The 3^rd Annual Summit of the Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) promises to be a learning experience for the manufacturers and businesses people who attend.  The event, to be held on Friday, February 21^st at the Ontario Convention Center, will feature keynote speakers: Kish Rajan, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, speaking on California: The State of Manufacturing; Michael Pazzani, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, U.C. Riverside outlining the growing array of resources available at UCR to help manufacturers and businesses by making unique research resources available for the private sector’s use; and Dorothy Rothrock, Vice President, Government Relations, California Manufacturing & Technology Association making imploring manufacturers to make personal contact with their state legislators.

Major sponsors of the MCIE Summit include: the Riverside County Workforce Investment Board, the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board, Chaffey College, Brithinee Electric, California Steel Industries, Ventura Foods, San Bernardino Community College District, California Community Colleges and the Port of Long Beach.

“The attending manufacturers are from existing firms who wish to survive and thrive,” stated Wallace Brithinee Ph.D., President of Brithinee Electric and Chair of the Summit. “We have seen many manufacturers leave this area and the state. This is the group of survivor manufacturers who are willing to work hard to remain. We would like manufacturer and business attendees to leave the conference with ideas that inspire them to grow their business and encourage hiring.”

The Summit, which sold out in the past two years, has doubled their breakout session offerings this year with two hours dedicated to more information and inspiration. Topics will include: Introduction to Lean Manufacturing; Sales Growth through Export; Foreign Trade Zone in the Inland Empire with The Port of Long Beach; Resource and Energy Innovation; Changing the Workplace to Attract the Next Generation; Innovation for Growth and Increased Sales; Environmental Compliance Issues Explored; and Building the Workforce Pipeline. “We have presentations of interest to business owners, general managers, sales and marketing managers, plant supervisors and HR specialists,” stated Brithinee. “We also want to educate attendees from the public sector on the importance of retaining manufacturing in our region, our state, and our nation.”

In addition, the Summit will celebrate Inland Empire manufacturers with the “Made in the Inland Empire” Exhibits. Local manufacturers can apply to exhibit their products at the event and receive a free ticket as a thank you. For applications, visit MFGSummit.com/summit.

Innovation in manufacturing, through resource efficiency, workforce development, and marketing will be featured with the E=mc² Innovation Awards for manufacturers. The award winners will have the opportunity to present their innovation entry to the general assembly, and will receive on-going PR bringing attention to their company and their products.

Reservations for the Summit must be made by February 14, 2014. The event starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. For information on tickets, tables, breakout sessions, exhibits and award applications, visit www.mfgsummit.com/summit.

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire was founded in 2005. Programming is designed to help manufacturers find solutions for issues including: employment and training, research, regulatory compliance, import and export, and funding. The Council, made up of manufacturers and supporters from both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, provides a strong, unified voice when communicating with regional, state and national entities on issues impacting the region.

The MCIE meets every other month, and encourages manufacturers, schools, and agencies, committed to furthering the cause of manufacturing in the Inland Empire. For more information, visit www.mfgcouncilie.com.