Annual Report 2011The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Associat ion, Int’ l

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May 1, 2012

Solving a national crisis one person at a time

The skilled labor crisis in manufacturing is a national problem; FMA and its foundation, Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs are national organizations focused on the long-term success of the metal forming, fabricating and processing industries. But the NBT summer manufacturing camp program, designed to inspire young people to consider manufacturing career opportunities, is a distinctly local solution to this national crisis.

Our camps are designed to meet the needs of local business communities. They influence career opinions one child, one family at a time. Whether these children all become manufacturers some day or not, our results – year after year – show that the camp experience has positively influenced most participants – about manufacturing, about staying in school, about taking science and math courses, about solving problems. That positive change in attitude is what we need if we’re going to create a renewed interest in industry and respect for people who manufacture things for a living.

The NBT scholarship program is also focused on the national manufacturing skills crisis. It supports students who are training for the high-skill “hands-on” positions that manufacturing employers so desperately need to fill. Of course, there are also some scholarships in the program that have been designated specifically for engineering degree students, but our primary focus is on the careers that demand practical skills – from CAD design to sheet metal fabrication, welding technology, and machine maintenance. We are focused on solving the skills crisis quickly, by issuing financial assistance for training programs that can move students into the work force with practical skills in just a year or two.

People everywhere are finally talking about manufacturing and the skilled-worker shortage. Even the presidential campaign is addressing manufacturing and skilled-labor challenges. This added attention presents a golden opportunity. There won’t be a better time (at least not for another four years) to capitalize on this national conversation, stretch our goals and educate more people than ever to the great career paths offered by manufacturing. Discussions swirling all around us about increasing U.S. exports, re-shoring manufacturing operations, and encouraging more innovation to create new jobs, make this the time to achieve big strides. We need to move faster and influence more young people to embrace the career options that have rewarded those of us who are now trying to secure the future of our industry.

On behalf of the board of directors, I thank you for your past support and ask that you consider helping us even more. Do you have a desire to get personally involved in this cause and make change happen faster? Then please consider nominating yourself for a position on our board of directors. We need people with passion and great ideas. Can you endow a scholarship or underwrite a camp program for your region? We’ve been able to reach young people in 27 states, but with your contribution we can achieve our goal of reaching students in all 50. Now is the perfect time to make your commitment.

Sincerely,

Traci Tapani, Board Chairman Co-president, Wyoming Machine Co. Stacy, MN

letter from the board chairman

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2011 was the eighth year in which Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs funded summer manufacturing camps. Ten camp programs were held in six states; each camp received a $2,500 grant made possible by the generous donations of our supporters.

2011 Grant Winners (listed alphabetically by state): • RockValleyCollege,Rockford,Ill. • TritonCollege,RiverForest,Ill. • AnokaTechnicalCollege,Anoka,Minn. • PineTechnicalCollege,PineCity,Minn. • ItawambaCommunityCollege,Tupelo,Miss. • Ogden-WeberAppliedTechnologyCollege,Ogden,Utah • ThomasNelsonCommunityCollege,Hampton,Va. • FoxValleyTechnicalCollege,Appleton,Wis. • MoraineParkTechnicalCollege,WestBend,Wis. • NortheastWisconsinTechnicalCollege,GreenBay,Wis.

The all-girls camp at Triton College in River Forest, Ill. generated the most excitement as it was featured in a front page story in the New York Times. The NY Times reporter who covered the story was initially amazed that girls could be enticed to even consider a career in manufacturing. She spent three days with the camp, learning that manufacturing offers great career options for women. The camp was conducted by a female manufacturing instructor at Triton College, Antigone Sharris. Ms. Sharris utilized a group of senior-level female students from local high school and college honors and engineering programs as mentors and advisers to work with the group of 12-14 year old campers.

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8 . . . 10 . . . 6 . . . 2,500 . . . 27 . . . 3,000+

Chicago-area all girls camp draws interest of NY Times.

