Augustine D. Tantillo

On April 1, 2002, Augustine D. Tantillo was named Executive Director for the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC), formerly the American Textile Trade Action Coalition. Mr. Tantillo is responsible for policy development as well as directing all lobbying activities undertaken by the Coalition. AMTAC is a coalition of U.S. manufacturers from various industrial sectors dedicated to the preservation of the U.S. manufacturing base and the over 16 million American jobs it currently provides.

Prior to forming the consulting firm of SRG & Associates in 1993, Mr. Tantillo was appointed by the Bush Administration, in May of 1989, to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Textiles, Apparel and Consumer Goods. In this position, Mr. Tantillo developed and implemented policies to enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. textile and apparel sector, as well as major consumer goods industries. In addition, Mr. Tantillo served as Chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), which is composed of five federal agencies. Under Mr. Tantillo's direction, this committee established policy in relation to the United States government's textile/apparel import restraint program, governing over $20 billion in trade annually. In addition, Mr. Tantillo oversaw the government's export promotion program for the textile/apparel industries, which is designed to assist domestic manufacturers in expanding, their sales into key overseas markets. The administering of two separate research grants, totaling over $ 11 million annually, was another of Mr. Tantillo's responsibilities at the Department of Commerce. These critical grants are designed to enhance modernization of the textile and apparel industries through technological advancement.

For sixteen months prior to his appointment at the Department of Commerce, Mr. Tantillo served as Administrative Assistant/Staff Director to United States Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. In addition to overseeing a staff of forty, Mr. Tantillo acted as the Senator's primary advisor on key legislative, economic and political issues affecting the nation as a whole. By representing the Senator at meetings and public forums, in both the state of South Carolina and Washington, D.C., Mr. Tantillo acted as a liaison between interest groups, state business communities and Senator Thurmond.

In addition to his government experience, Mr. Tantillo served in the private sector from 1985 to 1988, as Director of Federal Government Relations for the Russell Corporation of Alexander City, Alabama. As the Washington representative for this major textile and apparel firm, which employs over 10,000 people in four states, Mr. Tantillo served as company representative to Congress and federal agencies with an emphasis on trade, labor and consumer issues.

Prior to joining the Russell Corporation, Mr. Tantillo held the position of Legislative Assistant to Senator Strom Thurmond from 1981-1985. In this capacity, Mr. Tantillo advised the Senator on legislative issues focusing on trade, commerce and agriculture.