(Photo Credit: John Guenther/CA Fwd)
A record 800 people are expected to attend the 2017 Manufacturing Summit in Fresno on April 20.
The Summit, which has grown dramatically in just three years, will feature industry experts speaking on a number of topics key to the important manufacturing sector. Called “Thriving in the Valley,” the event will be held at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center.
Registration closes today (April 10) but organizers emphasize that some walk-ins on the day of the event will be allowed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“What began as an opportunity to showcase the importance of the manufacturing sector to strengthening the economy of the San Joaquin Valley, is turning into a celebration of cross-sector collaboration, industry excellence and student involvement,” said Deborah Nankivell, CEO of the Fresno Business Council.
The Summit was conceived by the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance, which has been working to align the resources of our community behind a shared economic strategy. With renewed national interest in manufacturing and career technical education (CTE), the Alliance believes there is what is called “a wide open window to capitalize on our lessons learned and achieve amazing results.”
It believes the San Joaquin Valley is the location of choice for advanced and agile manufacturing and has taken up the mission to create an asset-rich environment that supports, expands and attracts manufacturers to increase the economic vitality of the San Joaquin Valley.
The Summit will feature seminars and meetings on a number of topics important to 21st century manufacturing:
- New Advanced Manufacturing Technologies:
- Robotics
- 3D Printing
- Design
- Materials Management
- State of Art Energy Efficiency Solutions
- Special Manufacturing Showcase
The event also doubles as a career fair for high school, community college and university students from the region. Students were provided 120 scholarships to attend the event.
“It is an opportunity for them to experience what manufacturing in the region is about, as well as provide opportunities for them to hand out resumes to interested manufacturers,” said Mike Dozier, executive director of the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State.
For the California Economic Summit, this type of event is vital as California works to develop an advanced manufacturing strategy that will successfully connect large and small manufacturers as well as state, federal and regional partners to develop and implement industry-driven partnerships.
The goal is simple and critical to the 21st-century California economy by ensuring that manufacturing remains a viable, long-term component of California’s economy that creates middle-class jobs and opportunities for California residents.