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NBT Board member, Marcia Arndt, dean of manufacturing technology at Moraine Park Technical College in Wisconsin visited the camp as well to bring yet another woman’s perspective to the program. The girls talked with numerous women working in high-tech positions during their manufacturing plant tours. All the participants in this camp came from at-risk situations. They were invited to participate because they showed great promise academically, particularly in science and math subjects. Each young lady was recommended and supported by a neighborhood youth organization.

Small programs, local influence, but the numbers add up

By the end of the 2011 camp season, NBT camps had been conducted in 27 states influencing the lives and career considerations of more than 3,000 young people. Many of them plan to choose a manufacturing career as their life’s work because of the NBT camp experience. And, those who choose other career paths have a greater understanding of manufacturing, its place in the economy, and respect for the people who do choose an industrial career. None of this would be possible without the generous gifts of our supporters.

8 . . . 10 . . . 6 . . . 2,500 . . . 27 . . . 3,000+ cont.

This Virginia camp created a competition between three student “companies” based on production environment challenges that tested speed and product quality.

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Comments from these three students are representative of the amazing group of 19 scholarship winners from2011.Here’salookatwhatmotivatesthesefuturemanufacturingleaders.

“ Ever since I was a toddler I played with tools and metals and was fascinated by them. When I was 13 I took a summer class at a local career tech center and learned to weld. It opened up a whole new world for me because now I could make stuff! And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since. At age 14 I took a college welding course and got an A. At ages 15 and 16 I went to the career tech center for Welding 1 and 2 (getting all A’s and with perfect attendance). My older brother is a welder and I saw all the respect he got for it.”

“ During high school, I participated with FIRST Robotics for two years. It inspired my interest in engineering, and provided me with hands-on technical experience, including the robot’s design, fabrication, and electronics. I was elected team captain by my mentors and peers, and played a major role in the decision-making and management of the project. I was one of the robot drivers for competitions, and helped guide our team to regional championship, earning an opportunity to compete at the national finals in Atlanta. As a college student, I have continued my involvement with FIRST Robotics as an alumni mentor. I participate as a member of The Ohio State University (OSU) FIRST Robotics project team, which sponsors three high schools in the Columbus area. I assist students with design, problem-solving, and proper use of tools and safety techniques. Being able to serve as a mentor and role model to high school students gives me great satisfaction, as well as being able to give back to such a valuable program. “

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HighAchieversFollowVariedManufacturingPaths As a Result of Scholarship Assistance from Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs

Hobart Institute of Welding Technology

His life’s passion started at a very young age. An NBT scholarship makes career dream a reality.

Kevin Yell

The Ohio State University

Mentoring by industry professionals inspired this winner to become a mentor to others. Great experience for one of the industry leaders of tomorrow.

Michael Adams

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2011 Scholarship Winners: • MichaelAdams,NorthCanton,Ohio,TheOhioStateUniversity,MechanicalEngineering

• DarrenChen,Cerritos,Calif.,StanfordUniversity,MechanicalEngineering

• NicholasCullum,Perrysburg,Ohio,HobartInstituteofWeldingTechnology,Structural&PipeWelding

• NickDahlinger,Eden,Wis.,MoraineParkTechnicalCollege,WeldingCertification

• JacobEgorov,Fresno,Calif.,CalPoly–SanLuisObispo,ElectricalEngineering

• JacobEllenberger,Rockford,Ill.,UniversityofWisconsin–Platteville,MechanicalEngineering

• Charles“Chip”Horn,Kouts,Ind.,VincennesUniversity,ModernMachiningandAutoDieselTechnology

• AndrewKlos,Jr.,Allenton,Mich.,St.ClairCountyCommunityCollege,MachineToolCertificateandWelding&Cutting Technology

