DURHAM, N.C. — June 25, 2025 — AATCC welcomes the Association’s newest Local Section! The C6 Membership Committee and AATCC Board of Directors approved the creation of the new Section on May 15, 2025.
The Great Lakes Section was created to foster connection and AATCC activities in the Great Lakes region – Ill., Mich., Minn., Ind., Ohio, and Wis. The founding officers are excited to begin planning in-person activities and events for the section members to provide a local hub to textile professionals.
Founding Officers of the Great Lakes Section
Section Chair: Tazeen Akhtar is a graduate of Textile Engineering from NED University. She is from the second batch of the Textile Department at NED. She started her career by joining Crescent Greenwood Ltd., which is the largest denim manufacturing unit in Asia. She has worked in major Textile Mills, gaining experience in ginning, spinning, weaving, wet processing, dyeing and finishing. Based in Chicago, she is a textile consultant and full-time, stay-at-home parent. She is the newly elected and first chairwoman of the NED Engineers Alumni Association (NEDEA). She has undertaken a major revamp for NEDEA, organized multiple events, and planned professional webinars, as well as other upcoming events. With the same zest, she is very enthusiastic about reviving the AATCC Great Lakes Section, bringing the same passion and experience from NEDEA.
Section Vice Chair: Kamryn Henderson is a Textile Laboratory specialist at Victoria’s Secret & Co. where she develops test methods, conducts R&D/innovation/quality testing, and helps manage their product performance standards/protocols. She’s currently located in Columbus, Ohio, and is an NC State alumnus. She was student member at NC State’s AATCC Student Chapter before joining AATCC again through VS&Co’s Corporate Membership!
Section Secretary: Audra Hunter is a Principal Color engineer at Target. Her career spans 30 years of expertise in Color Management with roles at Express, Limited Stores, and White House | Black Market. Hunter is passionate about leveraging both new and existing technologies to streamline today’s complex supply chains. Currently, she focuses on addressing emerging challenges that affect product quality and visual aesthetics, helping ensure that Target delivers consistent, high-quality experiences to its customers.
Section Treasurer: DeeDee Lamberti is a Textile consultant and stay-at-home parent. While not exactly in the Great Lakes Region, she represents Colorado and the surrounding region as a textile professional. As an active AATCC Member since 2008, she has served as Secretary for RA63, TCR, ECR, and more recently involved in Strategic Planning (2025). Her past employment includes working as Product Integrity Manager at SanMar and Laboratory Manager at Cocona/37.5 Technologies. Lamberti holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Colorado State University with a focus in textile science and sustainable fibers.
Amid the ever-evolving changes in the textile industry, the creation of the Great Lakes reflects the strength, commitment, and vision of the AATCC members. The Association is excited to stand alongside the founding members and is dedicated to offering ongoing support and resources to help the Sections thrive and expand well into the future.
Posted: June 30, 2025
Source: The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
