June 2022 Newsletter

The Latest From Impact Washington 

Coaching Programs Now Available for Process, Energy and Environmental Improvement

Introducing Two Program Tiers for our 2022 Lean and Green Program

It’s hard to see opportunities for process improvement and cost reduction when you’re focused on running a business day-to-day. Break out of your usual routine, use new tools, and see your operations from a new perspective. The Lean and Green Project Support Program is online and helps you learn new skills, find low-cost opportunities to reduce utility bills and environmental impacts, and increase profits.

You will use simple continuous improvement tools to uncover opportunities and inefficiencies in your facility that fall outside of traditional approaches. You can also get help navigating regulatory and permitting issues. Results will lead to:

• Pollution prevention.
• Energy reduction.
• Improved worker morale and engagement.
• Improved public and customer image
• Reduced operating costs.
• Improved process efficiency.

> Learn more and apply to participate here

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Cyber Hygiene for Manufacturers

Our June Cybersecurity Forum topic was Cyber Hygiene for Manufacturers and was led by Dave Henderson, Owner, and President, of CyberStreams .

David's discussion focused on common mistakes companies make with cybersecurity:
1. Focusing on the tech instead of the employee
2. Relying on training instead of the attitude
3. Leaders that don't set the example
4. Not looking at the small stuff and their impact on your business
5. Focusing on prevention and the cost of recovery
6. Missing the competitive advantage

We also heard lessons learned from local manufacturers. Thanks Rosemary Brester, CEO/President Hobart Machined Products, Inc. and Shannon Forslin, Compliance Officer- ITPSO Evergreen Fire and Security for joining us and sharing your insight.

Forum Industry Partners include Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC) and Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA) 

>View Forum Here 

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The Manufacturers' Guide to Finding and Retaining Talent

Steps that will help you improve and enhance your employee recruitment, retention, and engagement

Employees matter. They are difficult to find and hard to replace, especially in today’s labor market. Besides figuring out why someone leaves unexpectedly, it’s important to consider the other side of the equation—what about your company makes people stay.

As part of the annual NIST MEP survey, clients from the 51 MEP Centers identify the top three challenges their companies will face over the next three years. Not surprisingly, manufacturers continue to report that employee recruitment and retention are their greatest challenges. In fact, these concerns have heightened during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent workforce disruptions. The market forces driving these challenges are not likely to improve soon.

> Download your copy of the Guide here

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AWB Institute 2022 Workforce Summit

Join Impact Washington Executives in Seattle on June 28th at the Museum of Flight

Workforce is one of the most pressing issues facing employers. The manufacturing and aerospace industries remain the top employing sectors in Washington. To help support these crucial industry sectors, the AWB Institute is joining with the Aerospace Futures Alliance and Career Connect Washington to host this years summit on key workforce issues.

The Workforce Summit will bring together employers to discuss the most pressing needs facing their industry when it comes to workforce, and how best to connect/collaborate with educational partners to ensure strong career pathways for young people into these high-wage, high-growth careers.

> Learn more and register here 

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Looking for ways to grow sales, cut expenses, improve quality, hire, train, retain talent, or all the above?

Complimentary Business Evaluation: Your First Step to Improve Performance

Over the past two years, we have delivered our Evaluation to more than 100 manufacturers like yourself. They find this powerful tool is often a simple first step to systematically identifying strengths, weaknesses, and root causes of their company's most pressing challenges. Here’s what a peer says about the Evaluation:

"The analysis and feedback I received from the Evaluation have greatly impacted how I think broadly about my business and make day-to-day decisions. I would love to participate in more business coaching assessments and skill-building activities like this. For example, a few years ago, I hired a business coach and worked with her for about six months, and the cost was $7,500. The fundamental skills and guidance I received in the first Evaluation meeting with Impact Washington were vastly more useful and actionable than most of what I learned from the previous coach experience. I got great specific ways to measure my company's success and weaknesses. I was able to shift how I manage my inventory and think about creating a more streamlined process in my shipping. It was helpful, and I am very grateful." – Business Owner.

>To start the process of a customized Evaluation of your company - contact us here

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Impact Washington Announces Retirement of Director of Finance and Announcement of Successor

Lori Friedt hands over the role to the new Director of Finance

We are pleased to announce that Eddie A Roldan has been named the Center’s Director of Finance. Roldan will lead all financial administration, budgeting, reporting, and fiscal grant management activities.

"Eddie is a proven leader and brings over 25 years of experience in finance and business administration," said Deloit R Wolfe, Jr, President, and Center Director, Impact Washington. "He is a committed professional who will promote and direct activities that maximize, leverage, and protect the Center's financial resources. He is a great addition to the manufacturing community and our organization."

Roldan is a native of El Salvador C.A. and immigrated to the U.S shortly after college; after a few years in San Diego, California, he moved to the Pacific Northwest in the early nineties and can't think of a better place to call home. He built his executive experience working in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. His career in Washington started when he joined Full House Sports and Entertainment, dba Seattle Supersonics; subsequent roles included executive roles in finance and administration and working for entrepreneurial startups. He began his career in not-for-profits with a stint at the University of Washington. He then joined The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and spent 13 years as their finance director. Before joining Impact Washington, he served as Director of Finance for another local non-profit named HomeSight.

> Read full announcement here 

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Manufactured in Washington Showcase

Early this year Impact Washington visited with client PYI, Inc. based in Lynnwood, WA

Inflatable and lightweight boat fenders, boat propellers, rudder blades, no-slip deck coatings, shaft seals, and hose clamps are some of the several hundred products manufactured, assembled, modified, or distributed by Lynnwood-based PYI Inc., which is in its 41st year of supplying parts, mostly to the marine industry. It ships parts to more than 75 countries.

PYI also machines parts for suppliers in other industries, including airplane cabin parts for a Boeing supplier. Custom/contract machining of parts — from small runs of 100 parts to runs in the thousands — comprises more than 10 percent of PYI’s business, said Kevin Woody, vice president and co-owner, who joined PYI about a year after company president Frederic Laffitte founded it in 1981.

PYI wants to help customers get the parts they need, underscoring the company’s tenets of offering quality products, innovation, employee knowledge and customer service, custom orders, and brand loyalty. PYI employs 21 people in roles that include Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, CAD design, sales, purchasing, and accounting. Many tenures span decades. PYI is using every square foot of its facility and is planning a 5,000-square-foot expansion.

> Learn more about PYI, Inc.here