Michigan Manufacturing Week: Huge Success!

Ford Motor Company’s Curt Magleby stated that global competitiveness starts at home

To celebrate Michigan Manufacturing Week, MMA hosted its 8th annual CEO & Executive Forum and the Legislative & Executive Reception on 5/14/13. The two events allowed manufacturers from across the state the chance to come together with stakeholders and legislators for a day of networking, discussion and celebration in honor of the largest economic sector in Michigan.

The Forum featured a keynote by Curt Magleby, vice president of government affairs for Ford Motor Company. Magleby gave a stirring address on the place of Michigan manufacturing in 2013 and how the industry can propel itself forward in coming years. He stated that global competitiveness starts at home and for Michigan to remain the manufacturing hub it has been for over a century, policymakers must see manufacturing as a whole process.

“As we educate people on what manufacturing is, many see it as assembly operations, so many people don’t see the whole chain and that is what our goal must be for every policymaker that talks about manufacturing. They have to understand what [manufacturing] is from the very [start] to the sales and service,” Magleby said. “When we talk about ‘manufacturing matters,’ it’s not just assembly operations.”

Forum participants continued the afternoon with two sessions on issues crucial to keeping Michigan competitive – the elimination of the industrial personal property tax (PPT) and the pending changes to health care. Included in the afternoon sessions were:

• A video presentation from Lt. Governor Brian Calley
• An in-depth analysis of the PPT by Bill Rustem, Governor Snyder’s director of strategy, and what the PPT’s elimination means for manufacturers
• Introduction of the ballot question committee “Michigan Citizens for Strong and Safe Communities” and the men and women who will be leading the charge toward August 2014
• Kirk Roy, vice president of national health reform for Blue Cross Blue Shield, speaking on the ramifications following the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and what manufacturers can do now to prepare for tomorrow

Bill Rustem from Governor Snyder’s Office talked about how elimination of the PPT will benefit manufacturers and local units of government.	Kirk Roy of Blue Cross Blue Shield outlined what manufacturers can do to prepare for coming health care changes.

The event also saw the presentation of the John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Award. The awards program, an annual honor since 1981, recognizes manufacturers for their dedication to community service and their role as a symbol of positive work being done by the manufacturing industry.

Check out the May/June issue of Insight magazine (available soon) for a full recap of Michigan Manufacturing Week, including the more on the Forum sessions, spotlights of the John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Award winners and highlights from the Reception.