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MiMfg Magazine
September 2017
MAHLE Goes a Step Beyond
in Strengthening St. Johns
Community outreach is extremely
important in a small town setting. As
community leaders and major employers,
being a responsible and engaged corporate
citizen is crucial. For a global manufacturer
like MAHLE, being based in the 8,000+
resident town of St. Johns clarifies just
how important an employer’s role can be.
“MAHLE’s objective is donating for
the common good in a globalized world,”
says Bruce Fandel, MAHLE Engine
Components USA Inc. plant manager.
“We strive to donate our time and efforts
both physically and financially to the
betterment of the local community.”
During lean years, such as 2008 when
the economy was not robust, MAHLE
was affected like many other companies
with cutbacks and layoffs. Community
outreach efforts and charitable donations
were scaled back, yet MAHLE
continued to work closely with local
organizations to assist in community-
focused projects enhancing the quality
of life.
As times improved for manufacturers,
their contributions and engagement with
the local community became more
extensive. MAHLE reaches out to local
organizations such as the City of St.
Johns, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary
Club, Regional Educational Service
Agency, Capital Area Michigan Works!
and Clinton County Taskforce on
Employment to name a few talent and
community-focused groups.
“In the past three years, the team and
St. Johns employees have raised more than
$121,000 to support the American Cancer
Society’s goal of saving lives and creating
more birthdays,” exclaims Fandel. “The
MAHLE Westside Walkers, the St.
Johns plant team, have also participated
in the St. Johns Relay for Life for over
twenty years and continues to faithfully
support that critical cause.”
MAHLE donates each year to the
Sparrow Clinton Health Foundation for
the enhancement of the local hospital.
“St. Johns is extremely fortunate to have
such a high caliber medical facility for
general medical and surgical treatment
as well as specialties such as oncology
services, CT and MRI scans which in the
past would need to have been performed
“
No amount of bad weather can keep MAHLE down. Their Westside Walkers Relay
for Life Team has raised over $39,000 for their American Cancer Society 2017 event.
MAHLE’s objective is donating
for the common good in a
globalized world. We strive
to donate our time and
efforts both physically and
financially to the betterment
of the local community.
”
— Bruce Fandel
MAHLE Engine
Components USA Inc.
elsewhere,” Fandel says. “We made a
significant donation to the state-of-the-art
emergency room which opened in July 2014
and are very proud of the examination
room which bears our name.”
Finally, MAHLE’s strong support
of its community is evident by its role
in National MFG Day.
“We hosted 71 local students, faculty
and guests from around the area and
provided them with insight and under-
standing of our manufacturing process,”
says Fandel. “Manufacturing tours were set
up by The Capital Area Manufacturing
Council (CAMC), Lansing Area Economic
Partnership (LEAP), Clinton County
Regional Educational Service Agency
(RESA), Capital Area Michigan Works!
along with key local corporate sponsors.”
What Can You Do?
One company’s community engagement
strategy may not work for another but
every manufacturer can do something to
boost up the rest of their town. If you’re
looking for ways to engage, consider:
• Evaluating how your company mission
can extend beyond your facility walls
• Asking your staff for ideas — most
of your team lives within the region
and has ties to the community; they
may know of local projects your
company can dedicate resources to
• Forming a community service
committee within your company
which discusses projects to
work on, charities to help fund
and ways to develop stronger
community connections
• Looking for ways to build on existing
community relationships and developing
new partnerships with local schools,
economic development organizations,
city government and other businesses
• Participating in MFG Day on
10/6/17. Check out page 11 for
more information and look for
available resources at the newly
improved mimfg.org .
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Brett Gerrish is a communications
coordinator with the MMA. He may
be reached at 517-487-8533 or
[email protected].