3/11/2014 11:39:00 AM
NEWS BRIEFS
Fledderman Elected Metalforming Association Chair
Jody Fledderman was elected 2014 chair of the Precision Metalforming Association board.
Fledderman, president and CEO of Batesville Tool & Die, of Batesville, IN, succeeds Bill Adler as chair.
Bill Smith, president of Termax Corporation in Lake Zurich, IL, will be first vice chair, and Ron Lowry, CEO and owner of Dayton Rogers in Minneapolis, MN, treasurer.
Fledderman announced the theme of his one-year term as chairman is “Investing in the Future to Strengthen the Industry.”
“PMA members are investing in new technologies such as new presses to replace older equipment not only for added capacity but to invest in the future,” Fledderman said.
“We also are reaching out to the workforce of the future—our local high-school students—to show them the career opportunities manufacturing offers. Even if a company doesn’t need new technology or a fresh pool of labor today, they will most likely need both soon, to fortify their companies. You have to look ahead.”
Fledderman’s efforts include creating a program for next-generation workforce through Batesville High School and Ivy Tech Community College.
“I believe kids need options other than a four-year college to further their education and career opportunities outside of high school, and the technical programs offered at Ivy Tech fit that bill,” Fledderman explained. “Along with their high-school curriculum, our new co-op program becomes the proverbial third leg to the stool to provide support to kids as they look to begin careers in manufacturing.”
“I’ll work with PMA nationally to develop a template, conduct webinars and in other ways to help guide other companies should they wish to launch a similar co-op program in their community.”
PMA is a trade association representing the $113-billion metalforming industry of North America. The industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its 900-member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry.
Ohio-based PMA operates an education foundation, Fabtech and MetalForm Mexico trade shows and MetalForming and Fabricating Product News magazines.
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