• SarahLawrence,Canton,Ga.,GeorgiaInstituteofTechnology,MechanicalEngineering

• EthanLee,Sturgeon,Mo.,LinnStateTechnicalCollege,MachineToolTechnology

• AustinMcCain,Lexington,Ala.,NorthwestShoalsCommunityCollege,MachineShop/CNCTechnology

• BenjaminMenich,MountProspect,Ill.,RoseHulmanInstituteofTechnology,MechanicalEngineering

• JosephRogers,Parkesburg,Penn.,PennsylvaniaCollegeofTechnology,ComputerAidedProductDesign

• DanielRonnevik,FergusFalls,Minn.,NorthDakotaStateUniversity,MechanicalEngineering

• RussellShaner,NewCastle,Penn.,NewCastleSchoolofTrades,MachinistTechnology

• ColeShumaker,Oxford,Mich.,KetteringUniversity,MechanicalEngineering

• SaraVanRoestel,KirklandLake,Ontario,Canada,NorthernCollege,WeldingEngineeringTechnician

• AndrewWilliams,Carriere,Miss.,MississippiStateUniversity,MechanicalEngineering

• KevinYell,Hesperia,Mich.,HobartInstituteofWeldingTechnology,Welding

Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs was able to provide all of these aspiring young professionals with opportunities to prepare to meet the high-skill job needs in industry today. Our ability to fund these worthy students and others in the future is only made possible by the continued generous support of our donors. Thank you for believing in and supporting the future of manufacturing in North America.

“ The program at Moraine Park Technical College is a fast-paced learning experience. Since I am approaching completion of the metal fabrication program, I believe that I have a head start on the other students who are my age. The program is hands-on -- exactly what I am looking for. I love working with my hands and creating things. In the metal fabrication course I learned a lot about team work and working productively. I was president of the Metal Fabrication Club and ran the meetings effectively. This was the first year that the school had a club like that, and we showed the school why it was a good idea to add this club. The skills that I learned will definitely benefit me in my career because I can show my boss that I am a leader and can get the work completed that needs to be done. Skills like team work and working productively cannot be learned overnight. It takes time and patience to develop these skills in order to make a student ready for the work force which is challenging and ever-changing.”

Moraine Park Technical College

This winner not only perfected technical skills, he developed the leadership abilities and maturity sought by today’s employers.

Nick Dahlinger

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It has been a while since the conversation on education and employment skills has been this intense. Almost every assumption that has traditionally been made about the value of higher education has been challenged to some degree and the various sides are deeply entrenched and committed to their positions. The questions being asked go to the very heart of the education system and its role in society:

• Whatisthepurposeofhighereducation?Isittopreparestudentsforfutureemployment?Orisitmore broadly based than that – to create thinking adults with reasoning skills and an ability to be well-rounded citizens?

• Whatistheconnectionbetweeneducationandfutureearningpotential?Doestheamountofmoneyspent on education yield better career options and it is a good long-term investment?

• Whatistheimpactonsocietyofgraduatingmillionsofstudentseveryyearwhowillbesaddledwithstudent debt for decades to come?

• Howrelevanttobusinessisthecurriculumintheschoolsthesedays?ShouldeverykidbefunneledtocollegeorshouldtheU.S.becomefarmoreinvestedinvocationaltrainingasisthecaseinGermanywith its highly developed apprenticeship programs?

• Whathappenstopeoplewithouteducationalcredentials?Dotheybecomeaclassofpeopledestinedto hang on to the margins of the economy?

There are dozens of additional questions that can be asked as there are few institutions more deeply embedded in the economy than the university, and the demands made on school systems in general have onlyescalatedovertheyears.ThisisastrueforK-12asitisforthecollegesanduniversities.Itisachallengeto even determine the customer for the education system. Is it the student, the businesses that will hire that student, or the community that student will one day be part of?

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Dr.ChrisKuehl Managing Partner Armada Corporate Intelligence FMA Economic Analyst

TheEducation/EmploymentConundrum

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Robotics was the most popular aspect of the camp at Pine Technical College.

