Quick Links:
LL Bean Tour
On Friday, February 18, 2011 MAMe and JMQC hosted a tour of the Brunswick LL Bean manufacturing facility. We had nearly 40 participants show up for this breakfast tour.
Patrick Steiner, Analyst opened the morning with a welcome announcement followed by an operations overview of LL Bean given by Jack Samson, Sr. Manager of Manufacturing. Jake Doherty presented an overview of the process improvement and spoke of the exemplary teamwork that makes LL Bean a great place to work.
Tour goers were treated to the morning stretch break alongside staff and crew. The tours guides were knowledgeable and full of fun facts about the manufacturing process as they lead the group through the facility.
We ended the morning with a Q&A session and Lisa Martin, Executive Director of MAMe gave an update on the exciting events happening at MAMe and MEAA.
Thank you to all everyone at LL Bean for a fantastic tour!
Welcome Marion Goodine to MAMe!
MAMe is pleased to welcome Marion Goodine as Program and Events Coordinator! Marion has an extensive background in events planning, administration and many other areas of expertise that are a great fit to MAMe! Please email, call or stop in to say hello!
What’s Happening at MAMe?
2011 Manufacturing Summit “Maine Ingenuity: Manufacturing the Future” May 5, 2011 at the Maine Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head.
Governor Paul LePage is confirmed to speak! So save the date!
Partners confirmed include Maine Composites Alliance/Maine Wind Industry Initiative, Maine Marine Trades Association, Maine Pulp and Paper Association, Bioplastics Council of Maine, Maine Wood Products Association. Sponsorship opportunities will be available soon!
MAMe Manufacturing Series: 2011 will be full of seminars, trainings and forums on relevant manufacturing informationComing soon is Supply Chain Management and Dust Regulation and OSHA Compliance plus more….. Look for the upcoming events in the events section!
Our Monthly Meeting Tour Events calendar is filling up! Join us at Barber Foods in Portland on March 24th!
The Insurance Committee is finalizing aspects of the partial self-funded health care plan. Our members will hear more in the coming weeks. As well, we will present the health plan at the Manufacturing Summit on May 5 in Owls Head.
BGS (Business Growth Services) is currently servicing twenty-four members with business services projects. If you have any business needs, call MAMe today to inquire about Business Services!
Compliance Plus Program is attracting much attention from members, stakeholders and our federal delegation. A design team is in place and will be meeting soon to begin designing the MAMe Compliance Plus Program! Out sincere thanks to Julie Churchill, Maine DEP and the folks at Maine DOL for their major support!
Maine Industry Partnership/Sector Development model will be implemented at MAMe as we speak! We have begun seeking training/education funding as well as working with a group of members to assess and assist with their education/training needs. The MAMe Education Committee is focused on designing the partnership program with the state’s service providers.
Please check our calendar of events for upcoming tours, events, seminars and manufacturing summit!
Maine Technology Institute Award
The Manufacturers Association of Maine was awarded a $50,000 Feasibility Study grant from Maine Technology Institute for the Medical Device Manufacturing Cluster (MDMC). Along with partners Bioscience Association of Maine, USM and Maine International Trade Center, we will conduct a study of Maine’s medical device manufacturing sector.
The Maine International Trade Center will host the “Medical Technology Industry: Strategies for FDA Clearance and Approval & International Licensing” forum on March 3, 2011, 2:00-5:00PM at MITC office in Portland (See calendar of events lists at www.mainemfg.com) featured speakers include Karin Gregory of Furman Gregory and Deptula and Kimberly Newby of JurisN will provide an overview of FDA regulations, comparable foreign requirements, licensing and business development strategies.
Legislative Matters
The Manufacturers Association of Maine held a meeting in Augusta with the newly appointed commissioner of DECD (Dept. of Economic and Community Development).
Commissioner Phil Congdon has joined the Lepage administration to oversee the DECD agency. Attending the meeting was Board members Paul Meserve, Saunders Electronics and Vice-Chair, Neal Prescott, Prescott Associates and Chair of the Business Services and Summit Committees, Lisa G. Martin and Rich Grich, MEAA Director. We presented an overview of the MAMe, the Maine Aerospace Alliance and other cluster development activities, Business Growth Services and the Compliance Plus Program that Mame is launching for members. Commissioner Congdon has an extensive background in manufacturing and was pleased to see the activities and direction of the MAMe.
We want to thank Commissioner Congdon for a fruitful meeting and look forward to working with him and his team to develop sound policies and direction for manufacturing in Maine!
Mark you calendars for Business Day at the Statehouse sponsored by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.
Tuesday, March 25, 2011
8:00am- 12:00pm
in the Hall of Flags (Statehouse Second Floor)
For more information contact Linda Caprara, director of grassroots advocacy, by calling (207) 623-4568 ext. 16. or by emailing lcaprara@mainechamber.org.
National Toboggan Races
The Redneck Boys from GDATP including Chuck Bates, Gary LaPerriere, Marc Desrochers and Mark Kelley hang out with Lisa G Martin and sisters Michelle, Katie and Maddy Adams at the National Toboggan Races in Camden. The Redneck Boys had two great days of racing but didn’t bring home a trophy this year! There’s always next year!
Turner Business Award
Congratulations to MAMe member Accidental Anomalies Inc. (AAI) of Turner, Maine. AAI received the Turner Business Award at the 123rd annual meeting and recognition banquet of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce.
Accidental Anomalies builds custom staircases and handrails tailored to their client’s needs.