September 2019
MiMfg Magazine
Over the last year, four exemplary legislators stood with MMA and our members and we are proud to honor
these champions with the Association’s highest policy honor — the MMA Legislator of the Year Award.
Representative Triston Cole
(R-Mancelona)
In recognition of:
Championing the much-
needed “No Stricter than
Federal” standard and
ensuring Michigan remains
competitive with other states
Representative Beth Griffin
(R-Paw Paw)
In recognition of:
Ensuring opportunity for students
to pursue multiple paths to a
rewarding career choice by
championing greater flexibility
in graduation requirements
Q: What does Michigan manufacturing mean to you? Q: What does Michigan manufacturing mean to you?
Representative Cole: Michigan has a vibrant, robust
and world-renowned history of manufacturing
excellence. Even as the economy has changed some
of our best employers are manufacturers stretching
across our diverse peninsulas. Michigan will remain a
national leader in advanced manufacturing operations
and I am confident we will attract a more talented
workforce to fill current job openings. In fact, in some
of our more rural regions, small manufacturing has
the nimbleness and flexibility to change at the rapid
pace today’s market requires — giving them a
creative and competitive edge. Further, agriculture
is the tendons and ligaments that hold together
manufacturing’s skeletal structure and as a country
we must strive to find and improve the path forward
for exports and trade agreements for all industries.
Q: You’ve championed a “No Stricter than Federal”
standard in Michigan. How will this provide for
more regulatory certainty and an economic climate
suitable for increased investment and job creation?
Representative Cole: It is especially difficult for small
operators to comply with changing regulations and
making the state justify additional complexity and an
increase in regulations leads to more input and better
outcomes. This regulatory consistency will only assist
job creators in confidently growing their operations
and focusing more on expansion than compliance.
Q: What does this Award mean to you?
Representative Cole: I am deeply honored to be
selected as MMA’s Legislator of the Year. With
many significant small and growing manufacturers
in my district, I understand the value these businesses
bring to my community and the entire state. The
volatility in the market surrounding gas and oil,
insecurities with weather in agriculture, manufacturers
are often the constant in their communities. The MMA
is doing a great job of advocating for policies that
help empower and support Michigan manufacturers
and I look forward to working closely with them
in the future. Thank you!
Representative Griffin: Manufacturing is the cornerstone
of Michigan history. It made us great during the
industrial boom and brought jobs and people to our
state in the pursuit of opportunity. Today, it is still
true that manufacturing creates opportunity for
everyone to have a good paying, skilled job, which
is vital to our state’s future success.
Q: Tell us how your current efforts in the House
will provide Michigan’s K-12 students with
more course options as they develop the skills
necessary for a rewarding career?
Representative Griffin: I am currently working to
pass legislation to give schools the ability to provide
Career Technical Education and Computer Science
courses to their students. This will allow students to
explore these careers and get training while still in
school. It’s crucial that we provide students with the
ability to choose the path that’s right for them. For
many who don’t want or don’t need a four-year
degree, these courses will help provide them with
the flexibility to learn the skills that will be useful
to them in a skilled trade or other in-demand
manufacturing career.
We have a significant jobs-skills gap in Michigan
for skilled trades careers and opening the door to
students to prepare for these careers is an important
step in filling these good paying jobs and supporting
our manufacturing industry and economy.
Q: What does this Award mean to you?
Representative Griffin: It is an honor to be selected
as MMA’s Legislator of the Year. The skilled trades
and the advancement of our state’s manufacturing
industry are very important to me and, as a teacher,
I recognize our students are the future. I am
grateful to have the opportunity to be working to
support both our students and our manufacturing
industry alongside MMA and its members.
MMA’s Legislators of the Year were honored at the
MMA Legislative Reception on 9/10/19 in Lansing.
Read more in next month’s Legislative Day recap.
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