Letter from AMFA president Jeff Halter | |
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Greetings to AMFA members, associates, and friends!
I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and ready for 2024!
The first-ever regional Tour of Manufacturing on October 26 & 27 in the Arrowhead and Iron Range was a great success with over 135 students touring 10 manufacturing companies. Please see the article below with photos and highlights.
Also on October 26 AMFA members got a rare look inside the United States Steel Corporation: Minntac near Eveleth. Minntac produces high-quality taconite pellets for use in blast furnaces. After the tour the Minnesota Department... Read more.
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Mission: The Arrowhead Manufacturers and Fabricators Association (AMFA) is a member driven organization helping to strengthen and grow the manufacturing industry in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin.
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Duluth Cargo Connect - seamless cargo handling, storage, distribution, and transportation logistics
Duluth Cargo Connect provides seamless cargo handling, storage, distribution, and transportation logistics services for bulk, breakbulk, heavy-lift, project and containerized cargoes moving in and out of North America’s heartland via the Port of Duluth-Superior – North America’s furthest-inland seaport.
The Clure Public Marine Terminal on Rice’s Point in Duluth serves as the region’s multimodal logistics hub. It’s a robust facility with...Read more.
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Marketing for Manufacturers
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
11:00 am • Online
The best story wins the sale. Does your story set you apart? Do you communicate your value and differentiators effectively? Define the value your company provides to your best customers, learn to create a compelling sales narrative, and walk away ready to differentiate yourself from competitors and drive growth that moves your business forward.
Register.
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Networking Social
Monday, February 5, 2024
4:00 pm • Grand Rapids
Join us for a fun networking social and get to know your AMFA board members and other AMFA members. No charge to attend. Cash bar available. Please register to attend.
Register.
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Employer Health Plans
Friday, February 16, 2024
9:00 am • Online
If you have five or more employees and are interested in saving money on your health plan, we invite you to invest 30 minutes to learn about Employer Health Plans. No cost to attend. Note: You CAN switch health plans mid-year; no need to wait for your renewal date.
Register.
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New Member Orientation
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
2:00 pm • Online
Join us for an overview of what your membership entails, meet the association staff, learn, ask questions, and get acquainted with other newbies!
This event is open to all current members; all employees welcome.
Register.
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View webinar and meeting recordings
All the recorded virtual meetings and webinars are available at:
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AMFA hosted the second annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) Jamboree at Rock Ridge High School in Virginia, MN, on Tuesday, November 14.
The event featured speakers active in CTE in Northern Minnesota, including Rich Wessels, MN Dept of Labor and Industry, James Eichholz, industrial technology instructor at Rock Ridge High School, Rock Ridge students, and more.
AMFA members, higher education reps, and community members also toured Rock Ridge High School's construction, carpentry and engineering shops.
Big shout out to the CTE Jamboree sponsor: True North Stars, Perkins|Career and Technical Education.
| AMFA Board of Directors election soon | Be on the lookout for an email headed your way soon requesting your vote for the AMFA Board of Directors. Please follow the link and complete the ballot for the 2024 AMFA board. | |
A new and improved MMA membership directory will be coming out in March. The entire directory will be in full color.
We need your data updates by February 19, 2023. To update your information log into the Member Information Center at https://members.midwestmanufacturers.com/login.
The deadline to purchase ads is February 2, 2024.
| 2024 Sponsorship packages | |
As the central office serving AMFA, our job is to help your business succeed. 2024 sponsorship packages are now available. You can reach your prospects, customers and fellow members. Save 10% until January 15, 2024. Learn more!
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2023 Tour of Manufacturing | |
The first-ever regional Tour of Manufacturing was held on October 26 & 27, 2023!
Over 135 students from eight high schools toured10 manufacturing companies in Northeastern Minnesota!
Our thanks to:
• ASV Compact Equipment/Yanmar in Grand Rapids
• Hancock Fabrication in Angora
• Heliene in Mountain Iron
• Hibbing Fabricators, Inc. in Hibbing
• Komatsu Mining in Virginia
• Minnesota Twist Drill Co in Chisholm
• Swan Machine in Grand Rapids
• The Forge in Grand Rapids
• Trison Electronic Design & Manufacturing in Duluth
• Zakobe in Bovey
Plans are already in motion for the second annual Tour of Manufacturing in 2024!
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We had a fantastic meeting on October 26th!
Attendees traveled by bus from Eveleth to United States Steel Corporation: Minntac to tour their facility that produces high-quality taconite pellets for use in blast furnace operations. (On site photo by US Steel.)
After the return to Eveleth, members attended a presentation by the Minnesota Department of Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation on low and no-interest loans, grants, and loan guarantees for businesses relocating or expanding in the region.
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White list MMA staff
Please white list or add our emails to your contact list:
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Where do you work? What do you do? I work for a pump-manufacturer GPM, where we produce some of the toughest pumps money can buy. At GPM, I work for a great team that makes the parts, builds, and services pump as the Chief Operating Officer.
Education/training? I have a degree in accounting, but most of my professional life has been in Information Technology. I have been a self-taught IT geek for 25+ years.
What was your first job? My first job was working at Denfeld Super Valu bagging groceries.
Hometown? My hometown is Proctor, Minnesota.
Family? I’m married to Courtney for nine years and have one six-year-old child named Roczen.
Pets? We have two dogs named Evie and Otis. These are both rescue dogs through Northern Lakes Rescue.
Favorite movie? I really like Top Gun and Days of Thunder.
Favorite food? Hands down my favorite foods are pizza and Pepsi.
Do you have any hobbies, play any sports, etc.? In my free time I like to ride dirt bikes, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
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Welcome new members!!!!!!! | |
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Nadene Kruize
616 Roosevelt Rd #200 • St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 258-5007
http://mbfc.org
Minnesota SBA 504 lender
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Dale Klapmeier
4514 Taylor Circle • Hermantown, MN 55811
(218) 727-2737
https://cirrusaircraft.com/
Maker of the best-selling SR series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet™
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Member Anniversaries!!!!! | |
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Upcoming grant application deadline: January 31, 2024
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 PO Box 742, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 with AMFA ET in the memo line or email Rachel@MidwestManufacturers.com.
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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.
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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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