Colorado Capitol Report

The Colorado Chamber Earns Highest National Honors for Membership Retention


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State Policy News

CACI Earns Highest National Honors for Membership Retention

CACI President Chuck Berry (left), Dave Tabor, and Tricia Smith hold awards received at the Association of State Chamber Professionals annual recognition ceremony.

CACI President Chuck Berry (left), Dave Tabor, and Tricia Smith hold awards received at the Association of State Chamber Professionals annual recognition ceremony.

CACI achieved membership retention of 94% in 2013, earning the Top Retention awards at the annual conference of the Association of State Chamber Professionals.  The conference was attended by Chuck Berry, Dave Tabor, and Tricia Smith who accepted the awards on behalf of CACI, Membership Retention Manager Bonnie Finley, and the entire CACI staff.


CACI’s Dave Tabor elected President of the Association of State Chamber Professionals

Dave Tabor receives gavel from outgoing President Leisa Fox of the Iowa Association of Business

Dave Tabor receives gavel from outgoing President Leisa Fox of the Iowa Association of Business

The Association of State Chamber Professionals consists of the top membership, marketing, communications and non-dues professionals from state chambers of commerce from across the country.  It provides chamber professionals access to proven methods and new approaches through industry leaders and outside approaches.

 

 


CACI Members Invited to Participate in Anti-Discrimination Training Seminar

The Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry along with NFIB and the CO Civil Justice League will be hosting an Anti-Discrimination in Employment training seminar for employers.  Details regarding the seminar are as follows:

Date:                   October 21, 2014

Time:                   10:00 a.m.

Location:            CACI conference room
1600 Broadway, Ste. 1000, Denver

Steven Chavez, Director of the Civil Rights Division, and Francis McDonald, Education Outreach Coordinator of the Division, will focus on two areas which include:

1)   An overview of the CO Job Protection and Civil Rights Enforcement Act of 2013 and its expanded legal remedies for workers; and

2)  Informational training for employers on the basics of anti-discrimination in the work place such as:

  • An overview of protected classes;
  • Discriminatory harassment and discrimination in the workplace, including sexual harassment;
  • Rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.

If you plan to attend this seminar, please RSVP to Loren Furman at [email protected], or she can be reached by phone at 303-866-9642


Colorado Political Luncheon: Are You Ready for the Elections?

Learn how to maximize your company’s political influence during this year’s elections!

Join us for an update on the election and learn about the many tools and resources available to help you motivate your employees to vote in this year’s election. Colorado is the epicenter of the election world this year and your involvement in the electoral process can pay huge dividends for your business.

Date:
October 14, 2014

Time
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
11 AM networking & lunch, Program begins at 11:30 AM

Location:
AGC Colorado
1114 W. 7th Avenue
Basement Conference Room
Denver, CO 80204

Contact Jenn Penn at [email protected] or 720-937-2148 to reserve your seat

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Manufacturing Initiative

Manufacturing Makes a Difference

Colorado is a great place for business generally, but also for manufacturing. You may not realize it, but manufacturing matters.

Ray Ochoa initially came to the state from south Texas to work the farms. But in 1981, he started work as an assemblyman at Harsh International, a Colorado company based in Eaton that manufactures some of the world’s best hydraulic truck hoists, feedlot mixers and manure spreaders.

Meanwhile, Mark Yoss’ story reminds us of the old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Mr. Yoss came to “Colorful Colorado” in 1983 to work in the state’s then-booming solar industry. When work dried up there, he applied to be a Manufacturing Engineer at Martin Marietta. Some 30 years later, Mark is now a manufacturing manager at the same Waterton Canyon campus in Jefferson County now under the name Lockheed Martin.

Countless Coloradans have moved to the state seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Whether sending objects to Mars or supporting agriculture, the key to their success has been manufacturing. Many fail to realize that manufacturing has evolved from its Industrial Revolution reputation as “dull, dirty, and dangerous” to today’s advanced applications in aerospace, bioscience, infrastructure, and more.

Ray and Mark both speak about the pride that they take in their work. Mark tries to explain the joy of seeing the satellite he helped build enter Mars’ atmosphere. At the same time Ray, tells you about the value he sees in a 10-hour work day and a company that for decades has taken a personal stake in his wellbeing.

Today, manufacturing accounts for roughly 10 percent of Colorado’s economy according to the National Association of Manufacturers. But this 10 percent is more than just the “typical” manufacturing jobs.

Rather than outdated perceptions of industrial operations (although, for example, the EVRAZ Steel Mill in Pueblo still supplies 48 percent of the railroad tracks in North America), today’s industry leaders in Colorado manufacturing are electronics, food and beverage, and chemical manufacturing.

The real importance of manufacturing, however, is that it helps grow America’s middle class. Ray and Mark alike were able to find life-long careers of which they could be proud. They both put children through high school and college. They continue to contribute to Colorado’s booming economy.

While Colorado’s economy and the state of American manufacturing have gone hand in hand over the years, manufacturing still faces some serious barriers to success. Ray and Mark both emphasize the need for workers at every level. From workers who are familiar with Computer Aided Design (CAD), to people with a strong work ethic, Colorado manufacturers are hiring.

Many complain that American manufacturing is dead. While that claim is far from the truth, industry has a long way to go to overcome this misconception. That’s in part why various groups have proclaimed this Oct. 3 as Manufacturing Day.

As a show of support for this and other local efforts, Gov. John Hickenlooper has proclaimed Sept. 28 through Oct. 3 Manufacturing Week in Colorado.

Multiple groups including the Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry (CACI), the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (CAMA), Manufacturer’s Edge (the state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership), and others have joined forces to raise the awareness of Colorado manufacturing.

Now think about the importance of manufacturing in your life. Visit www.mfgday.com to learn more about how to get involved in Manufacturing Day. And send us your manufacturing success stories at [email protected]. The first few stories will receive an invitation to tour one of the state’s premier manufacturing facilities in the coming months.