Jennifer Knight, MBA

Board Director | Former C-Suite Executive | Public Sector Leader

Jennifer Knight is a seasoned board director, former C-suite executive, and senior U.S. government official with over two decades of experience leading private companies through growth, restructuring, and strategic transitions. Her leadership spans manufacturing, consumer goods, textiles, and global supply chains.

As President and COO of American Woolen Company, she revitalized a historic facility, positioned the company to secure $50 million in federal contracts, and led sustainability and operational initiatives. At Georgia Narrow Fabrics, she directed a turnaround and Latin American expansion, retiring $5.8M in debt.

Appointed by President Biden, Jennifer served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, guiding industrial and trade policy across critical U.S. manufacturing sectors.

She currently serves on the board of Mills Manufacturing and has held leadership and board roles at National Spinning, American Woolen, Premier Narrow Fabrics, and The Commonwealth Institute. In July 2025, Jennifer was selected as one of the 50 Women to Watch for Boards by 50/50 Women on Boards.

Education

• M.B.A., Columbia Business School
• B.A., Brown University
  

Affiliations

• Certificate in Private Company Governance, PDA
• Member, Private Directors Association
• Founding Member, LGBTQ+ Association of Corporate Directors
• Honoree, 50 Women to Watch for Boards 2025