08/22/2026
Join SEAMS at our Fall Networking Conference in New Orleans and hear our SEAMS Member Supply Chain Panel, who will cover “Source Domestically – It Works!”
📅 September 15-17, 2026
📍 New Orleans, Louisiana
Moderated by Jim Hopkins of Hamrick Mills, panelists include:
• Denny Bogard and Cheryl Eckert of Fechheimer;
• Steve Hawkins of America Knits; and
• Ron Roach of Contempora Fabrics
Bogard will share Fechheimer’s sourcing strategy and the important role domestic sourcing plays. You’ll also hear Eckert, Hawkins and Roach discuss how three SEAMS member companies have collaborated to develop a domestic supply chain that truly works.
Denny Bogard
Denny Bogard is President of Fechheimer, the Cincinnati-based uniform manufacturer and a Berkshire Hathaway company that has been a trusted name in uniform apparel since 1842. He brings more than 30 years with Fechheimer to the role, having held a range of leadership positions beginning in the retail division, starting and running the company's International division as Director of International Business, leading its product development team as Vice President of Business Development, serving as General Manager of the Vertx brand, and then as Executive Vice President before being named President on August 1, 2025. That progression gives him a rare end-to-end view of the business, from the customer relationship back through product design, sourcing, and the factory floor.
Under Fechheimer's Flying Cross, Vertx, and Duke brands, Bogard leads a portfolio serving military, public safety, Postal, and professional markets, along with federal and consumer channels. He is focused on a sourcing strategy anchored in domestic manufacturing, with more than half of Fechheimer's annual volume currently produced in the United States — a base he and his team are working to build on as the company expands its domestic capacity.
Cheryl Eckert
Cheryl Eckert is Vice President of Operations at Fechheimer, where she oversees Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Production Planning across the company's global manufacturing network. With more than 25 years of experience spanning retail, wholesale, sourcing, manufacturing, and operations, she has built a career connecting the commercial and manufacturing sides of the apparel and accessory industry. Her leadership experience includes roles at Bloomingdale's, Theory, Cintas, Ripple Junction, and Trevco, with responsibilities ranging from merchandising and product development to global sourcing, planning, logistics, and operational strategy.
Today, Eckert is focused on building agile, resilient supply chains that support growth while balancing cost, quality, service, and domestic manufacturing objectives. Her broad industry perspective and passion for continuous improvement have made her a leader in navigating change, solving complex operational challenges, and creating stronger connections between product development, manufacturing, and customer demand.
Steve Hawkins
Steve Hawkins is the founder and president of America Knits LLC, a trailblazing apparel manufacturing company based in Swainsboro, Georgia. A graduate of East Carolina University’s College of Business with a BSBA in Finance, Steve brings over 30 years of experience in manufacturing finished knit apparel in the United States and Central America.
With a deep understanding of both domestic and international supply chains, Steve is leading the resurgence of U.S.-based textile production in a region where the industry had disappeared for more than two decades. Through America Knits, he is proving that high-quality garments can be competitively produced in the United States while revitalizing rural economies and creating meaningful employment.
His leadership has earned national recognition, including a feature in The New York Times article, “The American Experiment: Will It Work?” In 2024, the company’s flagship brand, Seeds II Seams, received the State of Georgia “Rock Star Award”, celebrating its innovation and impact.
As a speaker, Steve shares a powerful story of entrepreneurship, workforce development, and rebuilding lost industries through vision, resilience, and local investment.
Ron Roach
Ron Roach is the President of Contempora Fabrics, a premier, employee-owned circular knit manufacturer based in Lumberton, North Carolina. With a distinguished career spanning 41 years at the company, Roach has been instrumental in cementing Contempora’s reputation as an innovative industry leader in high-performance fabrics for team sports, workwear, performance apparel, and the U.S. military.
Under his leadership, Contempora Fabrics has consistently prioritized quality, domestic manufacturing superiority, and strategic supply chain partnerships. A staunch advocate for the U.S. textile sector, Roach has successfully navigated industry shifts by driving continuous innovation and forging alliances, such as the company's recent strategic partnership with America Knits, to strengthen local supply networks.
Roach holds a degree from The Ohio State University and remains deeply committed to advancing the broader apparel and textile community. His industry leadership includes serving on the Board of Directors for the Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) and holding the role of Past President of the SEAMS Association. His lifelong dedication to the trade was notably honored with the prestigious Sarah Friedman Award from SEAMS, recognizing his exceptional service and commitment to domestic manufacturing.
Jim Hopkins
Jim Hopkins is Vice President of Sales/Marketing at Hamrick Mills, a Gaffney, SC USA based textile weaving company which supplies woven fabrics to the apparel, industrial, and home furnishings markets domestically and across the western hemisphere.
Jim has been with Hamrick for 23 of his now 44 years in the textile industry and has come to believe that the future of the US Textile Industry will be reliant on collaboration and partnerships among the domestic companies. Hamrick Mills and Jim have long been members, involved, and supportive of the SEAMS Association. Jim currently serves as SEAMS Vice President and previously as Secretary/Treasurer.
Book your hotel: https://tinyurl.com/frjc8dpr
Register today: https://tinyurl.com/3we9uwat
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View the agenda: https://tinyurl.com/4e87nuze
