Buffalo Rock Company has announced Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington as its newest board member.
Washington worked at Buffalo Rock for 15 years before becoming the state’s labor secretary in 2014. At Buffalo Rock, he served as corporate marketing and sales director and handled the company’s multicultural marketing initiatives before being promoted to general sales manager in 2002.
Washington also currently serves as a member of the Alabama Workforce Council, the Alabama Small Business Commission, the State Workforce Development Board, the Alabama Bicentennial 200 Commission and the Alabama Pandemic Response and Preparedness Commission. He is also a past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, where he helped create the minority business council to foster growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses in West Alabama.
As the state’s labor secretary, Washington launched a statewide marketing campaign, initiated a new job fair initiative that attracts available jobs to Alabamians, and participated in a new alignment of workforce regions to facilitate better distribution of the state’s workforce resources.
“I am pleased to join Buffalo Rock’s Board of Directors to provide any insight and assistance I can. It is a pleasure to return to a company with which I have such a long history,” Washington said. “My goal is to serve in a way that will impact Buffalo Rock Company positively as we strategically advance the business and drive growth across all three states where the company operates.”
“We are honored Fitzgerald is joining our board,” Buffalo Rock President and CEO Matthew Dent said. “He showed his visionary leadership skills during his time with our company, and he’s continued to lead as the state’s Labor Secretary, especially navigating the challenges posed by the recent pandemic. His experience and expertise will be invaluable to our board as we look to the company’s future.”
Washington also currently serves chairman of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies Board of Directors and is a member of the National Association of Government Labor Officials.
“Buffalo Rock has been an industry leader for more than 120 years right here in Alabama,” Buffalo Rock Executive Chairman Jimmy Lee said, “and we know Fitzgerald’s visionary leadership will help us to continue to grow. I’m grateful for his willingness to be part of our board.”
