Someone You Should Know: Heather D’Amico, MBA, CPMR
With so many ERA members, it is not easy to get to know every rep, manufacturer and distributor in the business.“Someone You Should Know” is The Representor department that gives readers the chance to learn about fellow ERA members, including how their time is spent both in and out of the office.
Meet Heather D’Amico, vice president at Brainard-Nielsen Marketing. The Representor asked her a few questions about her time as a manufacturers’ representative. Here is what she had to say.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m married to my husband, Chris, and we have two daughters, Amanda (23) and Bella (20). Spending time with them is what I cherish most — family has always been at the center of my life. I’m the oldest of six siblings, and my immediate family has grown to 29 people! Growing up in a large, lively family taught me the value of teamwork, adaptability and fun; lessons I try to pass along to my daughters every day.
I have a degree in journalism, but my interest in manufacturing began in college when I worked for a neighbor’s manufacturing company. What fascinates me about manufacturing is seeing a finished product come to life — the result of a team of people working together to solve problems and bring an idea to reality. That experience set the stage for my career, and I’ve spent most of it working for manufacturers. In 2014, I joined the electronics industry at OTTO Engineering, where I was first introduced to the manufacturers’ rep model, a path that would eventually lead me to Brainard-Nielsen Marketing (BNM).
I love learning and growing, which inspired me to earn my MBA in 2018. I’ve lived in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago my entire life. I enjoy being close to the city of Chicago while also living in a smaller suburban community about an hour away — it’s the perfect balance of city access and neighborhood feel.
How long have you been in the rep business, and how did you become interested in working at a manufacturers’ rep in the electronics industry?
I’m approaching my five-year anniversary with BNM, and the time has truly flown by! I briefly stepped away from the electronics industry in early 2020 to work in the hydraulics field. During COVID, Zach DeVillers, president of Brainard-Nielsen, reached out about joining the team. Having known Zach and the BNM organization from my time at OTTO, I was intrigued by the opportunity. While I hadn’t originally considered working for a manufacturers’ rep firm, conversations with Zach and Paul Nielsen (who retired in 2022) quickly showed me how rewarding and impactful this role could be. I’m proud to contribute to BNM’s success and support the principals we represent.
What have you found to be most rewarding about the rep business?
What I find most rewarding about the rep business is being part of a winning team. There’s a real sense of energy and accomplishment that comes from working together, whether it’s with my colleagues at BNM, our local channel partners or the principals we represent. A “win” can take many forms: securing a meeting with a hard-to-reach customer, opening a door to a new opportunity, or ultimately winning a new program. I love the collaborative spirit of this industry and the way we celebrate successes as a team. Those shared victories are what keep me motivated and inspired every day.
What is something challenging about the rep business that you are hoping you can positively influence over time?
One area I’m passionate about positively influencing is increasing diversity within the manufacturers’ rep community and the electronics industry as a whole. Diverse teams bring a broader range of perspectives, foster innovation and better reflect the customers and markets we serve. Creating an inclusive environment not only improves business outcomes but also helps attract and retain the next generation of talent.
About a year ago, I became a mentor in the Women in Electronics Mentorship Program. It’s been incredibly rewarding to work with women in the electronics industry, helping them find their voice, develop leadership skills and achieve their professional goals. This experience has underscored for me how important it is to build pathways for underrepresented groups and to champion diversity at every level of our industry. Over time, I hope to continue encouraging and supporting initiatives that make the electronics industry more inclusive and vibrant.
Briefly describe your rep firm, and please include how long your company has been a member of ERA.
Brainard-Nielsen Marketing (BNM) has been a proud ERA member since 1979, with a long-standing history of delivering innovative solutions for the electronics industry. We proudly represent the industry’s leading suppliers of electro-mechanical and passive components for electronic applications throughout Northern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin, focusing on key technology pillars: EMI/ EMC, thermal management, power, batteries, connectors, and HMI.
At BNM, passion drives our culture. Our team embraces our philosophy of PAPA — proactive, assertive, positive attitude — approaching every challenge with energy, collaboration and commitment. We love what we do, enjoy working together and take pride in helping our principals and customers succeed.
BNM has always been an active participant in ERA and I’m proud to be an engaged member. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Chicagoland-Wisconsin ERA and co-chair the Keynote Speaker and General Sessions Committee for the 2026 ERA Conference. ERA provides the perfect platform to share knowledge, build strong relationships and showcase the value that manufacturers’ reps bring to the industry — a tradition BNM has proudly maintained for decades.
What recent innovations, best practices and/or changes has your organization made?
At BNM, we’re proud of the innovations and best practices we’ve implemented to strengthen our team and better serve our customers. One initiative I’m proud of is helping develop our internship program, which introduces engineering students to the manufacturers’ rep model. This program not only educates the next generation about our industry but also gives them meaningful opportunities to contribute to our team’s success as well as helps enhance their education.
We’ve also embraced technology to work smarter. Squatch, our AI field application engineer, helps our team quickly identify innovative solutions for our customers, while our implementation of Power BI allows us to analyze data and turn insights into actionable strategies.
Another area of focus is mentorship within our team. We have two seasoned OEM sales engineers and two next-generation reps. What’s special is that mentorship flows both ways — the experienced team members share their knowledge, and our newer members bring fresh perspectives and ideas that elevate everyone.
Most importantly, we’re proud of our ability as an organization to reflect on our performance, pivot when necessary and think outside the box to solve problems. This mindset keeps us agile, innovative and growing — and ensures we’re continually adding value to our principals and customers.
What have you learned and/or what contacts have you made through ERA that have had the greatest positive impacts on you and/or your business?
Being part of ERA has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned the true value of collaborating and sharing ideas with fellow manufacturers’ reps — it’s amazing how much insight and inspiration comes from connecting with others in the industry. Through ERA, I’ve built many strong relationships and gained trusted advisors whose perspectives I rely on regularly. These connections have not only positively impacted my business but have also deepened my appreciation for the rep model and the vital role strong rep firms play in helping manufacturers succeed.
What are some things you enjoy outside of the workplace?
I’m a huge Chicago Cubs fan and enjoy going to games or watching them at home with my husband and daughters. I also enjoy wine tasting, curling up with a good book and spending time outdoors gardening and working in my yard. I love cheering on the Loras College Duhawks women’s soccer team, where my daughter Bella plays.