Posts filed under 'People'
September 30th, 2008
Manufacturers, like consumers, will pay the price for the circus that is going on in Washington.
Is it true…95 Democrats voted NO including several from Barney Frank’s own Finance Committee and …..the Speaker told some of her fellow Demos…”you can vote NO…..?
So if credit tightens for us, where is the responsibility of the ruling party? When do we recognize the stunts that they are pulling?
In the manufacturing world, people get fired for this kind of game playing!
September 30th, 2008
This is an IndustryWeek summary of Senator McCain’s and Senator Obama’s positions on a number of manufacturing-oriented issues, as furnished by the candidates’ campaigns. Check it out here…..
http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=17320
September 29th, 2008
This morning I attended the Business Forum with a representative from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. Also in attendance were representatives from the Chamber, RAEDC, RACVB and a major restaurant. After discussing strengths and challenges of the District 205 School District, we opened up about key characteristics of the new superintendent that we thought were important.
The need for a Strategic Plan was one of the first requirements; a Plan approved by the board so that the superintendent would execute. It was apparent that this plan does not exist and needs to be available as they start to finalize the candidates. It seems that some work to the end was being done and hopefully would be made available before a final selection was made.
Strong leaderships skills, engaging with the “customers” a collaborator, one who could “roll up his/her sleeves” and connect with the various organizations in the community were among the major characteristics that we thought were important. As business people and organizations, we see the workforce element of the job very important so the person need not a straight academic but one who has business skills to better understand what the community (customers) needs.
We all felt that the process was good and as it develops, we hope that input will be asked again as the finalists are narrowed down and more of us get the chance to add our opinions. It’s an important selection, so stay tuned.
September 28th, 2008
Nice investment huh?
Top Recipients of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008
|
Name
|
Office
|
Party/State
|
Total
|
See the rest….
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/top-senate-recipients-of-fanni.html
September 26th, 2008
. . .of the following schedule for focus group meetings with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, Ltd., a search firm that specializes in assisting boards with the identification and selection of superintendents.
The RPS School Board invites you to participate in the identification of Leadership characteristics by attending a focus group and/or completing a Leadership Profile Survey form (see below).
Focus group schedule - in 3 rooms at 201 S. Madison:
Monday Sept. 29 8:00am Higher Education
9:00 Community Organizations
Faith based organizations
Government Officials
10:00 Legal Community
11:00 Business Community
4:00pm PTO leaders
Tuesday, Sept. 30 1:00pm Other Educators (outside RPS, Regional, Retired..)
4:00 Student leaders
If you are unable to meet with the consultants at your focus group time, please note that you will be able to share your thoughts with the consultants at one of the open Community Forums. The seven Community Forums, which will be facilitated by a member of the consultant firm, will be held on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 8am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm at the District Administration Building, 201 S. Madison, rm #207, Rockford, IL and also at 7pm Monday at Booker Washington Community Center (1005 S. Court) and St. Elizabeth Community Center (1536 S. Main Street).
Please complete and bring the Leadership Profile Survey form to a Forum. If you will be unable to attend a Forum, please see the Rockford Public Schools web site www.rps205.com or mail/fax your completed form directly to the address/fax number indicated at the bottom of the form by October 1, 2008.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this most important task.
Sincerely
Nancy Kalchbrenner
President – Rockford Public Schools Board of Education
September 22nd, 2008
A good story that seems to contradict some of the other stuff we read….
Most of the economic headlines this summer have been grim — rising unemployment, federal takeovers of major banking institutions, stagnant home prices, and rising gasoline and food costs.
But if you can afford to look past what’s happening now and look at what’s being built in the Rock River Valley, the area’s manufacturing economy is poised for a rebound, Janyce Fadden, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Group, told a crowd of about 125 at the organization’s quarterly breakfast Friday.
Fadden pointed to five major projects this year, including the Danfoss Drives and Woodward Governor expansions that together will cost about $85 million, that will bring jobs or ensure jobs are staying in the Rockford region.
For decades, Rockford’s historically strong manufacturing sector has been receding as companies have been forced to look at moving jobs to lower-cost countries such as India and China.
But the weak U.S. dollar and rapidly rising fuel costs have dramatically reduced the gap between U.S. manufacturing and the world.
“Price advantages around the world are changing, being minimized, creating the need for foreign companies to have U.S. locations, but also for the high-tech product created here to be used in other countries to they can maintain their productivity rates,” Fadden said.
Friday’s group also heard the results of a Global Economic Survey that was compiled by Northern Illinois University’s Regional Development Institute. Rebecca Steffenson, senior research associate, said the results showed there continues to be tremendous opportunity for local companies looking to sell overseas.
Steffenson said what companies were looking for from the RAEDC was more trade missions, more information on how to make contacts with overseas customers.
Two years ago the RAEDC led a trade mission to Sweden, hoping to help local companies build a rapport with one of the most technologically savvy economies in the world. The seeds from that mission bore some fruit this week, when Rockford’s Leading Edge Hydraulics signed an agreement with Jimec AB, a Swedish automation company. The two are forming a company to ship Leading Edge’s products to European clients.
