Zahraha Brunner (Fed)

Zara Brunner serves as the Division Chief of the Partnerships and Outreach Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM), which also serves as the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office for Manufacturing USA. At OAM, Zara leads a team of mission-driven professionals dedicated to strengthening U.S. competitiveness in advanced manufacturing through strategic cross-sector collaboration with interagency and industry partners, impactful outreach and strategic communications, innovation ecosystem building, and advanced manufacturing workforce initiatives.

Previously, Zara managed Marketing and Communications for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. During her tenure, she oversaw all communications for the program and its national network of centers reaching tens of thousands of small and medium-sized manufacturers across the country. Notably, she co-founded and led the national Manufacturing Day campaign in partnership with the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute, Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International, Discovery Communication’s Science Channel, and Industrial Strength Marketing. Additional prior experience includes work with the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and a decade in the business and legal sectors in various management and marketing capacities.

• NIST George A. Uriano Award (2022): For the group’s leadership with CARES Act response
• Regional Emmy® Award (2020): Executive Producer of the NIST-produced video documentary "Rethinking Manufacturing”
• NIST George A. Uriano Award (2014): For expanding national understanding of U.S. manufacturing through Manufacturing Day
• NIST George A. Uriano Award (2011): For launching the first NIST blog and social media initiatives to advance the mission of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program