The Ohio-based National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) appointed new leaders this month and announced a major convention in March 2011 that will mark one of the largest gatherings of small- and medium-sized manufacturing executives in recent history.
NTMA announced the election of Colorado business owner Grady Cope as chairman of its board of directors. Cope is President of Reata Engineering & Machine Works, a contract manufacturer specializing in precision machining and assembly based in Englewood, Colo. PMA announced the election of Bob Clay as chairman of its board of directors. Clay is CEO of Pridgeon & Clay Inc., located in Grand Rapids, Mich., an independent manufacturer and supplier of stamped and fine blanked components.
NTMA also appointed David Tilstone as its new president. Tilstone comes to NTMA with over 35 years of metalworking experience. He previously held leadership positions with Kennametal and Extrude Hone, where he focused on developing and implementing growth strategies and improving operating results.
Cope and Clay jointly announced that NTMA and PMA will join the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) to co-host the Manufacturing for Growth (MFG) Meeting March 3-6, 2011 in Chandler, Ariz. The convention brings together business owners and executives from around the country to combine resources and explore opportunities to reestablish manufacturing as a primary engine driving the U.S. economy.
"The MFG Meeting will be a milestone for cooperation among metalforming, tooling and machining, machinery building and the sales distribution segments of manufacturing," said Clay. "By joining together, we can set priorities and advocate for a strong manufacturing base in North America."
"Members of Congress should take note: small- and medium-sized manufacturers are united in their demand that our elected representatives adopt a truly pro-manufacturing agenda in the next Congress," said Cope. "We look forward to welcoming hundreds of manufacturing leaders next March to discuss how to drive manufacturing forward in this country."
