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Regional Spring Association Report NESMA Update By Lucas Karabin, Acme Monaco As we entered 2021, it seems we were ready for some changes, not all of them being virtual. Rollouts for COVID-19 vaccine shots kept us guessing, but the vaccination efforts have been nothing short of remarkable. I had my second shot in late April and I have to tip my hat to our National Guard, law enforcement and health care workers, whose performance makes us proud. Despite many, if not all of us being fully vaccinated, our NESMA board is presently maintaining our virtual meetings. Though convenient, we do miss our breakfast gatherings and look forward to meeting again in person.
Event Committee This year, NESMA has leaned into the virtual environment with our 2021 Seminar Series. Board member and FENN Torin president Ryan Cutter agreed to participate with the professional help of Jessica Morgan, the company’s marketing coordinator. The webinar featured team members from FENN Torin giving a smooth introduction to their catalog of impressive equipment. Thank you to those among our turnout of 50 plus registrations. We were excited that members from outside New England registered, demonstrating the mass appeal. We are doing our best to keep the fires burning in this category with new member Markum LLP presenting “Research and Tax Development Tax Credit.” This event was scheduled for May 5 and was hosted by board member Ted Lucas, CPA and his colleague William Kuhlman, CPA. We hope to keep the events coming, delivering a value to our members both in terms of education and capacity, to reach our membership in an unintimidating manner. If you have an event you
10 / SPRINGS / Summer 2021
FENN Torin sponsored one of many NESMA 2021 seminars.
would like to present to NESMA, you are encouraged to reach out to our events committee chairperson Bob Swanson, president of United Wire. We will be meeting in person for our annual Golf Tournament at Chippanee Country Club in Bristol, Connecticut Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Last year we had a great turnout and the support was overwhelming. You can register for the tournament on our website, www.nesmausa.com. We will close out the year with our annual Holiday Party at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bristol Dec. 2. Discounted rooms can be reserved by registration code; details to follow on our website.
Legislative Front Our new board member Allen Nadeau of Southington Tool & Mfg. Corp stoically volunteered to represent NESMA in the recently formed Connecticut Manufacturing Collaborative. This is an organization intended to tie in multiple manufacturers’ trade groups with direct communication to the governor’s office, high schools and colleges, Department of Economic Community Development, and
the general assembly. Time is spent on multiple fronts defending businesses from unpopular legislation like a truck tax, and to provide a voice for workforce needs. The cost to maintain the lobbyist for the group is under pressure, and like any byproduct of dealing with the government legislative efforts, it is not a passive effort. This group will face challenges as underfunded organizations reboot from 2020.
Technical Committee Our Technical Development Committee continues to focus on recruitment efforts through the promotion of our website’s “Apprenticeship Connections.” This link allows a potential candidate, interested in exploring a career in manufacturing, with the first chance to get their name out to participating members. Our efforts haven’t been helped by COVID restrictions, but ideally the students will be able to visit multiple companies and perhaps start working before they finish school. We are reaching out to area high schools and technical schools in an attempt to position ourselves as a viable option. continued on next page