What young boy doesn’t dream about having a motorcycle? The Toolin’ It camp at Moraine Park

Technical College provided an opportunity to design and build a model of that dream vehicle.

9The Power of Manufacturing camp at Fox Valley Technical College taught

manufacturing skills and teamwork with its racecar construction and racing

competition. Each race team had a local manufacturing sponsor.

The Kidworks campers at Rock Valley College machined and assembled Yo-yos and learned about

rapid prototyping.

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The data is very clear on the relationship between employment and education. The less education one has, the more likely one is to be unemployed (as seen in the chart below).

The big jumps in earnings and drop in unemployment rates start when people complete post-secondary degrees as illustrated in the chart below.

Those who have emerged from a two-year program with a technical skill that’s in demand within the manufacturing community are looking at an unemployment rate and incomes that rival the four-year graduate. People with professional credentials in the very hot fields are looking at annual incomes that come close to $250,000. In the broadest of terms it can be asserted that much of the reason for the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots is education level.

Now that the connection between future income and education has been established there is the more complex question of whether education is worth what is paid for it. At first blush it would seem that the statistics make that answer pretty clear, but the devil is in the details. If one separates college degrees into categories there is suddenly a lot of variety based on what a student majors in and what school they attend. This is no real shock to anyone as there have always been more practical majors and less practical choices andtherehavealwaysbeengapsbetweentheHarvardsoftheworldandthecommuterschools.Themajordifference now is that the gap has widened as the economy has faltered. The student with the “right” major

18%

< High School High School 2yr 2yr Technical 4yr Masters Professional/Doctorate

16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

Unemployment Rate based on Degree Earned

$140,000

$120,000$130,000

$110,000

$90,000

$70,000

$50,000

$30,000

$10,000

$100,000

$80,000

$60,000

$40,000

$20,000

< High School High School 2yr 2yr Technical & 4yr Masters Professional/Doctorate

Annual Salary based on Degree Earned

18%

< High School High School 2yr 2yr Technical 4yr Masters Professional/Doctorate

16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

Unemployment Rate based on Degree Earned

$140,000

$120,000$130,000

$110,000

$90,000

$70,000

$50,000

$30,000

$10,000

$100,000

$80,000

$60,000

$40,000

$20,000

< High School High School 2yr 2yr Technical & 4yr Masters Professional/Doctorate

Annual Salary based on Degree Earned

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from the “right” school will see almost twice the employment opportunity and twice the income while students that come from less exalted schools with more marginal majors will struggle to find employment at all.

If one lists the concerns employers put at the top of their list – finding the right employee is always there. Most will assert that it has become harder over the last few years for a couple of reasons. Part of the issue is that a new hire is expected to take on far more responsibility than in the past. Staffs are leaner than they have been in years, so there are far fewer opportunities to train people slowly; they get thrown into the maelstrom very quickly. Most students are not really prepared for that level of activity and have not had the opportunity to develop the real skills they need as they have spent their educational years learning to take tests and write term papers. There are many schools and many educators that have altered their curriculums to meet workplace challenges, but they are still in the minority.

Much has been made of the new generation and the lack of a work ethic. This seems to be something that is in the eye of the beholder and almost impossible to quantify. For every person who seems to be uninterested in work there is the dedicated kid who is destined for big things. What can be quantified through polling and statistical analysis is that this generation has lower expectations and is likely to be less financially successful than their parents’ generation. For the past five years the students that have graduated and started a new job have started at far lower salaries than in the previous 10-15 years, and most will never be able to make up that gap. The world they are entering will feature significant job changes at least eight times in their career – their parents could expect perhaps two or three. They will not see that much loyalty from their employers and as a result they will give far less in return. This has been described as the beginning of “giganomics”, a period in which people essentially move from gig to gig as their skills are required.

