Obviously, the holiday season is going to be... highly unusual this year, but there has never been a better or more important time to support our local manufacturers. The Manufacturer's Edge Holiday Gift Giving Guide is one of the highlights of our year. We love showcasing some of our favorite Colorado-made products while also inspiring creative gift-giving ideas and helping you cross people off of your shopping list. As usual, this year's guide will feature a wide variety of products for every budget, interest, and lifestyle. From beauty products to outdoor equipment and even pie-in-the-ski goodies fit for a queen! Our first two products are featured below and new gift-giving suggestions will be posted on our website over the next month with the complete guide debuting in our next newsletter on December 17^th.

At Manufacturer’s Edge, we have long been aware of the outstanding achievements of our board member Shelli Brunswick and it looks like the rest of the world is starting to take notice as well. Shelli Brunswick has received numerous well-earned and deserved accolades this year culminating in her recent selection as a finalist for the WomenTech Global Awards for Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year.

Please join us on December 3 for the awards ceremony.

― Samuel Johnson

The CMMC Interim Rule is scheduled to “go live” on 1 December 2020. Daily webinars and panels over the past two months have focused attention on what steps the defense industrial base supply chain needs to take. We can now add panicked to perplexed and paralyzed as the frequently encountered responses from manufacturers who are current or prospective DoD contractors. The requirements for compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012 (and the newly added clauses 7019, 7020, and 7021) have provided some answers. There are still outstanding questions, known unknowns, and potential pitfalls. Based on information from briefings over the past month from a variety of experts—including the DoD CISO for Acquisition and Sustainment, a legal expert, a Defense Acquisition University faculty member, and CMMC Provisional Assessor #17—here are recommendations about where to concentrate your mind and avoid the “gallows” of contract compliance uncertainty.(...)

Read the full article on our website

If you missed Jennifer Kurtz's recent 4-part webinar series Cybersecurity for Defense Contractors, you can watch the recordings on our website

Recently, the Manufacturer’s Edge team had the pleasure of teaming up with three staff members from Congressman Joe Neguse’s Office to host a manufacturing forum. Tom Bugnitz, CEO of Manufacturer’s Edge moderated the virtual roundtable discussion with six members of the manufacturing community from Colorado’s District 2 to talk about how the pandemic has affected them during this period.

One northern Colorado manufacturing company that specializes in imprinted products and employs 25 people with a 60,000 sq. ft. facility had to stop manufacturing for 5 days because they were not sure that they could be designated as a critical business. Manufacturer’s Edge helped them secure the necessary designation by looking at their customer base, many of whom perform critical functions. The United Parcel Service, for example, needed an increased quantity of uniforms to keep up with the delivery of important packages worldwide. Similarly, the U.S. Armed Forces needed their orders of long underwear produced with a reflective waistband logo. They also met the requirements necessary for social distancing due to their low employee count and large square footage. The ability to prove their business as critical and responsible sustained the organization and impacted them in a positive way. (...)

“Time flies on wings of lighting”! It is hard to believe that I have been Board Chair for CAMA for two years now. All good things must come to an end.

It has been a privilege to work with and come to know so many great people and organizations throughout the state who have a passion for manufacturing. The best part of this experience has been in the relationships that I have gained over these past two years – relationships that I look forward to continuing, as I keep promoting manufacturing here in Colorado.

I am pleased to announce that Mark Cordova from Centennial Bolt is stepping up to take my place as CAMA Board Chair starting in January. Mark comes to us with many years of manufacturing under his belt and has a passion for manufacturing too. Mark is also on the board for NAM (National Association of Manufacturers), so he takes that passion to the national level as well. I am proud to turn the gavel over to Mark, as I know he too will reach out in a spirit of cooperation for the betterment of manufacturers everywhere.

Thank you so much for all the kindness and support that I have felt and received. I will see you around!