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ANNUAL MEETING 2010
The Manufacturers Association of Maine held its 4th Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, October 28th at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston. Over 300 members, sponsors, and supporters attended the event. The evening featured a presentation from John Dorrer, Maine Dept. of Labor, and a performance by Bob Marley. Inductees to the Hall of Fame were Duane and Dave Gushee of D&G Machine in Westbrook.
The event was sponsored by People's United Bank. Champion of Manufacturing sponsors included: WahlcoMetroflex, Mid-State Machine, Southern Maine Industries, Newfab, D & G Machine, Mountain Machine Works, Accidental Anomalies, Bath Iron Works, MEMIC, and the Maine Dept. of Economic and Community Development. The Hall of Fame awards were sponsored by: Matheson Valley Gases, Albin, Randall, and Bennett, Jensen, Baird, Gardner, & Henry, Aquest Corp. and McCann Fabrication. Networking Hour was sponsored by: Constellation New Energy, the Manufacturers of Maine Group Trust, Androscoggin Bank, Northeast CNC, and Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
A special thank you to all of our table sponsors and individual attendees as well.
For more information about the Manufacturers Association and their upcoming events, please visit www.mainemfg.com or call (207) 854-2153.
MEAA TRAINING FUNDS STILL AVAILABLE
There are still MEAA training funds available! Contact our offices at (207) 854-2153 for more information on our upcoming Internal Audit Training on 12/2 and 12/3 and other opportunities for company training.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
The Manufacutrers Association of Maine would like to announce the following changes to its Board of Directors:
- Chip Roche, Newfab Inc., the former Vice Chair of the board is now the Chair.
- Paul Meserve, Saunders Electronics, is now the Vice Chair of the board.
- Steve Boulet, WahlcoMetroflex, is now the Past Board Chair.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
- Bath Iron Works won an $8.5 million contract modification from Naval Sea Systems Command for additional work on the DDG-1000 destroyer, according to a press release from Sen. Susan Collins. The modification will fund additional systems engineering services related to design and construction of the new destroyer class, for which BIW is the lead contractor. BIW was awarded the contract for the first DDG-1000 destroyer in 2008. They are currently slated to build all three ships in the class.
- Unifirst is sponsoring "bobblehead night" at the Portland Pirates game on Tuesday, December 7th at 6:30pm. Bobbleheads will be given away to the first 2,000 people. Game day tickets are available for $13 each, or special business rate tickets can be purchased in groups of 10 for a reduced rate of $11 each. Please call 207-828-4665 for group ticket purchase information.
FEATURED MEMBER: HAVEN'S CANDIES
Did you ever wonder where all those boxes of assorted chocolates come from at the holidays? Or what about all the chocolate Santa’s, candy canes and fresh roasted nuts? Stop by Haven’s Candies chocolate factory in Westbrook and the answer unfolds before your eyes.
Haven’s Candies has been handcrafting Maine’s Finest Chocolates and confections for 95 years. This locally owned family business is a fascinating blend of old world craftsmanship and modern technology. In the candy kitchen, creams and caramels are still hand-funneled, candy canes are rolled and hooked by hand, and peach blossoms are manually pulled by skilled candymakers. But in the corner the day’s production is logged and tracked using a sophisticated relational database. And out in the retail store credit card transactions are protected by redundant firewalls and data encryption systems. Yet at it’s heart, the business still honors the tradition of the Master Candymaker in creating all those yummy treats.
The holidays are a busy time in the candy business, and Haven’s is fully geared up for seasonal production. Some products with long shelf lives are already made; others are carefully scheduled to be made so they hit the store at the peak of freshness. It’s a carefully-choreographed timetable, and the production crew works many extra hours to satisfy orders.
Many companies turn to Haven’s Candies for client and employee gifts. If you attended the MAMe Monthly Meeting event and BBQ at Portland Valve last spring, you received a box of Haven’s chocolates from sponsor AQUEST Corp.. Haven’s can create custom chocolates with company logos, personalized packaging, and specialty gifts to fit any need…or budget. They can also provide shipping services so gifts are delivered directly to the recipients. Often their clients will simply email a list of names/addresses, and Haven’s does all the rest.
Supporting manufacturing in Maine is important to all of us!