To contend with the current employment skills crisis will require strategic moves. There are some 14 million people out of work and perhaps another 10 million underemployed. At the same time there are 3.2 million jobs on offer and many companies are struggling to find the right workers. This disconnect is deadly to any economy, but solutions will be neither easy nor quick.

One thing is clear, however. In the U.S. we need to do a better job of making sure students find a path that keeps them in high school, learning appropriate basics. The high school graduation rate overall in the U.S. is only 75 percent and that is an increase of 3 percent since 2001! Some high school vocational education programs consistently graduate 98 percent of their students with most going on to post-secondary programs.Giventheearningstatisticsquotedearlierinthispiece,theU.S.economycan’taffordtohave25 percent of its adult citizens without a high school diploma and employable skills (in some states that percentagerisestocloserto50percent).Accordingtoareporttitled“BuildingaGradNation,”issuedbytheEveryoneGraduatesCenteratJohnsHopkinsUniversity,“Transformingjustonestudentfromdropouttohigh school graduate would yield more than $200,000 in higher tax revenue and savings for the government over the course of that person’s life.”

There have been thousands of stories about the problem, but what’s the solution? There are many programs designed to motivate kids to learn, develop career interests, stay in school, graduate, and go on to professional skills training. The summer manufacturing camp and scholarship programs of FMA’s charitable foundation, Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, are just two, and they touch a unique employment market that has been struggling for a while. The camps are an example of how enabling a student to use specific skills like math and science in a “practical” way can make the difference between someone who has a curiosity to learn more and someone who just memorizes for a test and then forgets.

The NBT Scholarship program is a great example of encouraging young people who want to pursue technology skills education and apply it to practical careers like machining, welding, tool and die making and more. It doesn’t take $40,000 in college debt (yes, that is the average amount of debt for a 4-year university graduate these days) for a person to enter the workforce with an in-demand skill. The applicants who win scholarships from the NBT program are amazingly bright people with practical skills and a desire to apply them in making the world a better place to live. They often complete their skills training in a year or two and enter the workforce without a heavy debt burden.

These are programs we all need to get behind with our support.

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NBT ThaNks DoNors for CoNTiNueD supporT

Donors in 2011 responded enthusiastically to funding appeals throughout the year. In fact, top supporters–newandlong-standing–gaveacombined$43Ktosponsoroursummermanufacturingcampprograms.Throughitsauction,theOPCCouncilanditsdedicatedconstituencyraised$25Ktofundits newly-established scholarship endowment. The generosity and commitment of these donors and so many others compels us in our mission to engage young people, inspire them to their own potential, and excite them about the unique, challenging, and rewarding careers awaiting them in manufacturing.

The following companies and individuals are responsible for our success in 2011 – thank you!

Silver ($10,000+) Amada America, Inc. CNA Foundation CorenetGlobalInc. OPC - Outside Processors Council

Copper ($5,000+) GrandSteelProducts

Bronze ($1,000+) BTD Manufacturing, Inc. Eberl Iron Works Inc. Tom Felch GlobalShopSolutions HawkeyeIndustries,Inc. JordanCraigMachineryIntl.LLC LindaMallan MiamiValleySteel NationalGalvanizing OPC - Outside Processors Council Steel Technologies Thermatool Corp. Worthington Industries Wyoming Machine Inc.

Brass ($500+) JohnAxelberg Delaco Steel Corp. DeWys Mfg Inc. HuotMfgCo. MooreMfg.LLC Olympic Steel Production Tube Cutting Inc. Rockford Toolcraft Inc. Taylor Steel GeorgeWernette WinnebagoLutheranAcademyAssn.

