SAMA holds annual manufacturing summit Wednesday

The event will be 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Wednesday at the Oasis Convention Center, 2610 N. Glenstone Ave.

Speaker Phyllis Eisen, vice president of the Manufacturers Institute of the National Association of Manufacturers, will give an overview of a nationwide work force gap, and Ozarks Technical Community College President Hal Higdon will follow with a look at local efforts to alleviate that employment strain.

“We’re already starting to see problems in that area and expect as the baby boomers start retiring and continue to retire, that will be even greater,” SAMA Executive Director Rita Needham said. “We’re looking at what can we do to try and correct that.”

Also at the event, SAMA will present 23 Founder’s Awards to companies in business for at least 25 years. The awards are named after late SAMA founder Jack Gentry; his wife, Ann, will be in attendance.

Tickets to attend the event, which includes a buffet lunch, are $25 for SAMA members and $30 for nonmembers. To register, call (417) 863-7262 or e-mail Needham at rneedham@samamo.org.[[In-content Ad]]