Now, more than ever, the state of manufacturing in the United States is getting the attention it deserves. The impacts from gaps in supply chains and the strains on workforce, stemming from over 16 months of a global pandemic, are being felt by the manufacturers that rely on them to stay in business as well as the consumers who depend on manufacturers to produce the goods they need for everyday life.

It is clear that we have an immense amount of work to do to strengthen manufacturing and ensure that U.S. and Colorado business owners have access to the resources they need to grow and thrive. Today we have a remarkable opportunity to harness the attention, energy, and support for strengthening domestic manufacturing to create lasting solutions for our communities, our country, and our place in the global market. As the official Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center for the state of Colorado, Manufacturer's Edge is in a unique position to leverage the support of the state and federal government along with the knowledge and expertise of the 51 MEP Centers in the National Network in order to provide best-in-class training and consulting services.

To that end, we are pleased to announce that we are expanding our team in order to better meet the needs of the manufacturing community. We would like to introduce you to two brand new positions within our organization and to the outstanding individuals in those roles. There is more work to be done and we will continue to enhance our team and our services in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for future announcements!

After a several weeks-long search that revealed an impressive depth of talented and experienced candidates throughout the state, Manufacturer's Edge is pleased to welcome Bill Carlson as our new Director of Revenue Growth. Bill will oversee the sales team and work closely with Ann Marie Younce, our Director of Client Services, and Michelle Griffith, our Director of Program Operations, in order to enhance and expand how we serve Colorado manufacturers and ensure there is no "wrong door" throughout each stage of the client engagement process.

Bill Carlson’s career is highlighted by progressive leadership roles across multiple disciplines. He has in-depth experience with sales and marketing management in international organizations, product management leading the introduction of multiple product lines, and customer success capacities. Bill began his career in the consumer electronics space with Ricoh Imaging, managing the transition from analog to digital imaging products, while also leading the sport optics division. Bill then transitioned to a sales and marketing leadership role with a leading manufacturer of life safety devices in the adventure recreations space, where he and his team more than doubled revenue over a 5-year period. Throughout his diverse background, Bill has always focused on a customer-centric approach that values building partnerships and long-term customer relationships.

Manufacturer's Edge is also delighted to announce that our longtime friend and colleague, Kristi Pollard with P2 Public Affairs, has agreed to leverage her extensive skills and experience to help us amplify our message, increase our reach, and expand our presence across Colorado so that we can assist more manufacturers than ever before.

Kristi will assist with strategic communications and public relations. Kristi brings over 20 years of communications and public relations expertise to the team and has a rich understanding of the important work that is done at Manufacturer’s Edge through her former role as the CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Develop Corporation and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. Kristi will be working alongside the Manufacturer’s Edge team to assist in the development of communications strategies to heighten brand and services awareness as well and strategic business development and government relations.

Through my involvement with manufacturing trade associations, I recently learned that more than 70% of manufacturers in the U.S. do not believe our nation’s infrastructure is positioned to respond to the competitive needs of a growing economy.

This belief is built upon a fact: the U.S. is not investing in infrastructure. Today, infrastructure investment is only one-third of what it was in 1960.

Modern infrastructure supports greater productivity and increases a manufacturer’s efficiency, but how many Colorado manufacturers are losing money through the inefficiencies of Colorado’s infrastructure? How do you calculate the negative impact of your raw goods sitting in a delivery van stuck in I-25 traffic? Is the added cost of air freight cutting into your, already slim, profit margins?

A strong and resilient national infrastructure is good for Colorado manufacturers. A more durable and efficient infrastructure network will help manufacturers better serve customers and communities, and it will create more jobs. It will also bolster the security of our nation and strengthen the manufacturing supply chain – a consideration made even more critical during the pandemic.

President Biden and a bipartisan group of Senators recently announced a deal on an infrastructure package. The legislation must be passed, and it must be passed in a way that balances taxes, user fees, and other resources to pay for these critical investments. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is leading the fight for these historical investments on behalf of our industry. The Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association (CAMA), which is part of the NAM, is organizing Colorado manufacturers in this effort.

I invite you to learn more about this critical legislation and encourage you to join us in this effort. Please reach out to me at MarkCordova@co-cama.org.

Mark Cordova

CAMA Board Chair

Back on the road and in the air to visit family, friends, and favorite vistas! The national parks in Utah are busy but not impossible. I visited Arches two days in a row with just one car ahead of me going through the gate. Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon were just as easy.

Denver International Airport was a different story, however. Years ago I opted for the security priority lane privilege (TSA Pre)—and have never regretted the cost and registration process effort. Walking barefoot through the millimeter wave scanner is not my happy (unlike walking barefoot through saltwater waves). Nor is digging for my clear plastic quart-size bag of suspect gels and liquids (unlike digging in the sand with grandkids). I don’t have to worry about forgetting my electronic gadgets in the plastic bin. Comfort and convenience with some cost involved.

That’s what security investment priorities should provide: comfort and convenience at a reasonable cost. How can companies—and individuals—frame security initiatives to balance and satisfy these competing priorities? How difficult are the top five high-impact security mechanisms? (...)

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