MFG Legislative Day 2020

Date and Time

• Tuesday, September 15, 2020
• Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
• Agenda runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Networking Reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m

NEW Location

• Jackson Field (formerly Cooley Law School Stadium, the home of the Lansing Lugnuts)
• 505 E Michigan Ave, Lansing (get directions)

Pricing

• $125/person for MMA Industry & Associate Members
• $225/person for MMA Insurance and Future members

Register Today

• Online: Register Online
• Phone: 517-487-8521
• E-mail: martin@mimfg.org

• Learn the importance of advocacy with tips and resources.
• Put your advocacy skills into action.
• Network and connect with lawmakers, executive office and department leaders and staff in an informal and social setting
• Develop a personal connection with your representative or senator
• Honor exemplary leaders who will be presented with the MMA Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of their service to manufacturing success
• Build connections with legislators, agency leaders and other manufacturing business owners at the respected and well-known Legislative Reception.

Get Answers to Your Workforce Questions

Jeff Donofrio • Director • Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
Jeff Donofrio is responsible for coordinating the state’s workforce development and economic development programs. Secure a seat to this unique opportunity to speak directly with the state’s lead on programs critical to Michigan’s business climate.

State Budget Panel Discussion

Senator Jim Stamas (36th District – Midland)
Senator Curtis Hertel (23rd District – East Lansing)
Senator Jeff Irwin (18th District – Ann Arbor)
The budget picture is evolving with a projected $3 billion hole in the current year budget and another shortfall in the coming year.

Presidential Politics and Its Impact on Michigan Races

Ed Sarpolus, Target Insyght Executive Director

Talent and Education Panel Discussion — How Can Michigan Address the Talent Challenge in Manufacturing

Senator Ken Horn (32nd District – Saginaw)
Senator Curt VanderWall (35th District – Ludington - Northwest Michigan)
This interactive discussion will focus to find solutions to the talent challenge, because the state that wins the talent battle wins the economic one.

Connect with a Leader Who Knows MFG

Mike Shirkey • Senate Majority Leader
As a manufacturer himself, Senator Shirkey takes manufacturing’s history as a driving force for Michigan’s economy personally. Don’t miss out on this chance to speak with a powerful industry advocate and find the solutions to keep Michigan’s MFG momentum strong.

Sandwiches & Solutions: A Moderated Lunch with Legislators

Advocacy is a long-term investment in relationship building, awareness and visibility. Access is everything, We provide you the opportunity to sit with fellow manufacturers and legislators from both sides of the aisle during a casual lunch discussion. Take advantage of the rare opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers and have your most pressing issues addressed.

Honor MMA’s Legislator of the Year

Success is driven by champions. So, MMA honors legislative champions that carry our issues forward. Join us to celebrate the dedicated leaders who go the extra mile and take action to ensure your company is competitive on a global scale.

Networking Reception

Build on the conversations of the day and nurture new relationships with elected officials and state regulators. For more than four decades, MMA has connected manufacturers and Lansing’s leading decision makers.

Advocacy is all about telling your story in a way that is fast, memorable and effective. We created a series of webinars to give you a head start to be your company’s best advocate at MFG Legislative Day. Log into the MMA Online Learning Center to access:

Lobbying 101

MMA provides members with access to a five-person lobbying team — but what are your actually getting? What is lobbying? Lobbying 101 explains how MMA’s Government Affairs team works to improve your company’s competitiveness and how you can lobby directly on behalf of the industry.

Why Engage in Advocacy?

With nearly 3,000 special interests fighting against manufacturing at the Capitol, it’s more important than ever to have an advocacy team you can depend on. Why Engage in Advocacy explores the role of manufacturing in Michigan, why advocacy matters and how MMA can help your team become in-house advocates for your company.

Let’s Get Political

Your success depends on more than just the products you build — decisions made at the Capitol can affect how competitive you are, the talent you can hire and your annual bottom line costs. Let’s Get Political explores how the MMA-PAC and interactions with your MMA advocacy team can maintain Michigan's manufacturing-led growth.

• “The program was excellent! Very educational and informative. I feel the program was very ‘value-added.’”
• “The MMA Lobby Day was an outstanding example of how the MMA works for the manufacturers and all the members. It also showed what can happen when members take action and work in conjunction with the MMA to bring issues to our representatives.”
• “This program helped me in understanding the lobbyist side of things and how passionate the legislators are about the topics at hand. It was a really good, informational day.”
• “The MMA Lobby Day is a real opportunity to learn what goes on behind the scenes at the State Capitol. I was particularly impressed with the depth of the discussions we were able to have with many of the legislators. This event offers an interesting and compelling way to understand a major influence on your business — state government.”
• “[2018] was my first MMA Lobby Day. It was very well organized and extremely informative regarding pending legislation that impacts manufacturing in Michigan. I appreciate the respect many state senators and representative have for MMA and manufacturing companies.”

Download the sponsorship document for available opportunities or contact MMA’s Brianna Mills, at 517-487-8523 or mills@mimfg.org, for more information.

MFG Legislative Day 2020 will adhere to all applicable safety guidelines including social distancing, enhanced sanitization and an outdoor venue. Attendees are asked to observe safety protocols including the use of face coverings.