Interested? Contact Andy Charles at 207-772-1557 or owner@havenscandies.com
COST EFFECTIVE OSHA DUST SOLUTIONS FOR MAINE MANUFACTURING
Aquest Corporation, the Maine leader in the supply of high quality and cost effective air filtration, dust, oil mist and explosive dust abatement systems, is pleased to announce a new product available to all Maine metal fabricators.
The Micro Air WC-1200, 2500 & 5,000 series of wet dust collectors provide small, simple and retrofittable solutions for the management of aluminum, titanium, magnesium and all other potentially explosive metal dusts that are now regulated by OSHA plant inspections. These units offers a very small footprint, can be supplied with downdraft tables or connected to existing dry style tables, can support your Kiazan and cell management configurations and provide 1,200, 2,500 or 5,000 cfm of source capture.
GKN Aerospace recently purchased twelve WC-2500’s, two WC-1200’s, nine downdraft tables along with Aquest turn-key installation services to meet their explosive dust challenges relating to aluminum and titanium dusts. Aquest is also installing a cartridge dust collector to handle their Inconell process line. Each buffing, polishing and sanding line will be equipped with a “plug & play” wet collector with K&B clamp together duct for flexibility of operations. Offering high filter efficiency, these units will be exhausted directly into the building to provide energy savings.
Stratton Lumber recently purchased Aquest spark detection and suppression systems for installation in their two lumber mills. These infra-red systems detect and quench any sparks that may occur in dust collection ductwork.
If any Maine manufacturer is presently utilizing a dry style, cartridge or bag filter for the capture of explosive dusts, you may be in direct violation of OSHA regulations. Aquest provides immediate site surveys, dust sampling and laboratory testing to determine the KST and PMAX rating. We can also furnish cost effective systems retrofits and/or new equipment including deflagration venting, secondary explosion dampers, spark detection and suppression.
A proud member and sponsor of MAME, Aquest has been doing business throughout Maine for the past twenty five years. We offer discounts and extended service warranties to all MAME members. Give us a call at 207-653-0871 or drop us an e-mail at proland@aquestcorp.com. We look forward to being of service.
MAINE EMPLOYERS HONORED AT COMPACT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
PRESS RELEASE - FROM PAT HART, MAINE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
The Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Employers’ Initiative Program recognized Maine employers for taking actions to support higher education for their employees
Augusta, October 1, 2010— The Maine Development Foundation and its Maine Employers’ Initiative program recognized 24 Maine employers for their efforts in supporting higher education at the Maine Compact for Higher Education’s Fifth Maine Symposium on Higher Education held at Unum on September 28. The celebrated employers have taken a variety of actions to support higher education for their employees. Their steps range from celebrating employee completion of a degree or certification programs to creating a formal tuition payment program.
The Compact for Higher Education projects a need in Maine of 40,000 more workers with post high school training by 2019. With the state’s slow population growth and with only 35% of adults with college degrees or certificates, even if every single high school student graduated and went on to college, the state would still face a shortage of trained workers. To address this critical need, the Maine Employers’ Initiative works directly with employers to encourage them to help their employees complete their college degrees and professional certifications. So far, 111 Maine employers have taken steps. Collectively, these employers employ more than 53,000 people in the state.
Joseph Foley, Chair, Compact for Higher Education Board of Directors, and Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Unum stated, “Employers recognize that having a highly educated and skilled workforce is the most important factor in the economic well being and prosperity of our state. This event is a wonderful opportunity for the Maine Employer’s Initiative to recognize those companies that have taken the lead in helping their employees pursue higher education and certification. We applaud their efforts.”
“There is no more critical investment to be made to ensure Maine’s future prosperity than the investment in higher education, with the goal of supporting every Maine worker to achieve his or her highest potential,” said Laurie Lachance, President of the Maine Development Foundation. “The Maine Development Foundation is very grateful for the leadership demonstrated by these employers – and all of our 111 committed employers in Maine. We appreciate their commitment and support of their employees’ education.”
Patricia Hart, Senior Program Director of the Maine Employers’ Initiative recognized the following organizations for their efforts. Joseph Foley and Laurie Lachance presented the certificates.
• Androscoggin Bank
• Ask . . . For Home Care
• Burgess Advertising and Marketing
• Dale Carnegie Maine
• Eastern Maine Health system
• FHC, Inc.
• Geiger
• Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
• Hussey Seating
• Loring Job Corps Center
• Maine Community Action Association
• Manufacturers Association of Maine
• Mid-State Machine Products
• Mitchell Institute
• Mobius, Inc.
