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“Today, growth and innovation can rarely be maximized by one company, one service organization or even one industry going it alone.” CMMA adopted this mantra at inception, and it seems evermore important these days. I’m happy to share some good news of unity, effort, opportunity, and success in this Spring season of growth and renewal.
CMMA has long supported, created, and invested in upstream workforce development initiatives. These opportunities include collaboration with schools, students, and STEM activities. We’ve gone deep with our support and it’s yielding great results like the recent news from the Watertown-Mayer Robotics Team 7530 - Raiders of the Lost Spark ... Read more.
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Erik Bauer
15842 340th Street • Montgomery, MN 56069
(507) 381-6805
http://bauermademachining.com
High-quality CNC machining and custom fabrication
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Erin Traxler
3155 104th Lane NE • Blaine, MN 55449
(323) 403-7567
https://cedarcreekenergy.com/
Design, installation, and maintenance of high-performance commercial solar systems
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Brandon Michaelis
17163 Highland Drive • Paynesville, MN 56362
(320) 894-7163
https://custommetalsolutions.us
Custom metal solutions | design, drafting, engineering
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Ashly Hughes
26916 102nd St NW • Zimmerman, MN 55398
http://gosavvysocial.com
Business development partner
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Miles Seppelt
1164 Benjamin Avenue SE • Hutchinson, MN 55350
(320) 234-4223
http://www.hutchinsoneda.com
Economic development
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Gabrielle Feldman
4330 Centerville Rd • White Bear Lake, MN 55127
(763) 788-7713
http://www.mavo.com
Environmental contracting services
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Bob Lea
16771 County Road 30 SW • Cokato, MN 55321
(763) 442-9118
http://www.plcbob.com
Training in automation, mechatronics, electronics and plant practices/safety
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Jill Shaw
14 7th Ave N Ste 130 • St. Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 441-7050
http://wcthelp.com
Customized IT solutions
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Member Anniversaries - Thank You
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North Jr. High School
Sartell-St. Stephen ISK 748
| Technical Die Casting, Inc. | |
Sauk Rapids-Rice School
ROCORRI School
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MMA
Masterclass series
Wednesdays • 11:00 am
5/21/25 - Marketing cybersecurity
Register.
5/28/25 - Navigating sales leadership transition
Register.
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CMMA Breakfast Meeting
May 22 • 7:15 am
Princeton
Topic: How do manufacturers compete using digital and AI?
Speaker: Vivek Saxena, FactoryTwin
Tour: Glenn Metalcraft, Inc.
Sponsor: East Central Development Partnership
Register.
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CMMA Golf Social
June 10, 2025
Sauk Rapids
Join us for the 13th annual CMMA Golf Social and help us raise $15,000 to benefit scholarships and youth programs!
Register.
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CMMA Summer Social
August 20 • 4:00 pm
Bad Habit Brewing • St. Joseph
Join us for a patio party. Beer and pizza for $20!
Register.
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6th Annual CMMA CTE Jamboree
November 20 • 7:15 am
Big Lake High School
The CTE (Career and Technical Education) Jamboree is intended to close the gap between education and industry. The event features an experienced lineup of speakers that are active in CTE in Minnesota. Following the presentations, join us for a tour of Big Lake High School CTE facilities and tour of LISI Medical!
Register.
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MMA YouTube Channel
Watch over 120 educational webinars and past meetings.
Past events
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Central Minnesota Tour of Manufacturing October 1 - 4, 2025
CMMA is pleased to announce plans are in full swing for the 2025 Central Minnesota Tour of Manufacturing to be held October 1 - 4. The manufacturing industry in Minnesota has designated October as Manufacturing Month. Manufacturing is Central Minnesota’s second largest employing industry, accounting for over 15% of all employment in the region. Manufacturing workers made an average annual wage of just under $79,000, which is $7,500 higher than Minnesota’s overall average wage in 2023 - and the highest paying industry in MN. And it's the second largest industry in Minnesota with roughly 326,000 people in manufacturing.
CMMA’s goals are to ... Read more.
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New CMMA membership emblems
CMMA is excited to create and launch new CMMA membership emblems. All CMMA members should have recently received a CMMA membership emblem with the year you joined the association. You can use the electronic emblem on your website, in your email signatures, in your marketing, and on your company literature. Please reach out to Katie if you didn't receive one.
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February CMMA meeting
CMMA members and guests enjoyed an informative meeting on February 27 at Ultra Machining Company (UMC) in Monticello, MN. CMMA President Les Engel is pictured with Don Tomann, CEO & Owner of UMC. Speaker was Pete Rogers, President, Central McGowan, who discussed the Essentials of Automation: Unlocking Efficiency and Innovation.
Ultra Machining Company (UMC) manufactures complex, precision machined parts and assemblies for customers across medical, aerospace, commercial, energy, and industrial markets.
Big thank you to the meeting sponsor: Minnesota Center For Employee Ownership (MNCEO).
