WASHINGTON, DC -- Leigh Merino has joined the Washington office of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) as director, regulatory affairs.

Merino's duties will include working with members of MEMA's three market segment associations on regulatory issues important to the supplier industry, assisting with the development of regulatory policy and representing the industry before state and federal regulatory bodies. She will also be responsible for oversight of MEMA's new state monitoring program, which includes both regulatory and legislative issues impacting parts suppliers.

Merino comes to MEMA after nearly seven years with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), where she most recently served as director, tire technical and standards. In that role, she was directly responsible for handling issues under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards impacting tire manufacturers. Prior to her experience with RMA, she held positions with the Transportation Intermediaries Association and the American Trucking Associations, Inc. She received her bachelor's degree in political science from Susquehanna University.

"Leigh's experience will greatly enhance the expertise of our Washington office and will offer members the opportunity to be more involved in regulatory and state issues," said Ann Wilson, MEMA's vice president of government affairs. "We are very pleased to have Leigh on board."

For more information about MEMA, go to: www.mema.org.