Manufacturing Summit 2011: High Tech Skilled Jobs, Apprenticeship

Held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, DC on Thursday, October 27, 2011 – 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, the Fifth Annual Swiss-US Manufacturing Summit 2011 is where industry leaders convene once again to address the economic importance and opportunity ahead to revitalize the manufacturing sector to create more jobs and a stronger national and global economy. 

To meet the demand for high skilled workers, The Manufacturing Summit will identify current challenges and successes; suggested changes in standards and certification; the role of community colleges; apprenticeship programs; regional training models; and career opportunities for returning veterans. 

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates will return and be presented with responses to her “Call For Action” last year, dealing with the support and promotion of American manufacturing; 

Chief and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserves, Lieutenant General Jack Stultz, will discuss the opportunity presented by soldiers returning to the workforce;

Manufacturers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida will present successful regional training models;

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Dr. Margot Tyler will discuss the funding of programs to develop skills for minority students; 

Industry associations (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), Academia (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce) and Think Tanks (National Skills Coalition) will present current trends and thought leadership;

Invited speakers not yet confirmed include Dr. Jill Biden, Office of the Vice President, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA); Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA); and Don Graves, Executive Director, President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, The White House.

We are expecting over 200 professionals from around the country in attendance representing industry, unions, community colleges, Capitol Hill, think tanks and veterans organizations. In addition, we expect media coverage.

REGISTRATION IS FREE, and requires advance registration. 

Lite breakfast and lunch is provided.

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Summit Reception at the Swiss Embassy
Please note that all participants are invited to a reception on Wednesday evening, October 26, 2011  which includes the presentation of our annual Tell Awards recognizing several North American businesses that have a significant Swiss presence.

As the largest foreign direct investor in the United States in 2010 and the second largest foreign investor in the U.S. manufacturing sector, Switzerland is firmly committed to supporting the global manufacturing sector.