It is hard to believe, but it is almost summer.  Summer marks an important time for the VMA, it is when we nominate candidates for major legislative and regulatory appointments, launch our annual membership drive and start our Manufacturing Skills Institute fundraising campaign.  It is all part of our Vision 2020 strategic plan to improve Virginia manufacturing competitiveness and grow the VMA.

If you or someone in your network would be a good candidate for the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board or State Water Pollution Control Board, we want to know.  If you are interested in serving on the State Board of Education or the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, we want to know.  If you are interested in helping the VMA's own Virginia Industry Foundation, we want to know.  Opportunities for appointments arise all the time and we can move quickly when we have qualified candidates to nominate, so please send your bio and interests to [email protected].

Speaking of interests, the VMA's Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) is laser focused on closing the industry skills and interests gaps by 2020.  The manufacturing sector needs over 66,000 newly skilled workers over the next 10 years.  MSI's academic partner network will produce over 2,500 credentialed individuals this year alone and reach another 16,000 through its www.dreamitidoitvirginia.com career information system.  Please help us reach our $750,000 fundraising goal by giving today - http://manufacturingskillsinstitute.org/vision2020/.

In closing, the VMA team is here to serve you.  Whether its finding appointment opportunities for members, closing the industry skills and interest gaps in the workforce, or simply knocking down uncompetitive regulations and legislation, we are proud to continue our tradition of being Industry's Advocate since 1922.