February 21, 2013

News Release

Contact:  Sara Haimowitz, 202.688.5145, [email protected]

CPA and Legislators Host Trade Summit

The Coalition for a Prosperous America hosted a one-day trade and economic summit, “Manufacturing in the Golden State: Making California Thrive,” in conjunction with state Senator Mark Wyland and Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins on February 14, 2013.  More than 150 participants explored changes happening to California manufacturing and explored ways to grow production in the state.  The event was held at AMN Healthcare in San Diego. (See photos below).

“This summit was tremendously valuable in terms of hearing directly from the people who are dealing with the consequences of policy decisions that are made in Sacramento”, said Senator Mark Wyland.  “Those are usually the people who are best able to pinpoint the problems and inefficiencies that the Legislature needs to address.  I really appreciated the opportunity to bring together stakeholders from across the political and economic spectrum to have a meaningful dialogue on the importance of manufacturing in California and our nation’s trade policy.  It’s my hope that we can take those stories and suggestions back to Sacramento and work together to create sensible economic policy.”

Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins remarked, “It is collaborations like this summit that will ensure we remove barriers to prosperity while also preserving the things that make California such a desirable place to live – clean air and water; an affordable, quality educational system; middle class incomes that enable people to support a family; and our natural beauty.  I will continue to work with business, labor, education, and government leaders toward that goal.”

The summit featured a panel of national experts that included Greg Autry, author and economist who spoke on restoring America’s strength through trade reform and the trade imbalance we have with China; celebrated economist and author Pat Choate spoke on intellectual property; Thea Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff at the President’s Office at the AFL-CIO, discussed what impedes the growth of manufacturing and jobs in California and nationally and Michael Stumo, CEO for the Coalition for Prosperous America spoke on the need for a national trade policy that incorporated fair trade principals.  The panel was moderator by Senator Mark Wyland.

Additionally, a panel of local business leaders provided their companies experience manufacturing in California.  The panel included:

Karl Friedrich Haarburger - VP, Solar Energy Industrial Operations, SOITEC; Neal Nordstrom - COO, PureForge; Rick Urban - COO, Quality Controlled Manufacturing, Inc.;  Paul Brown - CFO, The Wheat Group; Craig Anderson - EHS Director, Solar Turbines, Inc.

The panel was moderated by Michele Nash-Hoff (Chair, CPA California Chapter; Author, “Can American Manufacturing Be Saved: Why We Should and How We Can”; Founder, ElectroFab Sales) who also spoke on the current state of manufacturing in the state.

“Manufacturing in the Golden State” explored changes happening to California’s manufacturing industry prioritized the most important issues that faced California’s manufacturers,” said Michele Nash-Hoff , Chair, California CPA Chapter.

Participants included manufacturers from all sectors, labor leaders, business owners and suppliers, educators and elected officials and their staffs.

After considering the most important solutions in breakout groups, participants chose two top issues.  At the federal level, the participants want a national manufacturing strategy to address the trade deficit and comprehensive tax reform to improve U.S. global competitiveness. At the state level, regulatory reform was the top solution.

Event partner, Cindy Gompper-Graves, President and CEO of the South County Economic Development Council said, “While the manufacturing industry has struggled over the past decade, we are seeing the return of these jobs to the United States from China and elsewhere.”

“The audience members told me after the event that they appreciated the clear, concise and compelling solutions presented in this event,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. “A task force was formed from the audience to deliver the message to policy makers.  The consensus agreement coming from many sectors and both parties will have significant power when delivered to political leaders.”

The Coalition for a Prosperous America is a nonprofit organization representing the interests of 2.7 million households through our agricultural, manufacturing and labor members.