Manufacturers find new voice

Beginning in January, the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Council — a group of senior manufacturing executives, operational leaders and key stakeholders from across the province — will speak on behalf of Saskatchewan manufacturers and exporters.

Affiliated with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), the newly formed council’s mandate is to “find common ground on priority issues impacting Saskatchewan manufacturers and exporters, and to work alongside partners in both industry and the public sector to ensure the necessary policies, programs and services are in place to grow domestically and around the world.”

The CME said Saskatchewan was for years a “havenot’’ province, with a relatively small manufacturing sector dependent on one or two sectors, namely agriculture and energy.

“Driven by a revived agriculture industry and extensive resource development, the province now boasts one of the most dynamic and thriving manufacturing sectors in the country, employing more than 27,500 workers and shipping more than $12.5 billion in goods around the world each year,” the CME said in a press release.

“But success has also been met with challenge — from unprecedented skills shortages and infrastructure deficiencies to continued uncertainty south of the border.”

Heading up the council is Tom Kishchuk, president and CEO, Hitachi Power Systems Canada Ltd., who will serve as chair.

Council members include Daryl Bitz, president and CEO, Crestline Coach Ltd.; Gavin Semple chairman, Brandt Industries Ltd.; Brad Nelson, general manager, Honey Bee Manufacturing Ltd.; Roger Juarez, vice-president and general manager, EVRAZ North America; Joe Vidal, president and CEO, Bioriginal Food and Science Corp.; Kevin Dow, CEO, WAG Innovations Global;

Evan Doepker, vice-president, Doepker Industries Ltd.; Dale Kelly, president and CEO, POS Bio-Sciences; Craig Nimegeers, vice-president, Ag Growth International; Randy Hanson, executive vice-president and COO, International Road Dynamics Inc.; Trevor Reid, president and CEO, NorSask Forest Products Inc.; Patric Byrns, president SBC Case Industries Ltd.; Greg Archibald, president, Schulte Industries; Greg Cruson, manager, Dutch Industries Ltd.; Keith Brown, CEO, Trailtech Inc.; Linda Turta, president, Leon Ram Companies; Greg Porter, president and CEO, Standard Machine; Arnold Reimer, general manager, Nu-Fab Building Products; Pat Beaujot, president, Seed Hawk Inc., Casey Davis, president and CEO, Morris Industries and Bob Dumur, president, Dumur Industries.

Also on the council are: Jayson Myers, president and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; Mathew Wilson, vice-president, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; Scott Summach, sector manager, Enterprise Saskatchewan (non-voting); Rob Ziola, senior director, Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (non-voting) and Rhonda Ekstrom, vice-president, Global Transportation Hub Authority (non-voting).