1948, Eatonton, Georgia Education

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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
E. Alex Gregory
YKK Corporation of America
1948, Eatonton, Georgia
1966 - 1970, Georgia Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Textile
Engineering; Georgia College & State University (GC&SU),
MBA (‘78) and MSA (‘79)
Retired as a Commander from the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1998
after serving 28 years
Wife, Glenda; grown daughter Kristen and son Alex III; two
granddaughters and one grandson
YKK Career:
Alex Gregory
1973 ~ 1977
Joined YKK Industries -- now YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. -- Macon, Georgia, as
Weaving Department Manager
1977 ~ 1978
Promoted to Assistant Vice President of Manufacturing
1978 ~ 1982
Promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing
1982 ~ 1984
Promoted to Senior Vice President of Manufacturing
1991 ~ 2000
Joined YKK Corporation of America in its Marietta offices as Senior Vice President,
Corporate Planning
2000 ~ 2001
Promoted to Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, YKK Corporation of America
2002 ~ Present Named President/CEO of YKK Corporation of America (YCA), Atlanta, Georgia;
the following are among YCA’s subsidiary companies: YKK (U.S.A.) Inc., YKK Snap
Fasteners America Inc., YKK AP America Inc., YKK Insurance Company of America,
Tape Craft Corporation, YKK Canada Inc., YKK Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Jen-Colombia
in South America, and four YKK affiliates in Central America and the Caribbean
2004 ~ Present Named first non-Japanese Group Officer for YKK Corporation (Japan)
2005 ~ 2009
President of Tape Craft Corporation
2007 ~ 2008
President of YKK Snap Fasteners America Inc.
2008 ~ 2010
Served on YKK Corporation’s Board of Directors in Japan as YKK’s first non-Japanese Director
2011 ~ Present Elected Chairman of YKK Corporation of America’s Board of Directors
Community/Civic/Educational Organizations:
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
• The Georgian Club (Board Member)
(’08 ~ ’10 Officer, Executive Committee); International • JapanFest, Co-Chair (’96 ~ ’01)
Advisory Council, Chair (’12)
• Georgia Tech School of Polymer, Textile & Fiber
• The Carter Center, Board of Councilors
Engineering External Advisory Board (’00 ~ ’10)
• Japan-America Society of Georgia (JASG)
• GCSU Foundation Board of Trustees (Chair,
(Board Member, Past Chairman)
’99 ~ ’01, ’07 ~ ’09)
• State Workforce Investment Board; appointed by
• Business Executives for National Security (BENS)
Governor Sonny Perdue (’09 ~’11)
• Mentor, Georgia College (’04 ~ present), and
• Kennesaw State University Asian Studies Advisory Board Georgia Tech (’01 ~ present)
Awards/Honors:
• 2001 Academy of Distinguished
• 2004 First “Governor George Busbee Award” from
Engineering Alumni (Georgia Tech)
Governor Sonny Perdue
• 2001 First Yamabikokai Award from the
• 2010 Inducted Honoris Causa into the Georgia College
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia
Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honor Society
• 2001 Alumni Achievement Award (Georgia
• 2012 Mike Mansfield Award presented by the JASG
College & State University -- GCSU)
• 2012 Inaugural Inductee, the Georgia College Foundation
• 2002 Executive of the Year Award (GCSU)
Academy of Distinguished Alumni and Friends
YKK Corporation of America
1850 Parkway Place, Suite 300, Marietta, Georgia 30067
Tel: 770-261-6120; Fax: 770-261-6148
Profile of E. Alex Gregory
April, 2013
Page 2
Alex Gregory:
Alex Gregory began his career with YKK America Group in 1973 when he joined YKK Industries -now YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. (YKK USA) -- as one of its first American employees. At the Company’s then new
Macon manufacturing operation, he held positions of increasing responsibilities -- first as manager of the
weaving department, then as assistant vice president of manufacturing, and later as vice president and senior
vice president of manufacturing. In the autumn of 1991, he joined YKK Corporation of America in its Atlanta
headquarters as senior vice president of corporate planning. In 2000, he was promoted to executive vice
president, corporate development, and in 2001 he was named president and CEO. In 2004, he was named the
first non-Japanese Group Officer for YKK Corporation in Japan. From 2008 through 2010, he served on
YKK Corporation’s Board of Directors in Japan as YKK’s first non-Japanese Director. In 2011, he was
elected Chairman of YCA’s Board of Directors.
Gregory is a graduate of Georgia Tech from which he holds a degree in textile engineering. He also
holds graduate degrees from Georgia College & State University. He has mentored students at both
universities for more than a decade. He has testified in Washington before the International Trade
Commission on two occasions, and in 2005 he addressed the House Ways and Means Committee in support of
the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In 2010, Gregory was one of five CEOs featured in a
book by Merwyn A. Hayes and Michael D. Comer entitled: Start With Humility: Lessons From America’s
Quiet CEOs On How To Build Trust And Inspire Followers. Gregory and wife Glenda have two grown
children: a daughter, Kristen, and a son, Alex III. They also have two granddaughters, Emma and Mya, and a
grandson, Alex IV.
YKK America Group:
YKK first entered the United States zipper market in 1960 as a small sales and assembly operation.
Establishing its roots in New York’s garment district, YKK USA has grown to become one of the world’s
largest suppliers of a full line of sewn products closures -- including hook and loop self-closing tape fastening
systems; plastic buckles and notions; as well as plastic and metal zippers -- plus the automated equipment to
install them.
YKK Corporation of America was established in 1987 as a holding company for the Company’s
extensive operations in the Western Hemisphere. From corporate headquarters in Marietta, Georgia, the YCA
president and his staff coordinate the activities of thirteen operating companies across five time zones from
Canada, throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, the United States, and even into northern South
America.
In 1987, Universal Fasteners Inc. (now YKK Snap Fasteners America Inc. -- YSU), joined the YKK
America Group. YSU produces metal buttons, burrs, rivets, hooks and eyes, snaps, and Snapets®, as well as
attaching machines.
In 1996, YCA purchased Tape Craft Corporation, a webbings/rigid narrow fabrics producer with
consolidated, state-of-the-art manufacturing operations in Oxford, Alabama. TapeCraft customers include
manufacturers of pet restraints, safety gear, bindings, the U.S. government, and more.
Another company within the YKK America Group is YKK AP America Inc. which extrudes and
fabricates architectural aluminum products at their ultra modern plant in Dublin, Georgia -- which completed
Phase II of an $80 million expansion in 2008. Some of their prestige projects include commercial buildings
such as the Georgia Dome and Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves. The newest division of YKK AP
America is the Residential Products Division which began operations in 2005 manufacturing and marketing
residential vinyl windows.
YKK North and Central America Group currently employs more than 2,400 people across five time
zones from Canada to South America; more than 1,200 of these are employed in Georgia.
YKK Corporation of America
1850 Parkway Place, Suite 300, Marietta, Georgia 30067
Tel: 770-261-6120; Fax: 770-261-6148