Griffin Jones is a person on the move, someone to watch, according to NAUMD. Jones has earned top honors in the NAUMD’s Rising Star Young Leadership Awards, a program that recognizes individuals under the age of 40 that are the most accomplished young business women and men in the uniform industry. Jones joins Rachel Patton of Taylor’s Leatherwear as a recipient of this year’s award.

A former police officer, Jones started his new career at Burlington, driven by a passion for those who wear the uniform. With little knowledge of the textile industry, he landed a position as a sales associate, calling on small accounts and providing end-use sales calls at police agencies. Those who worked with him during this period took note of his drive and energy, his eagerness to learn more. Jones would attend product development meetings not to give commentary, but to listen and take in knowledge. Within two years he earned the right to handle three of Burlington’s largest uniform accounts, converted several state agencies over to a Burlington specified fabric and had grown the apparel business by 20 percent. By year four, he was considered an expert by peers and management alike.

In September Jones joined Fechheimer as director of military business development. Married and a father of two, he continues to work monthly for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department and also serves as an elder for his church.

Both Patton and Jones will be formerly acknowledged by NAUMD during the convention’s industry awards night on October 26.