Steel ($100+) Affiliations UnlimitedJohannaAlbeeAmerican Tank & Fabricating Co.Anderson & DahlenArlington MetalsMarcia ArndtGinger&PhilipBaerenwaldTeresa Beach-ShelowAndrèe BegneaudTobey CauffielJenniferChristianClark Metal Products Co.Component Tool & Manufacturing Co. Inc.Cindy DayRusty Demeules

JackFerryFlat Rock MetalsChristine & David FrazierFreedman Seating Co.GeneralSheetMetalWorksGraniteCityPicklingJamesHallD’AnnHamiltonMattHotchIndustrial Machine & Engineering Co.Industrial Machinery Specialties Inc.JimJantziJoiningTechnologiesLLCDouglasKasaiElizabethKautzmannKenallManufacturingStephenLambPatriciaLeeEricLundinJimMcGregorKeithMurphyAmy NickelParagon Industrial Controls Inc.Michael & Denice PellecchiaProcoaters Inc.Production Cutting Services Inc.Prototype & Short Run Svc Inc.Bill RothrockSamuel Steel Pickling Co.Maurine & Scott SemevolosSperko Engineering Services JudySteinbachSuperior Tube Company Inc.TheWilmingtonGrillCo.IkeTripp,IVHelenTsuprosUniversal Tube & RollformVGANInc.DougVossWalkerMagnetics/OSWalkerCo.Jim&SandyWarrenVickiWebbRobert & Carol Ann Young

Supporters AngusRobertsonMechanicalLtd. Amanda Carlson KimberlyClothier Chris Davis Dan Davis Robert Demyan JamesDurham AngelaGagel

BruceHagenau JenniferHallstein TimothyHeston BenHoltey HoustonBlowPipe DonnaJarrett MattJones KentGroupInc GregoryLarson AudreyLong S. “Mani” Manivannan Metfab GreggNeff LindaNorman Megan Paja Anna Peacock JackPennuto KimberlyPollard Suzanne Rizzo Michael Scott Paul Williams Robert Woerdehuff

In Tribute to Gerald M. Shankel, President Emeritus, FMA, Intl. CNA Foundation Eberl Iron Works Inc.

In-Kind Alco Transportation, Inc. All Metals Service Warehousing Arlington Metals Corp. BEGNEAUDManufacturingCompany CIASSystems,LLC Cincinnati Incorporated Ferrolux Metals Co. Ferrous Metal Processing Flat Rock Metals FMA, International FultonCountyProcessingLtd. HeidtmanSteelProducts,Inc. International Metals Processing Modular Transportation Nucor Steel OmniSource Southeast PKMSteelServiceInc. SolidWorks SteelPro - Wayne Industries Stripco Inc. Timesavers, Inc. VOSSTaylor

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Edwin Stanley Partner,

GHMetalSolutions Ft. Payne, Ala.

David Brown President, Affliations

Unlimited Inc. Irvine, Calif.

VivekGupta Managing Director, Texas

ProFab Corp. Carrollton, Texas

RoryDeJohn SeniorVicePresident,Turner Construction

Anaheim, Calif.

MattHotch President,

MattHotchDesigns Fullerton, Calif.

Tom Nederpel President,VGANInc.

Ancaster, ON, Canada

Ed Severson District Manager

SB Specialty Metals Minneapolis, Minn.

Edward Youdell NBT President,

Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl.

Rockford, Ill.

Traci Tapani-Chairman Co-President, Wyoming

Machine Inc. Stacy, Minn.

BryanHawkins ViceChair

President/CEO,HawkeyeIndustries, Inc. Tupelo, Miss.

Marcia Arndt Secretary/Treasurer

Dean, Manufacturing Technology Moraine Park Technical College

West Bend, Wis.

2011 board of directors

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how to apply for scholarships

Scholarships have been awarded annually since 1990 to students in courses of study that may lead to careers in manufacturing.

Eligibility: A student must be currently enrolled in or entering a post-secondary study program leading to a career in manufacturing technology. They must be a full-time student with a minimum 3.0GPAforauniversityscholarshipora2.5GPAforatradeschoolortwo-yeartechnicalorcommunity college scholarship.

