Manufacturer’s Association of the Hudson Valley

Press Releases

 

99th Annual Council of Industry Luncheon and Expo

The Council of Industry welcomed E.J. McMahon, Director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, as the keynote speaker for their 99th Annual Luncheon and Expo on Friday, November 13th. Mr. McMahon has spent more than 25 years as a senior policy maker and analyst of New York government and his recent work includes studies focused on state budget reform and the state and local fiscal impact of the financial market meltdown. This event also honored the most recent graduates of the Council’s highly successful Certificate in Manufacturing Leadership Program. The luncheon was held at the Powelton Club in Newburgh, NY with over 130 Hudson Valley manufacturers and their associates in attendance.

 

The Council of Industry has been the manufacturer’s association for the Hudson Valley since 1910 and continues to provide training and networking opportunities, along with a wide variety of other services and benefits, to our manufacturing members and their associates. The Council gives small and midsized companies the depth of talent and information to which only large firms have access. The luncheon and expo provide an excellent networking opportunity for our members, in addition to acknowledging the hard work of those individuals that have completed the Certificate in Manufacturing Leadership Program. Attendees were able gather insight in to the fiscal issues affecting New York State and manufacturers more specifically through the address by Mr. McMahon.

 

McMahon, a Manhattan Institute senior fellow for tax and budgetary studies and director of the Institute’s Empire Center for New York State Policy, spoke on the current budget crisis in New York. He started by dissecting the economic collapse and its causes such as over reliance on high income taxpayers and the financial sector coupled with unsustainable spending in the state’s budget. In fact the state continued its spending increases even after the financial collapse. While stimulus money makes up for some of the difference this year, it is not something a budget should rely on when figuring future growth and spending. Mc Mahon also pointed out the record number of New Yorker leaving the state, 1.5 million residents that are not being replaced by incoming population in the last decade. This means less personal income tax revenue to contribute to the state’s budget.

 

McMahon offered several possible steps that could help New York State get back on track. A first step already widely being discussed is a freeze on public sector salaries for at least three years. This coupled with structural reforms on state employee benefit plans, costly labor laws and regulations and other mandate relief provisions would be a start to reducing superfluous spending. He also set out ways to curb spending in other areas such as Medicaid and school aid and privatization opportunities such as the NYS Bridge Authority, certain SUNY Hospitals and Campuses, golf courses and ski areas. Finally McMahon proposed a tax oriented tax policy and emphasized that there is hope. The recent elections show that tax payers are tired of the excess and mismanagement.

 

The Council held their Member/ Associate Member Expo prior to the luncheon. The expo provides members and associate members the chance to demonstrate their products and services to local manufacturers. This year there were eighteen expo tables, featuring a diversity of companies, and everything from insurance, financial advisors, and consultants to employment services, colleges and energy specialists.

 

As part of the luncheon the Council of Industry honored the recipients of the Certificate in Manufacturing Leadership. This year the Certificate was presented to the following individuals that have each completed over 40 hours of required course work and specialized training in supervisor level leadership classes through Dutchess Community College: from Alcoa Fastening Systems – Cindy Ryan, Herman Stein, Kim Griese, from Blaser Swisslube Inc. – Shelly Nassivera and Rebecca Pantaleone, from Dyno Nobel – J.R. Williams, from Schatz Bearing Corp. – Mike Mcgill, Jeff Engwiller, James Fusco, and from Taconic Farms – Kathy Dellaripa.

 

The Council of Industry would like to thank the following companies, whose generosity made this event possible: our major sponsor The Reis Group/ Applied Underwriters and our supporting sponsors T.D. Bank and Pepco Energy Services, and Jabil. We would also like to thank the Powelton Club for a delicious lunch.

 

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