The U.S. Department of Commerce on June 30 announced appointees to the newly established U.S.–Mexico Energy Business Council. Four appointees are Members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA): Julian Alzate, director of international relations at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc.; R. Craig Breese, president of Honeywell Mexico, Honeywell International Inc.; Vernon Murray, vice president and general manager for Mexico and Northern Latin America at Emerson Process Management; and Darryl Wilson, vice president and chief commercial officer at GE Energy Connections. These NEMA Members, as well as the six others appointed, will serve two-year terms on the council.

“We are delighted to have four, top NEMA Members join energy industry representatives from both the United States and Mexico to discuss ways to strengthen the economic and technical ties between the two countries,” said NEMA President Kevin J. Cosgriff. “The participation of these experts will ensure  deep and richly textured discussions as the group crafts mutually beneficial ideas for the energy sectors in both the U.S. and Mexico. It is a credit to the Department of Commerce that they recognized the importance of electrical manufacturers to any energy discussion.”

The new council will provide joint, actionable, non-binding recommendations to the U.S. and Mexican governments. Its work stands to strengthen already enduring U.S.-Mexico relations.

In addition to the committee of private-sector appointees from both countries, the U.S.-Mexico Energy Business Council will include representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of Energy and the Mexican Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Economy. Private-sector appointees include senior representatives from all energy sectors.