It is estimated that only 25% of U.S. businesses are “High Performance” and increase in value over time. In a panel discussion moderated by ValuationUSA President Kirk Kleckner and made up of manufacturing business owners and C-suite executives, we’ll explore the concepts of what a “high performance” business is and what strategic value drivers typically exist in a high performing companies.  We will also discuss and open the floor for questions on how you can enhance or create these critical value enhancing characteristics in your manufacturing company. 

Thursday, April 28, 2016
Marriott West Minneapolis (new location)

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Registration/Networking
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Program/Panel Discussion
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Networking Reception 

Business Value:
What Leads to a High Performance Manufacturing Business? 

Panelists:
Steve Hanson: Co-CEO and Owner, PGC Solutions
Tom Knoll: President, Anderson Dahlen Inc
Dave Lucas: President, Scott Equipment Co
Bill Dierberger: President, Skyline Displays

Moderator:
Kirk Kleckner, President & Founder, ValuationUSA, is a CPA, MBA and holds two professional business valuation accreditations. Prior to ValuationUSA Kirk was a Chief Financial Officer for seven years for a $500 million business and prior to that 19 years with a public accounting firm including 13 years as a partner.

Please note our new eligibility requirements: To qualify for attendance at Gears & Gadgets, one must be a manufacturing business owner or currently employed manufacturing leader. This focused approach will enable Gears & Gadgets attendees to engage in conversations that directly pertain to industry issues within their respective manufacturing companies. 

What does this mean for members in career transition? You aren't eligible to attend Gears but we are excited to announce "MAX IT" special programming to help you conduct an effective job search. Contact Marni for more details.

Register Now!

Thank you to our sponsors for making this Gears & Gadgets possible!

Platinum Sponsors:

BDO

BDO Minneapolis is a 60-person practice that focuses on manufacturing firms with revenues between $5 and $500 million, providing audit, tax and outsourced bookkeeping services. BDO is a top-10 national and top-5 international accounting and advisory firm, providing the complete array of assurance, tax and consulting services.
Please contact Steve Stoup, Director of Business Development; sstoup@bdo.com
www.bdo.com 952-656-2601; 7650 Edinborough Way, Suite 225, Edina,MN 55435

Resultants For Business

Every business has obstacles, and the journey never goes exactly as planned. But one thing is certain: What separates the successful CEOs from the unsuccessful CEOs is whether or not they adopt a comprehensive process of execution. That’s where we come in.  Resultants For Business (RFB) works with owners and their leadership teams to turn vision into executable strategy and complex problems into simple solutions.  The result is accelerated growth and value.
Please contact Steve Wilcox, President; steve@theresultantsforbusiness.com
www.theresultants.com, 715-386-2800, 1228 10th Street, Hudson, WI 54016

Fidelity Bank

Fidelity is an independent, privately-owned business bank.  What makes us different from the rest is the Intellectual Capital that enables us to meet customer needs more quickly, provide more creative financial solutions, and anticipate issues before they arise.
Please contact Jeff Campbell, Vice President,  jeff@fidelitybank.com
www.fidelitybankmn.com, 952-830-7221, 7600 Parklawn Avenue, Edina, MN 55435

Mytech Partners

Mytech Partners is an outsourced IT services provider focused on managing the technology infrastructure of small and medium businesses. We help our customers focus on "Above the Line" initiatives that can drive their business forward by improving the way they leverage technology over time. We have several clients in the manufacturing industry and work closely with ERP vendors to make sure technology initiatives are aligned with business objectives. Our vision is "to provide the best IT experience in North America".
Please contact Nathan Austin, VP of Business Development, NAustin@mytech.com
www.mytech.com 612-659-9800; 300 2nd St. NW, New Brighton, MN 55112

Lindquist & Vennum

Confections, conservation tillage equipment, kitchen appliances, mouth guards, ammunition, engineered films/plastic, industrial pumps, food additives, and pacemakers—these are just a handful of the products upon which Lindquist & Vennum’s manufacturing clients have built their businesses. Our 160 attorneys work closely with manufacturers across all practice areas to understand not only their products and their processes, but also how their corporate goals fit within larger industry trends. With deep manufacturing experience in both transactional work and in litigation, our attorneys help manufacturing clients build businesses that are as high quality as their products—and do so without bursting client budgets.
For more information, visit Lindquist.com.

Lockton Companies

More than 5,600 professionals at Lockton provide more than 48,000 clients around the world risk management, insurance and employee benefit consulting services. For over 40 years we’ve been able to tailor our services to meet the specific needs of clients within the manufacturing industry. Although Lockton is the world’s largest privately held insurance brokerage firm, clients most frequently describe us as team members who make their business better. 
For more information, visit www.lockton.com. 

Hockenberg Search

Hockenberg Search is passionate about manufacturing! We partner with growth-oriented manufacturing companies to build Executive leadership teams through our retained Executive search services. Blending personalized service with 'big search firm' expertise provides our clients with a cost-effective and results-driven solution to their hiring headaches. Areas of search expertise include positions from the Director level up to the C-Suite in core manufacturing functions. Hockenberg Search recently launched a Career Transition and Job Search coaching service.
Please contact Marni Hockenberg, President, marni@hockenbergsearch.com
www.hockenbergsearch.com, 952-500-9542, 10653 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55305

Marketing Collaboration Partner:

Manufacturers Alliance

  

Over 400 local manufacturing companies have joined the Manufacturers Alliance to stay on top of trends, make improvements in their companies, and learn from peers what worked, what didn't, and why. If you want your company to learn industry best practices join the Manufacturers Alliance today. Please contact Kirby Sneen, Vice President, kirbys@mfrall.com, www.mfrall.com, 763-557-8007 8421 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 150, Golden Valley, MN 55426

About Minnesota Manufacturing Executive & Gears & Gadgets 

Founded in 2012, Gears & Gadgets is an exclusive quarterly event for Minnesota Manufacturing Executives to discuss industry trends and develop synergystic connections. A typical event showcases a manufacturing industry speaker folllowed by a networking reception with hot appetizers and cash bar. Manufacturing business owners and executives are eligible to attend. This program is 'by invitation only'. To receive invitations,contact the founder, Marni Hockenberg at marni@hockenbergsearch.com or 952-500-9542.