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MiMfg Magazine
October 2018
MMA Lobby Day
The first half of MMA’s annual Legislative Day,
MMA Lobby Day gives manufacturers an insider’s
look at the world of advocacy and how a few strong
manufacturing voices can compete — and succeed
— against nearly 3,000 non-industry lobbyists.
Attendees of the 9/5/18 event heard from State
Treasurer Nick Khouri; professional lobbyists
representing Michigan manufacturers Amway,
BorgWarner, Dart Container and Lafarge; the
MMA government affairs team; and legislators
during an exclusive luncheon. The MMA team also
connected manufacturers with elected officials
during private meetings and helped in real-time
lobbying efforts to ensure legislative adoption of a
ballot proposal on paid sick leave (check out the
sidebar on page 12 for more).
MMA Legislative Reception
Networking continued as Lobby Day attendees
returned to MMA’s headquarters for the annual
Legislative Reception, an evening connecting
manufacturers with their peers, legislators, agency
leaders and pro-industry supporters. MMA was proud
to honor Senator Mike Shirkey and Representative
Bronna Kahle as the recipients of the 2018 MMA
Legislator of the Year Award and be presented a
gubernatorial proclamation from the Snyder
Administration proclaiming 9/30 - 10/6/18 as
Michigan Manufacturing Week.
Check out the MMA Facebook page
(@mimanufacturers) for more highlights
from MMA Legislative Day.
Kelly Victor-Burke, owner of Burke
Architectural Millwork in Livonia, asks
students from Clarenceville Middle
School about their career aspirations.
Make MFG Day More than One Day
Knowing the issues and connecting with elected
officials only does so much if there aren’t new career
opportunities and a next generation manufacturing
workforce to promote. On 10/5/18, more than 2,700
events were held across North America in celebration
of MFG Day. Over 300 events — one of every nine —
were held in Michigan; once again highlighting the
state’s role as the global hub of manufacturing’s future.
Resources are available to help manufacturers
of all sizes plan for MFG Day 2019. Go to
mimfg.org and search “MFG Day” to get started.
Here’s what your peers say about MFG Day:
• “MFG Day is an opportunity to show students,
parents and teachers what modern manufacturing
really is like,” said Jeff Schultz, marketing manager
for the Michigan Manufacturing Technology
Center. “It’s a step toward addressing the skilled
trades labor shortage, by connecting with the
next generation of manufacturer and changing
perceptions about what is an increasingly high
tech industry. It also brings a tremendous sense
of pride among staff when interacting with
students, so it’s also a great morale boost.”
• “There are opportunities for jobs in manufacturing
beyond just factory work,” encouraged Paul
Aultman, president of Standish-based Vantage
Plastics and the 2017 MFG Community Impact
Award winner. “There’s HR, IT, accounting,
marketing, sales, engineering, design and many
more ways to make your impact on a business. If
you have a passion for something, it’s highly likely
there’s a way to use those skills in manufacturing.”
Students from Livonia’s Emerson Middle School
experience the texture of plastic pellets used in a
plastic injection molder at Linear AMS in Livonia.