Author: Joe Jackson
Published December 16, 2024
PMPA Members,
It is my privilege to be the Chairman of the Management Update Committee and I would like to take this opportunity to invite each of you and your families to PMPA’s 2025 Management Update Conference, February 6-8 in Orlando, Florida at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. First held in 1975, this year marks PMPA’s 50th Management Update Conference.
For 50 years, PMPA members have been attending this Conference to get “updates” on issues of concern to company owners and managers, including regulatory, economic, HR, as well as to learn of new and innovative strategic and leadership practices.
Much has happened in those 50 years, changing the way we work, play, and interact with others (everyone has a video conferencing account now!) With so many options and so many opportunities, there is a tendency to overlook the unique advantages of attending events and networking face-to-face. Thus, the focus of this year’s conference location was aimed at providing the opportunity to connect with our peers, our employees and their families, as well as with our own families.
Our businesses are multi-faceted organizations with constant attention to developmental innovations, leadership strategies, regulations, and customer service; all of this being addressed while balancing our personal resources and family. The 2025 Update Conference has been designed to create an experience that not only focuses on these issues but offers attendees insight on how other businesses and peers are navigating them.
Plan on joining us to learn how Servant Leadership practices and behaviors can result in a positive, engaging and high-performing organization, get educated on the potential of AI technology to drive your business growth, and hear about strategies and tools to successfully develop, mentor and coach your leaders from a professional Dale Carnegie trainer. Brian Beaulieu from ITR Economics has come out of retirement and is excited to join us with an update on the economy. And, Omar Nashashibi will guide us through new policymaking and what we can expect moving forward with Trump administration (2.0).
Melanie Webber and Rick Grimaldi of Fisher Phillips LLP will present the latest in HR. This presentation promises to be the most focused (and relevant) session of the conference. During the conference, Melanie and Rick will privately meet with attendees to hear their “HR headaches.” They will consolidate, aggregate, and present their findings along with advice on how to approach these issues. Look for the opportunity to sign up to meet with PMPA’s HR Legal Duo to share your concerns to add to their presentation!
Be sure to take advantage of all the Disney-related activities and discount tickets being offered through the Resort. While this year’s program schedule is full of quality educational sessions, there will also be family time opportunities – watch for special events at the closing reception.
We look forward to welcoming you and your families to a content-rich conference with lots of take-home value…in one of the most magical places on earth!
Jim Preston
Jim Preston
Chair – Management Update Committee 2025
President, Meier Screw Products & Mfg. Co.
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Published November 11, 2024
Fellow PMPA Members,
“Better Together”
This seemed to be the overall theme expressed by PMPA members at the 91st Annual Meeting held at the beautiful Marriott Laguna Cliffs Resort and Spa in Dana Point, CA earlier this month. Tucked into the gentle slopes along the Pacific coast, this seaside retreat was the ideal location to both celebrate our rich manufacturing legacy, and embrace the exciting future of our collective organizations. Ideas were shared, friendships rekindled, and new memories made under the blue California sky.
As your newly-elected PMPA President, I want to introduce myself to those of you who I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting; I look forward to getting to know you in the coming year, perhaps at one of the national meetings. These are ideal forums to learn the latest developments in technical, managerial, and corporate trends. To borrow from my mentor and PMPA immediate Past-President, Steve Sorenson, “Emerging technologies are revolutionizing manufacturing. The challenge is keeping up.” The post-COVID world demands that we do just this. Thanks to Steve for his leadership, and for the opportunity to serve under him.
Going forward, 2025 promises to be another banner year for the PMPA. The Staff in Cleveland continues their mission of providing world-class resources and timely information to its members. Your Executive Director, Cate Smith, leads a team of experts who collectively bring unparalleled value to the PMPA member experience; your Executive Committee and Board of Directors are equally committed to this effort. Taken together, they are truly greater than the sum of their parts.
Many of you have asked “how can I get involved?” The best answer may be found in your local chapters. Most chapters host a variety of events throughout the year – both technical and social – providing an ideal setting for networking opportunities. Our Technical members, in particular, are eager to support chapter events where members can learn the latest in manufacturing trends in a frequently fun and relaxed setting. I encourage all members to consider taking advantage of the myriad opportunities at the chapter level.
I would like to thank the PMPA and its members for the privilege of serving as your President. You have my promise to help further the hard work already started by my predecessors by focusing on the continued health of this remarkable organization. Only through our combined efforts will we rise to this challenge. Truly we are Better Together!
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