Greetings to AMFA members, associates, and friends!

I hope you’re enjoying fall!
 
Once again Minnesota will celebrate Manufacturing Month in October. We are looking to offer an AMFA Tour of Manufacturing on October 26 & 27 in the Arrowhead and Iron Range and we need YOUR participation. Please fill out this form by September 29 if you are willing to participate in the following ways:

• Manufacturing tour hosts
• Manufacturing classroom speakers
• Tour sponsors
• Volunteers for the AMFA Education Committee.

If different dates work better for you, please indicate that at the end of the form. Please email me if you have other ideas or needs. Offering tours of your facility can help change the public’s perception of manufacturing as dark, dingy, and dangerous. We have resources to help you prepare for and manage a tour.
 
Please register and attend the AMFA CTE Jamboree in Virginia on November 14. The Career & Technical Education (CTE) Jamboree is intended to close the gap between education and industry. The event features speakers that are active in CTE in Northern Minnesota. Following the presentations, join us for a tour of Rock Ridge High School’s CTE facility. K12 representatives can attend for free.
 
MMA is offering a Workforce Development webinar on Wednesday, September 27 entitled Deep Dive into Updates on MN Employment Laws. The presentation will cover the MN Earned Sick & Safe Time (ESST) requirements, recreational marijuana legalization, and the MN pregnancy, parental law, and nursing mother’s law expansion. Register now.
 
The Marketing for Manufacturing series is continuing Wednesday, October 18 with a webinar entitled Evolving your marketing in an economic downturn. Register to participate.
 
Several AMFA members, including me, recently returned from FabTech, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, and finishing event. AMFA had a booth that highlighted our leadership in manufacturing and fabrication in Northern MN and WI regions to an estimated 45,000 people in attendance at the 3-day event.

The 25th annual AMFA Golf Social held on June 5 at Cloquet Country Club was a great event. Huge shoutout to the sponsors and golfers that helped us raise funds for manufacturing programs in our area. Read all the details. Check out all the photos here.
 
We are very excited to welcome four new members to AMFA: Abaxent, LLC., Deerwood Bank, JW Risk, and Maus Group. See more details in the New Member section of the newsletter. All the new members are invited to register for the new member orientation on Tuesday, November 21 at 2:00 pm.
 
Midwest Manufacturers, our home office, announced they are starting a new printed magazine called Midwest Manufacturing Journal. The first issue will include the 2024 Membership Directory and will come out in early January. Enhanced listings and advertisements are available now.
 
As we look ahead to fall AMFA is looking for speakers, manufacturer tours, and sponsors for upcoming meetings. Please contact Alisa with your ideas and information.
 
I would also like to encourage your registration and participation in all our upcoming events. We are here to help you succeed, but we need your help and your participation for us to continue to succeed!
 
Last, but not least we need AMFA members to get involved. AMFA is looking for leaders to fill the upcoming vacant board of directors’ seats. We are also looking for committee members on the following committees: Membership Recruitment & Retention; Programs, Events & Meetings; Trade Show Planning & Execution; Education. Feel free to contact myself or Rachel for more information, to express your interest or nominate someone you think would be an excellent representative of the manufacturing industry.
 
I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
 
Best Regards,
Jeff Halter
AMFA President