MiMfg Magazine September 2019 | Page 11

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. 11