Remembering 2011—The IES ‘Top 11 from 2011’
We're all back to work for 2012, and I think it's going to be a great year! In fact, today I'm meeting with my senior leadership team to plan out how we're going to tackle this year's challenges. While we're doing that, I thought I'd start 2012 with a look back at last year.
2011 was an excellent year for the Industrial Extension Service, with a lot of new and unique accomplishments. For our clients and friends, Advisory Board, and employees, here's what I think our 'Top 11' things were from 2011:
11. We went through a massive reorganization after my Deputy Director left to head up another part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership; in the process, we promoted one of our own,improvement specialist Phil Mintz, to become Director of the North Carolina MEP.
10. Some of our Advisory Board members went to Washington to meet with legislators for "Hill Day," and the Board started us down the road to the most in-depth strategic planning effort we've ever begun -- one of the reasons 2012 should be a very productive year.
9. The Manufacturing Makes It Real tour ended by presenting "Made in North Carolina" products to the NC Museum of History and by being included in Guy Kawasaki’s bestselling book Enchantment.
8. The Technology Incubator hosted the North Carolina Business Incubator Association meeting and began reshaping itself for the future -- which will include not only in-house clients but a new "virtual" incubator for entrepreneurs throughout the state.
7. Our part of the OSHA Training Institute became an international resource, helping clients as far away as Afghanistan. (Another part of IES, the Minerals Research Laboratory, routinely works with international clients as well.)
6. We brought in a huge crew of experts under a grant-funded effort led by Buster Knox to assess all the community colleges in North Carolina for potential energy saving ideas.
5. We offered new products like AS 9120, a new standard for aerospace suppliers, and the Lean Healthcare Certificate. We also opened a new office in Kannapolis
4. The E3 (Energy, Environment, Economy) program celebrated its 1-year anniversary of transforming communities, under the able leadership of Anna Mangum.
3. IES became a center of expertise for the rest of the NC State University campus, as David Yates led lean projects and Value Stream Mapping exercises in the Colleges of Natural Resources and Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
2. President Obama visited an IES client, Westar Precision in Apex, Governor Perdue mentioned IES in a speech to the Southern Growth Policies Board, and former Governor Jim Hunt also talked about IES in a speech to western NC economic developers.
1. We trademarked the "Made Real in NC" logo for the Manufacturing Makes It Real Network, and completed our first year with over 600 attendees at 7 network events. We look for more great events and benefits for manufacturers as the Network grows and matures.
'Made Real in NC' Logo, available for use by MMIR Network members to mark their products
I look forward to building on those successes, and continuing to help the North Carolina economy thrive in 2012 and beyond. I hope your year has started off well, and gets better every day! And if you need help with your services or products, remember that the Industrial Extension Service is here for you.
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