Page 41 - MetalForming August 2012

Communications, including a discus- sion on effective use of Internet and web-based forms of business com- munications, including social media, e-mail, smart phone/iPad, webinar and Skype, and blogs. The session’s guest speaker was Chris Knape, Seyfer- thPR and a former professional jour- nalist from Grand Rapids, MI.
Each of the three focused presen- tations included informal as well as structured facilitated discussions, exer- cises and testimonials. With a near- capacity enrollment of 24 individuals from several metalforming compa- nies, participation was broad-based, diverse and informative, making for an effective peer-to-peer learning experience and a dynamic networking environment.
After the final session topic, all were invited to attend at no additional cost the first live workshop for the Metal- forming Pioneer Companies awards, as recognized by the PMA Educational Foundation and funded by the Hitachi Foundation. The companies recog- nized: Oberg Industries, Freeport PA; McGregor Metalworking Companies, Springfield, OH; and Roll Forming Cor- poration, Shelbyville, KY. This oppor- tunity provided a value-added cap- stone for MDA enrollees and an opportunity to network with some of most successful companies in our industry.
Next Up: Marketing, Business Law and HR
The second MDA session occurs September 16-18 at the Charlotte Mar- riott Southpark in Charlotte, NC. Top- ics to be addressed: Industrial Mar- kets, Marketing Research and Sales; Managing and Developing Your Human Resources; and Business Law–Con- tracts, Negotiations & Terms and Con- ditions. The MDA’s third session is scheduled for January 13-15, 2013.
The MDA is an open entry/open exit program, so there are still a few seats open for these sessions. For appli- cations and registration, contact Allison Grealis at 216/901-8800, ext. 2104; agrealis@pma.org. For program infor-
PMA’s 2012 chairman P.J. Thompson tells attendees that the learning does not stop when the program ends. “Continuous improvement applies here, just as it does in the shop.”
mation, contact Bruce Broman at
bbroman@pma.org.
MDA graduates (those who suc-
cessfully complete all three sessions) will be inducted into the MDA Alumni Networking Group. This group will enjoy ongoing networking opportuni- ties, access to the MDA library and the MDA LinkedIn site and list serves; and additional educational activities and resources. The learning does not stop when the program ends—continuous improvement applies here, just as it does in the shop.
Adds Thompson: “Midlevel man- agers touch your products, customers and processes and drive profitability. You depend on these people to make smart judgments and businesswise decisions that generate timely and definitive returns. PMA’s Management Development Academy empowers managers as highly functional leaders, strategic decision makers, innovators and motivators. They are your prof- itability engineers.” MF
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