Professional Development Meeting

February 5th, 2008 PDM is a Joint Meeting with Tri-State Manufacturers’! Make an afternoon of it and join us for not one, but TWO plant tours. Then stay for the networking, dinner and a great presentation! The first tour starts at 2:30 hosted by: Tastefully Simple 1920 Turning Leaf LaneSW, Alexandria www.tastefullysimple.com In a departure from the typical manufacturing plant, TSMA members are invited to tour Tastefully Simple in conjunction with the February 5 meeting. With 25,000 consultants nationwide, as well as 350 employees headquartered in their200,000 square foot facility in Alexandria, Tastefully Simple has achieved tremendous success sincethe company was founded in 1995. Sales reach $138 million last year. The tour will provide insightabout warehousing and distribution, off-site sales teams, motivation techniques, personnel issues,corporate culture, etc. Directions: From I94, exit on Hwy 27 (exit #100) and go slightly east to Cty Rd 45. Continue north 2.5 miles on Cty 45 and turn right into the Tastefully Simple parking lot. The second tour starts at 4:30, hosted by: Donnelly Custom Manufacturing 105 Donovan Drive, Alexandria www.donnmfg.com The second plant tour is scheduled at Donnelly Custom Manufacturing from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Specializing in injection molding of thermal plastic, Donnelly Custom Manufacturing employs 200 people at its 100,000 square foot facility in Alexandria. Since 1984, Donnelly's business has been organized for short-run manufacturing excellence. By implementing ISO9001: 2000 standards, a Manufacturing War Room, Theory of Constraints management, Lean Manufacturing, and other techniques to support the goal of continuous improvement, Donnelly is setting the standard for "How short run is done." Directions: From Hwy 27 east, turn left on McKay Ave. Then make a quick left on Donovan Drive. After the tours please join us at the Holiday Inn, Alexandria for networking, dinner and a presentation: "Forging New Partnerships: How to Thrive in Today's Global Value Chain" Presented by: Tom Murphy, RSM McGladrey How does your firm serve global markets, harness innovation, finance investments, and build skilled workerpipelines? Compare your practices against the best practices of small and mid sized manufacturers. This session, presented during the business meeting, is based on a new report, the second of the Small and Medium Manufacturers series, which was jointly developed and produced by NAM, the Manufacturing Institute, and RSM McGladrey. Learn the obstacles and risks of participation in today’s global value chain versus the supply chain of the past and gain an understanding of how leading manufacturers have turned this challenge into opportunities. Tom Murphy oversees RSM McGladrey’s largest industry practice – manufacturing and wholesale distribution. As industry practice leader, Murphy ensuresdelivery of high quality service offerings that respond to the changing needs of midsized manufacturers,wholesalers and distributors. . Agenda: 2:30 - 4:00 PM TOUR: Tastefully Simple 4:30 - 5:30 PM TOUR: Donnelly Custom Mfg. 4:15 - 5:30 PM Tri-State Quality Council 5:30 - 6:00 PM Social Time 6:00 - 8:00 PM Dinner & Business Meeting held at the Holiday Inn Alexandria Located at the Intersection of I94 and Hwy 29 West. MENU: Lasagna Dinner This month only a reduced cost: $15.00per person Please make reservations by Noon, on Thursday, January 31, 2008 with Doris Illies at WACOSA. Phone: 320-309-0917; Fax 320-259-4679; Email dillies@wacosa.org APICS is responsible for all meal reservations, including no-shows. Cancellations and no-shows received after January 31, 2008 will be billed.