OnAugust12,theAssociation of Equipment Manufacturers stopped at CM Truck Beds in Kingston to recognize CMTruckBedasanindustry leader for their contributions to the community and manufacturing industry.
The AEM travels to promote the manufacturing industry, discuss growth and learn new skills. The journey spans more than 20 states and 80 stops, with Kingston being almost the halfway mark.
PaulFlemming,AEMVice President of Sales, said it is important for manufacturers to stay in communities.
“Making sure that manufacturing is staying in these communities, helping the local economies, helping us to feed, build and power the world,” Flemming said.
Fleming said he enjoys the events because it allows him to get to know the manufacturing community.
“It’s great to be out here with the people of CM and in Oklahoma,” Fleming said. “It’s a fun event for us and our staff to get out and see what people are doing day in and day out to build the equipment that we represent as an association.”
Fleming said the traveling event has a dual purpose, to recognizemanufacturersand tohelpgetthemtoknowtheir politicians.”
“We are pro manufacturing and in an election year,” Fleming said. “Getting out and celebrating all the workers and building them up to get involved to get to know the politicians that support the manufacturing they’re doing.”
“Let’s get the politicians attention to see what you’re doing everyday and celebrate that and keep it here.”
“It’s impressive that AEM isrecognizingmanufacturing becausemanufacturingisthe backbone of America as far as I’m concerned,” Alvord said. “We appreciate that they are recognizing CM.”
“You are the foundation of America and thus [AEM] honoring what you folks do here today is something special,” Alvord said while addressing the CM employees. “Thank you all.”
The presenter highlighted some of the CM employees, and let the guests know that growth within the company is possible. Christy, the production manager, moved her way up from an entry-level position. Cody started out as a welder, and is now a weld inspector.
OklahomaRepresentative Josh Cantrell read a Citation of Appreciation that was presented to CM Truck Beds’ VP of Operations Money Geter.
“Whereas the Association ofEquipmentManufacturers is leading the trade association representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers at CM represents over 1,100 companies in the agricultural and construction related industries.”
The citation gave props to CM for their contributions to the community and AEM for spreading the word of manufacturing. He ended on a personal note.
“I live here in Kingston,” Cantrell said. “I was formerly the County Commissioner for this area. You guys have done great work, you know, the manufacturing and CM Truck Beds have been a big part of the economy of Marshall County and southern Oklahoma.”
“I want to thank you guys everyday for getting up, coming to work and building the stuff we need to keep this country moving,” Cantrell continued. “Thank you very much, [we] appreciate y’all.”
The AEM also had a petition that guests could sign. It is requesting that the federal government “continue to maintain a strong role in funding US infrastructure construction, maintenance and modernization.”
The petition also asks the government to “advocate for a strong farm-economy that not only benefits farmers and ranchers but also helps protect the more than 650,000 agricultural equipment manufacturing jobs across the United States,” and that the government “should prioritize policies that encourage students to pursue career and technical education and provide the resources necessary to develop and expand federally sup- ported career and technical education programs.”
Guests of the event were able to play games for the opportunity to win some cool prizes. Many guests won hats, coolers, insulated water bottles and more. The employees smiled and commented on how “cool” the hats were as they played the games.
Senator Jerry Alvord was in attendance and said that manufacturing is the backbone of many communities.
Fleming said they have a few more stops after leaving Kingston.
“We started in Iowa, making our way down through Oklahoma,” Fleming said. “We head to Arkansas next, then towards the east to the Carolinas. Then, [we] make our way back north towards Wisconsin.”
The AEM headquarters is located in Milwaukee, Wis.
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