Press Releases - 09-2018 Archive

ERIE – More than 2,000 students, educators, as well as business and community leaders are expected to attend the fifth annual Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) celebration — one of the largest Manufacturing Day events in the country — from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, October 4, at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. All media are invited to attend.

According to organizers, this year’s event will be “an amazing exhibition of innovation, technology and career opportunities in today’s manufacturing industry,” thanks to a combination of manufacturers, vendors, high school and higher education institutions providing more than 60 exhibits, programs and demonstrations, designed for participants to experience innovative manufacturing technology in a hands-on, interactive environment.

“We believe that by working together, we can promote the importance of a robust and innovative manufacturing industry — the most powerful force behind our nation’s economy, which continues to provide outstanding career opportunities for our young people,” said John Krahe, president and chief executive officer of the Manufacturer & Business Association, which helps present MFG Day every year.

The culmination of the 2018 event is the noontime Appreciation and Recognition Rally, which includes a keynote address by local manufacturer Bill Hilbert Jr., president of Reddog Industries, and the presentation of the 2018 Patrick R. Locco Scholarship Awards. The Locco Awards were created by the Association to recognize outstanding high school students who distinguish themselves in pursuit of technical and academic excellence.

Nominees for the 2018 awards include:

• Corry Area Career and Technical Center: Kurtis Martin, Cody Northrop, William Dorn, Adam Sventek and Derek Steele

• Crawford County Career and Technical Center: Christian Nichols, Bradley Forkl, Corbin Hargenrater and Abigail Larson

• Erie County Technical School: Andrew Sebald, Taylor Haas, Ben Porter and Joshua Larson

• Erie High School: Nicholas Panochko, Abdulla Iznorov, Maxim Dyachkin and Thomas Kenohan

• Mercer County Career Center: Devin Kerr, Mason Tyree and Ashtin Conn

Manufacturing Day is presented by the Manufacturer & Business Association, Advanced Diversified Manufacturing Industry Partnership, National Machining and Tooling Association, Career Street, and more than 25 area sponsors.

The MFG Day event also precedes the MBA’s 113th Annual Event with keynote speaker and “Shark Tank” star Daymond John, starting later that day at 5 p.m. October 4.

For more information or to register, visit www.pamfgday.com.

ERIE – The Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) is pleased to announce that its 113th Annual Event featuring keynote speaker Daymond John is sold out. Open for all media to attend, “An Evening with Daymond John" starts at 5 p.m. Thursday, October 4, at the Bayfront Convention Center. John is most known as “The People’s Shark” on ABC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning series, “Shark Tank,” which is currently filming the 10th season with plans to premiere in the fall.

“We are thrilled by the excitement for this year’s speaker,” said Association President and CEO John Krahe. “Mr. John has an amazing story to share, and we are expecting it to be another unforgettable evening for our members.”

During his address, John will share his rags-to-riches success story, as well as his winning tips for negotiation, boosting sales, improving employee morale, increasing productivity and optimizing talent. He also will share his goal setting and achievement strategies, empowering audience members to make positive changes in every aspect of their lives for immediate and long-term success.

John started his entrepreneurial career in the '90s when he launched the global hip-hop clothing line, FUBU. In the decades since creating FUBU, John has continued to build upon his entrepreneurial success and has been recognized at the highest levels for his commitment to small business. He was named a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship under the Obama administration and has previously been recognized for his contributions in the space, including being bestowed the NAACP Entrepreneurs of the Year Award, the Congressional Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship and more.

An accomplished author who has continued to battle dyslexia, John's January release of his fourth book, Rise and Grind, became an instant New York Times bestseller, marking the second time a book he has written has achieved that prestigious honor. Through all that, John remains committed to the art of branding and marketing and still oversees the day-to-day branding and marketing firm, The Shark Group.

A sellout each year, the MBA’s Annual Event is the tri-state region’s premier business networking event, featuring the nation’s most prominent figures in business, politics and journalism. Among the most recent speakers are fellow “Shark” Robert Herjavec (2016) and legendary coach Lou Holtz (2017).

This year’s Annual Event is sponsored by Ridg-U-Rak, UPMC Health Plan, Logistics Plus, PNC, MacDonald Illig Attorneys, Insurance Management Company, Greenleaf Corporation, LORD Corporation, McInnes Rolled Rings, Howard Industries and Widget Financial.

For additional information, contact the Association at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or visit www.mbausa.org.

ERIE – The Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) today confirmed that it will co-sponsor a debate between the two candidates in the 16th District Congressional race. The partnership consists of the MBA, Mercyhurst University, JET24/FOX66 and WQLN-TV. All media are invited to attend.

This partnership represents an impartial blend of business, academic and community interests,” said Jezree Friend, the MBA’s government relations representative.

The hour-long debate between Republican incumbent Mike Kelly and Democratic challenger Ron DiNicola will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, October 8, at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University. The event, moderated by JET24/Fox 66 anchor Sean Lafferty, will be televised live on JET24; it also will be rebroadcasted on WQLN at 8 p.m. Thursday, November 1.

For more information, please contact Jezree Friend at 814/833-3200 or jfriend@mbausa.org.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations reflect the views and opinions of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Manufacturer & Business Association or any of its officers and directors.