Manufacturing voice | Workforce | Relationships | Health plans

Spring 2025

Letter from TSMA president

Greetings to TSMA members, associates, and friends!

 

I hope you can hear me above all the political noise and hysterics about tariffs, trade policies, and increased production costs going on right now. There’s a lot of unknowns and we’ve never seen anything quite like this so it can be overwhelming at times. Let me assure you that TSMA is here today and will continue to be here to help you through whatever lies ahead.

 

Regardless of what’s happening politically there’s a lot happening with TSMA this Spring.

 

Make plans to join us at the...Read more.

Member spotlight

Welcome new member!

Stephanie Krause

1111 13th Ave SE • Detroit Lakes, MN 56511

(218) 847-4446

btdmfg.com

Complete spectrum of custom metalwork services

Greg Dropik

1209 3rd Ave E • Alexandria, MN 56308

(320) 763-9029

FarmandIndustrialSupply.com

Critical products and parts for farm and industry

Manpower of Greater MN

David Wheeler

507 N Nokomis St, Suite E • Alexandria, MN 56308

(320) 763-9899

manpower.com

Specializing in people, training, HR services, outsourcing, & consulting

Tory Bjorklund

5601 County Road 21 SW • Alexandria, MN 56308

(612) 504-6904

victoriafide.com

Technology implementations for manufacturers and distributors

Member anniversaries!

35 Years

25 Years

Badger Foundry

10 Years

Chokio Alberta School

Horizon Middle School, Moorhead

Parkers Prairie School

Wheaton School

5 Years

Upcoming events

April 2025

Masterclass webinar series

Wednesdays • 11:00 am


4/16/25: How to leverage social media to market your business

Register.


4/30/25: Registered apprenticeship as a strategy for recruiting and retention

Register.

TSMA Luncheon Meeting

Tuesday, May 20

11:00 am • Litchfield

Join for a Luncheon meeting at the Muddy Cow in Litchfield. The topic and speaker are TBD.


Tour Felling Trailers, a family-owned and operated full line trailer manufacturer, providing innovative trailer solutions to the transportation industry for 50-years. 


Register.

May 2025

Masterclass webinar series

Wednesdays • 11:00 am


5/21/25: Marketing cybersecurity

Presenter: Michelle Henderson, BadCat Digital

Register.


5/28/25: Navigating sales leadership transitions

Presenter: Linda Mathiasen, Okapi Strategy

Register.

2025 TMSA Golf Social

July 16 • 11:00 am • Alexandria

Join us for the 32nd annual TSMA Golf Social! Four-person scramble style contest. Sponsorships still available!


Proceeds benefit TSMA's support of manufacturing-related youth programs in the region.


Register.

Webinar and meeting recordings

Available on the MMA YouTube channel and TSMA.org



Recorded events

TSMA Golf Social 2025

Make plans to attend the 32nd Annual TSMA Golf Social on July 16 at Geneva Golf Club.

 

Invite suppliers, vendors, colleagues, business prospects...this event is open to everyone. Proceeds benefit TSMA's support of manufacturing related youth programs in the region.

 

Last year the event sold out with a record 144 golfers raising over $13,000! Let’s beat the record in 2025!

 

It is filling up fast. Register today.

TSMA Dream Team update

Exciting things have been happening with the TSMA Manufacturing Career Dream Team!


First, we welcomed four new members and are celebrating our growing Dream Team! Our newest members include...

Read more.

TSMA Winter happening

TSMA members and guests enjoyed an exciting meeting at Brunswick New York Mills on March 11. Matt Geiser, Director of Operations at Brunswick New York Mills, shared the company's past, present, and future manufacturing Lund and Crestliner boats from their operation. Shout out to the meeting sponsor: Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C and Electrical.

Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association and RRMEA form strategic partnership

Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association and the Red River Manufacturers and Engineers Association (RRMEA) announced a strategic partnership on March 14 that will unite their efforts, creating one regional manufacturing association dedicated to supporting manufacturers. This collaboration will offer an... Read more.

2025 Sponsorship packages on sale

As the central office serving TSMA, our job is to help your business succeed. The 2025 sponsorship packages are on sale. Total reach of 414,500+ with our platinum package. Learn more!

Purchase sponsorship

2024 TSMA Snapshot

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Board bio: Sean Johns

Where do you work? I am the Dean of Educational Services at Alexandria Technical and Community College, overseeing the manufacturing, transportation, and student services divisions.

 

Education/training? AA degree from Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Bachelor of Science in economics and Master of Science degree in higher education administration from St. Cloud State University

 

What was your first job? Lawn care and landscaping worker. When I was 16 I went through lawn companies from the yellow pages and called as many as I could looking for work, had one offer, and worked for them four years.

 

Hometown?  Coon Rapids, MN

 

Family? Married eight years to Molly and we have three children; Julia (7), Robert (5), and Isla (2).

 

Pets? Two pets, boston terrier Shandy and boston terrier/french bulldog mix named Pepper.

 

Favorite book or author? Jordan Peterson

 

Favorite movie?  Raiders of the Lost Ark

 

Favorite food? Pizza

 

Hobbies? Hunt, fish, play with kids, fix things, woodworking, car repair, and burdened with being a Vikings fan

 

Comment on your involvement in TSMA: I’m excited to learn more about the association and our ability to attract young people to our industry.

 

What would TSMA members be surprised to learn about you?  Growing up my family would travel to Duluth and Iron Range area to spend nearly every single weekend where my parents are from.

TSMA board of directors annual retreat

The TSMA Board of Directors gathered for an intensive day of planning for 2025 at their annual retreat on January 9 in Alexandria.


Read more.

MMA board of directors election results

Dean Kiffmeyer was named the 2025 President of Midwest Manufacturers’ Association Board of Directors. Kiffmeyer is the Vice President of Business Development at Central McGowan. He has served on the CMMA board since 2017 and the MMA board since 2020.

 

Nicole McDonald was named Vice President. McDonald, General Manager of KLN Family Brands, in...Read more.

Dual-training Pipeline grant RFPs open

Request for proposals for a new round of Dual-Training Grants opened in early March. Those interested in addressing workforce needs through earn-and-learn dual-training programs are encouraged to apply. View the eligible occupations here.

 

Dual-Training grant recipients can use the funds to help cover costs related to instruction toward attaining an industry-recognized degree, certificate or credential for their employees through a dual-training program.

White list our email addresses

Please white list or add our emails to your contact list:


Becky@MidwestManufacturers.com

Carolyn@MidwestManufacturers.com

Katie@MidwestManufacturers.com

Lynda@MidwestManufacturers.com

Sandy@MidwestManufacturers.com

TSMA information

MBiz Solutions: Lower your operating costs

Responding to your needs, we have carefully selected three partners —
vetted by our board and endorsed by fellow members— to provide
a cost savings to your operation, including...

PROduction Workforce Professionals, specializing in human resources management services just for manufacturers, is a subsidiary of Pro Resources, a professional employment organization (PEO) established in 1991 and headquartered in Detroit Lakes, MN.


  • Human Resources – allows you to manage HR, benefits, and payroll over the Internet.
  • Payroll – outsourced payroll administration services accessed online.
  • Employee Benefits - a package of benefits for all full time (30+hours per week), permanent employees that does not cost the employer anything unless they choose to pay a portion of the premiums.
  • Risk Management - specialists to ensure a safer workplace and controlled workers’ comp costs.

Learn more here or 800-654-5773.

Thank you to our valued sponsors!

TSMA.org | 800-654-5773 | Becky@MidwestManufacturers.com

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