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March CMMA meeting
At the March 27 meeting speaker Bob Kill, president and CEO of Enterprise Minnesota, highlighted the positive impact of manufacturing on Minnesota's economy statewide and the network of partners who are investing in the future of this important industry.
Following the presentation attendees toured SCR Inc. (St Cloud Refrigeration). SCR has evolved to become a trusted leader in the Midwest for commercial refrigeration, HVAC, building automation, and food service solutions.
Shout out to the meeting sponsor: Builders & Contractors Workers' Compensation Fund.
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April CMMA meeting
CMMA members and guests enjoyed Kayti Bjorklund-Strandlund and Ry Bostrom's, co-founders of The Repurposed Educator, presentation on transforming company culture at the April 24 meeting. In 2024, Bjorklund-Strandlund and Bostrom launched Culture Academy, offering frameworks, curricula, and strategies to help businesses—especially in the trades and construction—build positive, people-first cultures.
Attendees were treated to a tour of Starrett Tru-Stone Technologies, manufacturers of ultra-high-precision products in granite, carbon fiber, ceramic and specialty metals in Waite Park.
Thank you to our meeting sponsor: Falcon National Bank
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MMA 2025 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. ...Read more.
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Board Bio - Joseph Gossard
Joseph is the Director of Manufacturing at Geringhoff, managing the production planning, logistics, welding, paint, and final assembly departments.
Read more.
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Paid leave mandate information
In 2023, the legislature passed the most broad-sweeping workplace mandates in recent history, including two new paid leave mandates that impact every employer in the state – regardless of the size of business.
The Sick and Safe Time (SST) mandate requires up to 48-80 hours of fully paid time off, for an extremely broad list of reasons with little notice to employers. Shockingly, this mandate now forces more generous, voluntarily offered PTO programs to comply with this mandate. Employers of all sizes are reporting increased use of SST and significant misuse by employees as a result of this new law, challenging their operations and increasing costs.
The Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) mandate eliminates a business’s right to tailor benefits specific to their industry and workforce by forcing employers to offer 12 weeks paid medical leave and 12 weeks of paid family leave (maxing out at 20 weeks total in a 52-week period), starting on January 1, 2026. The program will be... READ MORE on PDF.
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MMA launches industry summer camp and activities hub
MMA is gathering information on summer activities, camps, fun and educational activities for kids. The Midwest Manufacturers Summer Camps & Activities Hub is a go-to resource for discovering hands-on learning experiences in manufacturing, STEM, and skilled trades in our area, around the state, and beyond. Please forward any relevant information on summer camps and educational activities for the web page to Becky@MidwestManufacturers.com.
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Recap of grants awarded in 2024
The CMMA Foundation awarded grants totaling $21,543 in 2024. The grand total of CMMA’s community impact since 2008 is $193,068 in grants/scholarships.
The 2024 Grant recipients are as follows:
Read more.
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K12 schools can apply for CMMA grants and scholarships here.
Donations are welcome and encouraged
Funds support youth manufacturing programs. Donations are eligible as a 501(c )3 charitable contribution. Donate online at Community Giving, or send to 101 7th Ave. S. #100, St. Cloud, MN 56301 with CMMA Fund in the memo line.
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2025 Sponsorship packages
As the central office serving CMMA, our job is to help your business succeed. Prorated 2025 sponsorship packages are still available. You can reach your prospects, customers and fellow members.
Learn more.
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CMMA Prepaid Meeting Tickets Available
You can purchase (10) prepaid CMMA meeting tickets for $250 through our eCommerce store. The tickets can be used for attendance at CMMA meetings, with no expiration date. Use the tickets however you wish; i.e. one person can attend ten meetings; ten people can attend one meeting, etc. Purchase here.
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The K12Navigator
The K12 Navigator is an online directory that allows employers of all industries and sizes to engage with schools and students interested in exploring careers within career fields that they offer. The tool allows students to connect with employers that are willing to provide classroom speakers, company tours, job shadowing, apprenticeship programs, student mentors, and more. Register your business on the Navigator today.
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Youth Apprenticeship Toolkit launched to help manufacturers
If you're interested in starting a Youth Skills Training or Youth Apprenticeship program, you now have access to step-by-step instructions, costs, forms, and other resources here. Help spread the word.
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2024 CMMA annual report
Check out the CMMA 2024 activities and accomplishments in this annual publication.
| | | Lower your operating costs through CMMA Membership | | Responding to your needs, we have carefully selected three vendors — vetted by our board and endorsed by fellow members— to provide a cost savings to your operation, including... | | |
Lower your health insurance costs
MMA began offering health insurance plans to CMMA members in 2017. The plans are totally customizable and have provided significant savings to fellow TSMA, CMMA, MDMA, and AMFA members. We partner with Hahn Financial Group, Inc. in Sioux Falls, SD, to offer Employer Health Plans.
Minimum of two participating employees. Contact us to learn more: 800-654-5773 or Lynda@MidwestManufacturers.com.
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