The new company, Leading Edge Hydraulics AB, will begin shipping products to the European operations of companies such as John Deere, Hitachi, Caterpillar and Haldex.
Assistant Business Editor Alex Gary may be reached at agary@rrstar.com or at 815-987-1339.
Local manufacturing’s big ‘wins’
Five major manufacturing projects announced and launched this year:Acument Global Technologies chose Rockford for its Camcar Aerospace production center and headquarters. Acument hopes to grow revenues to $70 million annually within three years.Danfoss Drives broke ground on a $32 million expansion of its Loves Park plant. The extra space will double the company’s payroll to 500.A newly formed company, Rockford Automated Machining, won a contract to make brake drums in Rockford. The work was being done in China. The contract will create 40 jobs.
Woodward Governor is expanding and remodeling its landmark Loves Park plant for $50 million. The project won’t add more jobs, but it does ensure the company will keep the 1,500 now working in Loves Park and Rockton here.
Eclipse Combustion Inc. celebrated its 100th anniversary. The family-owned operation also completed a renovation of its Rockford operations interiors.
September 22nd, 2008
You know, manufacturers get hurt just like homeowners during this credit problem and bailout. We need to keep growing and that takes money. If the credit institutions don’t have the funds to do so, then we can’t continue growing.
Nowadays, it’s the “in thing” to do, blame Wall Street, or blame Bush.
From where I see it, blame goes all around:
1. The homeowners who bought homes way beyond their financial capabilities. When I first bought, I needed 25% of my take home pay to pay the mortgage. When I see some of these homeowners on TV and the fabulous homes they’re now crying about losing, well, I don’t have any sympathy.
2. The banks…they got sloppy in letting mortgages to people with poor credict, no jobs, no financial resources.
3. Wall Street….sure pure greed, but you could say…”that’s the American Dream”?
4. Where was Congress these past few years, and their prestigious committees that should have provided oversight. Too busy worrying about other things, I suppose.
5. Oh, yes, might as well share some of the blame for the administration.
In the end, let’s quit looking for the neck to put the noose around. We manufacturers don’t have the time, patience or money to let this nick-pitting go on.
Let’s get the job done!
September 21st, 2008
I saw Superintendent Hernandez this morning and she said that the attendance has increased from the 46 when it was opened a few weeks ago to 52 students now. She commented that students are already been energized by what they are learning. So they are telling their friends and they are now signing up!
This is a great way for this school to increase in attendance. When students get excited and spread the word, great things happen.
Principal Michael Cermak and the ACS/205 staff are doing a great job! Keep it up!
September 19th, 2008
Manufacturers, take part in the process….
As you may be aware, the Board of Education has initiated its search for a superintendent of schools for the 2009/2010 school year. To provide counsel to us in this important process, the board has retained the services of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, Ltd., a search firm that specializes in assisting boards with the identification and selection of superintendents.
A very important step in this process is the identification of the characteristics we will be seeking in a superintendent. We invite you to participate in the identification of these characteristics by attending a Community Forum and/or completing the Leadership Profile Survey form on the www.rps205.com web site.
The seven Community Forums, which will be facilitated by a member of the consultant firm, will be held on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 8am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm at the District Administration Building, 201 S. Madison, rm #207, Rockford, IL and also at 7pm Monday at Booker Washington Community Center (1005 S. Court) and St. Elizabeth Community Center (1536 S. Main Street).
Please complete and bring the Leadership Profile Survey form to a Community Forum. If you will be unable to attend a Forum, please see the Rockford Public Schools web site or mail/fax your completed form directly to the address/fax number indicated at the bottom of the form by October 1, 2008.
September 19th, 2008
Here’s a link to the latest monthly report on manufacturing from the Federal Reserve of Chcago….
http://www.chicagofed.org/economic_research_and_data/files/cfmmi_july2008.pdf
I heard William Strauss from the Federal Reserve in Chicago give Boone County a review of the economy. The meeting was open to the public and there must have been 50-60 people in attendance. Although he covered various economic data and topics, he made a number of points about manufacturing:
1. Manufacturing output is slightly below similar period of 2007.
2. Manufacturing Output is at record levels. Output may be down on those producers of consumer goods, but is up for those making equipment for industry. Example cited was the large $10 million CAT truck. CAT is also expanding their facilities for these vehicles and their backlog goes into year 2012!
3. Although Lite vehicle and lite truck sales are falling 11% and 19%, car sales are falling only 3%
4. Between Detroit Big 3 auto and the New Domestics (Honda, Toyota, etc) production in the U.S> from 1980 to now is about the same.
5. Buy America: Ford Mustang has a 70% U.S. content, Toyota Sienna has a 85% U.S. content.
6. While the Big 3 production and sales are declining over the past 28 years, U.S. made sales of Honda, Toyota, Nissan and the others is growing.
7. Productivity is key and recently it has been averaging twice the historical rate.
In all, what I heard didn’t make me want to jump out of the nearest high rise building.
Previous Posts
