Letter from AMFA president Rally Hess | | |
Greetings to AMFA members, associates, and friends!
This season of graduations is upon us which means summer is here. And that means it’s time for GOLF!
Time to get registered – The 27th Annual AMFA Golf Social is coming up! Join us on June 18 at The Quarry at Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik—one of Minnesota’s top golf destinations—for a day of friendly competition and community connection. If you haven’t played this premier course yet, now’s your chance!
We encourage you to register today so we can plan accordingly and make this event the best yet. Your participation directly supports the AMFA Educational Trust, which has awarded over $210,000 in grants to local schools for shop equipment, field trips, robotics teams, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day on the green and invest in the future of manufacturing education.
The Northeast Minnesota Tour of Manufacturing returns October 22–24, offering students the chance to explore local manufacturing facilities firsthand. AMFA is proud to ... Read more.
| | Welcome new members!!!!!!! | | |
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Deer River Schools
Steve Meyers, CTE teacher
101 1st Ave NE • Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-8241
https://www.isd317.org/
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Floodwood School District
Joe Skripsky, CTE Teacher
115 W 4th Ave • Floodwood, MN 55736
(218) 476-2285
https://www.isd698.org/
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Hill City School
Colby Gallagher
500 Ione Ave • Hill City, MN 55748
(218) 697-2394
http://isd002.org
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Gabrielle Feldman
4330 Centerville Rd • White Bear Lake, MN
(763) 788-7713
http://www.mavo.com
Industrial cleaning, asbestos, lead & mold abatement, concrete sawing, epoxy flooring, interior demolition, HVAC cleaning & decontamination, dry ice blasting, specialty cleaning
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McGregor High School
Josh Sampson, CTE teacher
148 South 2nd Street • McGregor, MN 55760
(218) 768-2111
http://mcgregor.k12.mn.us
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Moose Lake High School
John Engstrom
4812 County Road 10 • Moose Lake, MN
(218) 485-4435
http://mooselake.k12.mn.us
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Northern Solar Light
Richard Pierce
207 S Broadway • Gilbert, MN 55741
(218) 290-5370
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Aaron Plafcan
604 Lincoln Ave NE • St. Cloud, MN 56304
(320) 492-9411
http://scr-mn.com
Commercial refrigeration, HVAC, building automation, and food service design, installation, and maintenance
| | Member Anniversaries!!!!! | | |
Employer Health Plans
Thursday, June 12, 2025
11:00 am • Online
If you have two or more employees, we invite you to invest 30 minutes to learn about Employer Health Plans in collaboration with Hahn Financial Group, Inc. No cost to attend. In fact, by attending you will learn how to save on your health plan! Note: You CAN switch health plans mid-year; no need to wait for your renewal date.
Register.
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AMFA Golf Social
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
11:30 am • Bawabik
The AMFA-ET Golf Social
- Is the primary fundraiser each year
- Generates funds to support technical education leading to a higher skilled manufacturing workforce
- Allows manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to have an impact.
Register now to secure a spot!
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Navigating sales leadership transition
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
11:00 am • Online
Re-scheduled from May 28 to August 27.
Manufacturers today face transitioning into business development as key personnel retire or move on. This presentation is designed to help manufacturers smoothly navigate this transition by understanding current client relationships, CRM usage, and marketing activities to eliminate disruptions and identify growth opportunities.
Register.
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Arrowhead Region Tour of Manufacturing
October 22-24, 2025
Manufacturers - Are you interested in hosting area high school students during the Tour of Manufacturing? Please complete a brief survey and we'll be in touch with details!
Announcing a new opportunity to support local workforce development and gain visibility in communities across the Arrowhead Region - the AMFA Tour of Manufacturing Map! Learn more!
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MMA YouTube Channel
Watch over 120 educational webinars.
Past events
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Register for June 18 Golf Social at The Quarry at Giants Ridge in Bawabik | |
⛳️ Time to take action! ⛳️
Don't miss your shot to be part of the 27th Annual AMFA Golf Social — a fun-filled day that directly supports manufacturing education in our region!
