Happy fall everyone!  I hope everyone had a great summer and found at least a little bit of time to slow down and enjoy it.

I’m excited to connect with you all as we start up the next year of activity with the Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association (MDMA)!  One of the things I’ve enjoyed about being involved with MDMA and serving as the board president is not just seeing the amazing things are local manufacturers create and the opportunities created for employees with all sorts of skill sets, but how willing manufacturers are to share best practices, collaborate with each other, and celebrate the industry and the impact it has on the region.  Our goal is pretty simple: create opportunities for manufacturers to connect, learn from one another, support the next generation of manufacturing talent, and make our region a great place to manufacture and do business. We’re excited to continue driving to that goal as we get into the 2026-2027 membership year. 

Membership.  As we start the new year, we’re also kicking off a membership drive. We want to continue growing MDMA and, more importantly, growing the network of manufacturers who are involved with the organization. Some of you may have already seen a note from Chad Wolf, our VP of Membership, talking about next steps for renewal for existing members, or how to join if you’re not a member.  If your company is already a member, thank you. Your support makes everything we do possible. I’d also encourage you to think about other manufacturers or manufacturing-related organizations that might benefit from being part of MDMA and invite them to join us.

Get Involved. We are also looking for manufacturers and supporters who are interested in getting more involved with MDMA and serving on our board, offering tours, helping out with some of our initiatives for the next year, etc. If you’re interested in serving on the board, we are currently taking applications through September (find the application form here).  If you’re willing to offer a tour, or if you feel passionate about part of a planning group for an upcoming event, let us know.  You don’t need to have all the answers or a lot of free time to contribute. We’re looking for people who care about manufacturing in our region and are willing to bring their ideas, experience, and perspective to the table. If you’ve ever thought about getting more involved, please reach out!

A Great Year Ahead.  We have another great schedule of events planned for the coming year, including facility tours, networking opportunities, and some new activities we’re working on. These events are one of my favorite parts of MDMA because they give us a chance to meet new people, see what others are doing, explore best practices, and honestly to be a little awestruck about the amazing things our manufacturers build and how they build it. 

Our first tour of the new season is coming up at ComDel Innovation in Wahpeton on September 15th. ComDel has been a huge part of the manufacturing ecosystem for decades, and we’re excited to for that tour.  You can find information about that tour here, along with future events and tours.  Cardinal IG and Midland Garage are also on the docket – stay tuned for more information as the year progresses.  We’re also exploring a more formal event for our December social, celebrating the amazing work happening in the region as well as some of the individuals who helped build the foundation for this industry in our region, as well as activities for Manufacturing Month. 

Finally, I want to thank our board members, our partners at the Midwest Manufacturers Association, and all of our members who continue to give their time, ideas, and support to MDMA. Associations like this only work when people are involved, and I’m excited about what we can accomplish together in the coming year.

I hope to see many of you at ComDel and throughout the year. Enjoy the fall, and as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with ideas for how we can make MDMA even more valuable to all of you.

Thanks everyone, and I’m looking forward to another great year!

Patrick Mineer
President
Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association