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History of the LSMN
Compiled by Renee Stephens
The Lower Shore
Manufacturing Network was originally formed as a “Regional
Technology Council” (RTC) in 1991, as a Maryland State initiative
funded through the Maryland Department of Business and Economic
Development. There were 5 RTC’s established through out the State.
The eastern shore of Maryland hosted two RTC’s, one serving the
upper five counties located at Chesapeake College, and the other RTC
to serve the lower three counties located at Salisbury State
University.
 1991
Sept. 26, 1991 –RTC Kick off breakfast held at UMES, 90 people
attended
This was to
announce the activities for the organization and serve as membership
recruitment. Original RTC Staff: Mr. Warren Keller, Director;
Lisa
Sale – Admin.
Assistant; Mary
Lynne Bebee – Newsletter
4 major
“thrusts” announced at this meeting as their goal.
1)
Program Information
2)
Technology transfer, sharing and assistance
3)
Technology education & training
4)
Network Development
Membership: 38
Members, 3 Associate Members and 17 Ex-Officio
1992
Several
Conferences and Seminars held
(Total Quality
Roundtables, Design for Manufacturability, Aquaculture,
Environmental Issues)
Focus on
Business and Education Partnerships with Roundtable discussions
1993
Sponsored 27 events – Mel Carson, Moore Business Forms is Chairman
“Manufacturing
Awareness Breakfast”
Focus to
encourage technical careers for middle school students
Maryland
Manufacturing Advisory Committee formed under Governor Schaefer
Council has 3
representatives
(Dr. Bebee -
Perdue
School,
Mel Carson - Moore Business Forms, Norm Wolske - Rubberset) Goal
was to report issues and recommendations for manufacturing
ISO 9000
Consortium– First Pilot Program for State. is Eastern Shore.
Sept. 23, 1993 –
Warren Keller Retires.
Ends year with
46 members, and 6 Associate members
1994
New RTC
Director – Marty Green
New Associate
Director – Marion Poole
Programs:
Ergonomics,
Hubble Space Telescope Update, Factory Automation Seminar,
Department of Environment, Total Quality Roundtables, first Safety
Symposium.
56 members, and
8 Associates
1995
Norm Wolske, Rubberset - Board Chairman (1995-96)
Annual Meeting:
Dr. Hytche, UMES President and Dr. Audrey Theis, DBED Assistant
Secretary speakers.
Programs:
(Beginning of HR Roundtables): New RTC “Resource Management Forum”
series
Total Quality
Roundtables continue with MCQP. 66 members and 6 Associates.
1996
Renee Stephens – Appointed Director
Tom Crawford,
MaTech – Board Chairman (1996-97)
Name Change to Lower Shore Manufacturing Network
Programs:
-
Interactive
Telecommunication Meeting held with DBED Secretary, Jim Brady and
others programs with MD Secretary of Labor, Eugene Conti, US
Under Secretary of Technology, Dr. Mary Good, ISO Consortium #2
for Eastern Shore
-
Membership
Meeting – Keynote: Senator Lowell Stoltzfus and Chesapeake
Packaging, winner of 1995 US Senate Productivity Award.
62 members
1997
Keith Thompson, Perdue Farms – LSMN Chairman (1997-98)
-
First grant
received for Manufacturing Video and Awareness efforts for middle
and high school students ($65,000) Plant Tours, guest speaking
engagements with schools and teachers, internships and video
produced.
LSMN is
recognized state wide for manufacturing awareness and partnerships
with education. Video, The Third Millennium: Workforce of the
Future wins an award.
First Mid
Atlantic Technology Expo held at Salisbury State University, and 2nd
Safety Symposium in Ocean City also a variety of monthly seminars
and technical workshops.
1998
Rob Harris, Harvard Custom Manufacturing – LSMN Chairman (1998-99)
Annual
Membership Meeting –
Tri
County
economic development Directors speak.
Plant Managers
Roundtable – Wheaton Pharmatech presents on lean manufacturing
Plant Manager
and Principles roundtable provides very successful dialogue
HR Roundtables
continue and develop the first Regional Wage and Hour Survey.
2nd
Grant received for Manufacturing Awareness – Hired Jackie Gast as
coordinator and Lori Morgan as support help. Second Video produced
to encourage careers in manufacturing, “Open New Doors in
Manufacturing”.
1999
Oliver Handy,
Plymouth
Tube – LSMN Chairman (1999-00)
Launched the
first IT Roundtable series.
First Annual
Golf Tournament at Great Hope – 88 golfers and 130 at bullroast
October is
Manufacturing Month: Best Practices Symposium; Joint Plant Managers
and Educators Roundtable
26 Programs:
HR Roundtables
continue: Second Wage and Hour Survey developed, Plant managers
discuss Airport and Airline issues, Y2K Workshops and recycling
opportunities.
“Student Career
Development” activities continue with First Annual Apple Flingin’
Contest, at Winter Place Farms, tri-county event.
71 students and
1 teacher placed in manufacturing internships
800 students and
290 teachers participate in Plant Tours
5 “Career
Nights” sponsored
5 LSMN members
served on School Improvement Teams
30 Speakers for
tri-county awareness events
2000
Norm Wolske, Rubberset – Board Chairman (2000-01)
LSMN applied for
501(C) 6 to incorporate as a Non-Profit.
June 30th
, 2000 – LSMN leaves SSU, Renee Stephens resigns LSMN Jackie
Gast serves as “Interim Director”.
2nd
Annual Golf Tournament & BullRoast – Great Hope and UMES
Student Career
Development – tours, internships, programs continue and successful
Membership
meeting -Conectiv and issues with de-regulation and choice.
24 events held:
3rd Annual Plant Managers and Educators Meeting held,
After Hours topic on Kaizen, IT Roundtable and HR continue with
speakers from Police Chief Webster, Workforce Investment Board, OSHA,
and Disabilities in the Workplace.
New Group Buying
Opportunity offered to members for Utilities and Paper
2001
New Offices are set up at
Wor-Wic
Community
College
35 meetings,
programs and events held including Student Career Development
programs, Ergonomics, IT roundtable, HR Roundtables, General
Membership meeting with speakers from Wheaton Pharmatech and Matech.
3rd
Annual Golf Tournament and Bullroast at Green Hill, most profitable
golf tournament with the aid of Conal Turner, Somerset County
Schools as event Chairman.
Fall – LSMN
enters into a Management Contract with Wor-Wic and appoints Bill
Cecil at LSMN Director.
Ed Urban,
Harvard Custom Manufacturing elected Chairman from 2001-02.
Jim Lapke,
Relcomm Technologies is Vice Chairman.
56 manufacturing
members, 20 ex-officio members |