Scholarships up to $2,500 have been awarded for an academic year. Applications are accepted online from JanuarythroughMarchatnutsandboltsfoundation.org.

how to request a Camp in Your Community

All summer manufacturing camps take place at community colleges. Contact foundation@fmanet.org to express interest in having a manufacturing camp located in your community. Your inquiry can get the ball rolling.

how to endow a scholarship or Manufacturing Camp

HaveyouconsideredmakinganeverlastingandbeneficialmarkontheindustrythroughNuts,BoltsandThingamajigs? By establishing an endowment fund, you will ensure that your memory, the memory of a loved one, or the name of your company will be recognized in perpetuity. The interest earned on the endowment each year may be used to fund a named scholarship or a manufacturing camp in your community. The principal of your gift remains intact. Call the Foundation office at 815-381-1338 to receive information on the endowment program.

fundraisers

Do you belong to a manufacturing group that runs an annual event like a golf outing, charity fun run or silent auction? Is your company’s community outreach program looking for a cause to support? Some of the most successful fundraisers to support NBT’s mission are events just like these. If you’d like to organize a fundraiser to support the scholarship or camp program, call the Foundation office at 815-381-1338 to propose your program idea.

OPC Silent Auction held at The FABRICATOR’s Leadership Summit, March 2011.

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What We Need Are More Charlies

The United States has 313 million citizens; nearly 12 million of them are employed directly in manufacturing. That’s less than four percent of the United States’ total population. What’s all the fuss about manufacturing? I mean how significant can a group so small be? I’ll tell you. These 12 million Americans represent what is best about the U.S.

In the most globally competitive environment, they kick butt and take names. This group of smart, innovative, and hard-working people is number one in the world. They produce 21 percent of the world’s manufactured products—Chinaproduces15percentandJapan12percent.ThisgroupofAmericansisthemost productive in the world and drives the U.S. standard of living to the highest level. These people are spread out all over the U.S., in towns and cities both big and small. Their work not only supports them and their families, it supports more than 28 million of their fellow citizens and their families. It’s called the “multiplier effect.” Economists estimate that for every manufacturing job created, there are 2.34 jobs created in other sectors. That includes the dry cleaner down the street, the Starbucks on the corner, the insurance adjuster, the bank loan officer and the gas station on the edge of town – all of them benefiting from manufacturing.

Andyet,thereareissues.Ourmanufacturingworkforceismostlybabyboomersintheirmid-50s.LikeWillyWonka in his chocolate factory, they can’t go on forever. What we need are more Charlies – the young boy Willy selected as his successor. We need to show the best and the brightest young people that there is honor and value in working with both your head and your hands. We need them to recognize that 40 percent of all product value manufactured globally is still made in the USA, so this is a viable career path. We need a skilled workforce to keep the U.S. globally competitive and number one in production. We need these people now, andwewillcontinuetoneedthemfordecades,becauseaccordingtoTheHudsonInstitute,thesupplyofskilled labor in the U.S. will not catch up to demand until 2050.

NBT is committed to creating and encouraging our next generation of Charlies in two ways. Through its scholarships for students of all ages who want to attend technical, trade and community colleges, NBT supports the brightest and the best, much as Willy Wonka did with his golden tickets. Through grants to community manufacturing camps where, for the first time, kids find real meaning in making things, we provide inspiration and open young eyes to possibilities.

SteveJobs,MichaelDell,ThomasEdisonandJohnDeereallhavetwotraitsincommon:innovationandabeliefinmanufacturing.Helpustokeeptheirlegacyofinnovationandthemanufacturingofgreatproductsalive.HelpNBTfindournextgenerationofCharlies.HelpkeepAmerica’scompetitivenessontop.Ourworkisonly possible because of your generosity. Donate today to NBT.

Sincerely,

Edward Youdell President & CEO

letter from the president

833FeatherstoneRoad•Rockford,Illinois•61107 888.394.4362•foundation@fmanet.org•nutsandboltsfoundation.org