We’re aiming to raise $15,000 to fund K–12 school grants for robotics teams, equipment, tooling, and field trips to manufacturing facilities.
Sponsorships are still available and team slots are filling up fast!
Now’s the time to sign up to play or secure your sponsorship and get your business in front of manufacturing leaders from across the region.
A special thank you to our Premier Sponsor: Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation
Thank you to our Silver Sponsors: Arrow Auto Glass & Door, Hibbing Fabricators Inc., and Productivity Inc.
Register now.
| Get involved: The 2025 Northeast Minnesota Tour of Manufacturing | The 2025 Northeast Minnesota Tour of Manufacturing is more than just an event—it’s a strategic initiative to inspire and engage the next generation of manufacturing professionals. Over three days, manufacturers across the region will open their doors to students, providing a firsthand look at modern manufacturing and the exciting career paths it offers.... Read more. | 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.
| 2025 Sponsorship packages | |
As the central office serving AMFA, our job is to help your business succeed. You can reach your prospects, customers and fellow members with a discounted 2025 sponsorship packages. Learn more!
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NE Minnesota Manufacturing Teacher Summit wrap up | |
The halls of Hibbing High School were buzzing with energy at the 2nd Annual CTE Teacher Summit and 4th Annual CTE Jamboree on May 14! This powerful event brought together educators, students, and industry leaders from across Northeast Minnesota to bridge the gap between classrooms and careers in manufacturing.
✨ Highlights from the day:
• Insightful best practices shared by passionate CTE educators
• Behind-the-scenes tours at Hibbing Fabricators, Trison, and Cast Corporation
• Collaborative “Table Talk” sessions to spark innovation
• Student-led tours of Hibbing High’s CTE programs
• Networking with school leaders and industry experts
• Real conversations about how to better prepare students for the future of work.
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the momentum! Together, we're building connections between education and industry—and inspiring the next generation of makers, builders, and innovators.
• Hibbing Schools
• Northeast Service Cooperative
• Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation board
• True North Stars
• Lake Superior Perkins Consortium
Giant thank you to our sponsors:
• Epicurean
• L&M Radiator, Inc.
| The 2025 Beverage Tasting event in Hibbing was incredible—thanks to everyone who attended! We’re grateful for your support in raising funds to grow manufacturing... Read more. | New AMFA membership emblems | AMFA is excited to create and launch new membership emblems. All AMFA members should have recently received a 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. | Paid leave mandate information | |
In 2023, the legislature passed broad-sweeping workplace mandates, 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.
The Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) mandate eliminates a business’s right to tailor benefits by forcing employers to offer 12 weeks paid medical leave and 12 weeks of paid family leave starting on January 1, 2026. The program will... Read more on PDF.
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Board bio: Kevin Hagen
Job? Commercial Lending at National Bank of Commerce in Superior, WI
Education? Bachelor of Business Administration - Labovitz School of Business at University of Minnesota Duluth
What was your first job? Napa Auto Parts
Hometown? Cameron, WI
Family? Married to my wife Cari and we have four children together.
Pets? 1 dog. Teddybear named Ernie.
Favorite movie? Top Gun
Favorite food? Steak
Hobbies? Enjoy sailing on Lake Superior, hunting, fishing, and canoeing in the BWCAW.
What would AMFA members be surprised to learn about you? I'm a licensed captain through the US Coast Guard.
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Upcoming grant application deadline: June 30, 2025
You must be a 501(C)3, school, or other public entity to qualify, with a focus on one of three priority areas. More information and applications here.
Donate
Donations are welcome and encouraged! Donations are eligible as a 501(c)3 charitable contribution. You may send your contribution to 1210 Broadway St. #240 PMB154, Alexandria, MN 56308 with AMFA ET in the memo line or email Lynda.
| | AMFA information and member directories | | 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...
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Looking for a health plan that could save you and your company money? Fellow members have reported lower costs and money back at the end of low-claim years with MMA’s Employer Health Plans. Learn more.
| | Thank you to our valued sponsors! | |
Shoptalk is produced and edited by Midwest Manufacturers Association. If you have comments, suggestions for future stories, or would like to inquire about advertising, please contact us.
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