• New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
• Northern Maine Community College
• RSU #20 Adult Education
• Saint Joseph’s College
• SHRM Maine State Council
• Susan L. Curtis Foundation
• University of Southern Maine
• Wright Express
• York County Community College
The Maine Employers’ Initiative is funded through a generous grant from the Lumina Foundation and is working in partnership with the Maine Compact for Higher Education and the Maine Community Foundation to increase the educational attainment levels of Maine’s workers. The Maine Development Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine. For more information please visit www.mdf.org.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY TRICKY SCAMMERS!
You’re in the midst of another hectic day when the phone rings. The caller informs you that he’s an officer of the court and a warrant is out for your arrest because you failed to report for jury duty. Instantly, you’re shocked and upset, especially considering you never received any notice concerning jury duty in the first place. After explaining that to the caller, he says in order to clear the matter up, he needs some personal information…
This jury scam has been around for awhile now, and it’s just one of many used to get your personal information. The FBI’s website offers information on this scam and warns people that as a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone; they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail.
The FBI regularly issues scam warnings. It’s wise to be aware of these scams, so you aren’t caught off guard by tricky thieves. Remember to never let an unknown caller intimidate you or scare you into divulging sensitive information. Pre-Paid Legal Members can call their Provider Law Firm toll-free for advice on issues like these as part of their Life Events Legal PlanSM. Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft ShieldSM includes valuable services like access to identity theft experts for restoration services.
In today’s time, when there are so many clever ways thieves are trying to steal personal information, isn’t it great to have affordable access to justice when you need it?
For more information contact:
Regina Krause-MAMe Representative for Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
• MEMBERSHIP DRIVE—ALL MEMBERS—call to action to bring in 2 new members before end of year!
• December 15th 3 to 5PM AGC IN Augusta - Maine Wind Industry Initiative
Next year, we hope you will consider volunteering! There are a number of initiatives including:
-Marketing Committee
-Legislative Action Committee
-Education & Training Committee/Industry Partnerships
-Golf & Scholarship Committee
-Business Services Committee/Manufacturing Summit Committee
And more…….
Thank you in advance for offering to participate in the Member Volunteer Program. Please click HERE to contact the MAMe office for more information and watch the newsletter calendar of events for volunteer opportunities!
The 2010 Manufacturers Association Member Volunteer Program
Our sincere thanks to all the members who participate in the Volunteer Program at the association (we list only our member companies)!
Volunteer Activities in October/November 2010
MAMe Committees:
• Health Plan Committee: Bruce Tisdale, Mountain Machine Works, Carl Paine, Maine Oxy, Neal Prescott, Prescott Associates, Cheryl Bolduc, SMI, Chip Roche, NewFab, Inc., Steve Boulet, WahlcoMetroflex, Bob Smith, D&G Machine, Tom Keller, Masters Machine
• Compliance Technical Services: Julie Churchill, Maine DEP, Chip Roche, Newfab, Inc. Norm MacIntyre, MacIntyre Consulting, Ed Kearney, Management Engineering
• Marketing Committee: Paul Tyson, Thermoformed Plastics of New England, Paul Meserve, Saunders Electronics, John McCarthy, BIW and Neal Prescott, Prescott Associates
• Central and Northern Maine Membership and Business Services: John Belding, Advanced Mfg Center/UM, Clint Strout, GPS Management, Hugh Stevens, AKT, Ron Cote, Auxilar, LLC, Darryl Boyington, Boyington Productivity Solutions, LLC
• Manufacturing Summit Committee: Neal Prescott, Prescott Associates, Grey Terry, Merrill Lynch, Ed Kearney, Management Engineering, Ron Cote, Auxilar, LLC.
• Education Committee: Ron Dupuis, IDEXX, Garret Oswald, Me. Jobs Council, Chuck Bates, GDATP, Jim Whitten, SMCC, Shawn Lagasse, ME DOE Bus & Ind. Liaison
• MEAA Steering Committee: Cheryl Bolduc, SMI, Bart Haley, Kennebec Technology, Leo Dionne, Pratt & Whitney, Norm MacIntyre, MacIntyre Consulting, Dave Rubenstein, Maine Aerospace Consulting
Cluster Development Committees:
• CEI PRIME Project Advisory Committee: Paul Meserve, Saunders Electronics