Washington, D.C. - April 13 - President Bush has named Albert Frick Jr. to the post of manufacturing czar, a position created to stem the country's loss of manufacturing jobs. Frick is the co-founder of Fabrica International, a Santa Ana, Calf.-based maker of high-end carpeting and area rugs.

Frick was born in Mexico and emigrated to the United States as a boy. He and his partners founded Fabrica in 1974. They sold the company four years ago to Dixie Group of Dalton, Ga. Frick now serves as executive vp of Dixie Group.

Fabrica continues to manufacture its floor-covering products at three facilities in Santa Ana. The company distributes to specialty retailers, interior designers, and furniture stores in North and South America, the United Kingdom, Asia, and the Middle East.