, just in time for the 2025 edition of Texprocess Americas. Her newly-created position will involve expanding the association’s membership proposition and offerings as well its roster. 

“The timing is strategic,” explains McDonald. “Prime exhibitor space at Texprocess Americas is one of the greatest benefits of SPESA membership. So, bringing Ambar on now to focus on membership will help us to build on the enthusiasm and momentum that Texprocess Americas always brings to our membership, and ensure that our members continue to be engaged and excited about the industry long after the show concludes.”

As one of her first tasks, Campos will oversee the association’s previously announced initiative offering a free year of SPESA membership to people and organizations who attend the 2025 show. This initiative, along with the rest of the association’s plans for the upcoming year, were highlighted in SPESA’s recent 2025 State of the Union Address. 

“We are thrilled to have Ambar join SPESA, and for the potential growth of not only our team, but our association as well,” states McDonald. “We look forward to this exciting next era for SPESA, and to continue to serve our members and the sewn products industry to the best of our — now expanding — ability.”

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About SPESA 

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.

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.

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.