MML First Fridays Presents…
Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem — Growing Beyond Defense Dependence
Friday May 6, 2016 7:15 am – 9:00 am
The Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment issued a grant under its Defense Industry Adjustment program to St. Louis. The grant’s purpose is to create a plan for a future St. Louis economy less reliant on defense spending. Through the last 7 months John Hixson and Brian Lane have been working with AECOM to perform a regional asset map and SWOT/GAP analysis. That information was compiled to create an action plan with specific steps the Private and Public organizations in the region need to act on to produce an advanced manufacturing ecosystem. A successful ecosystem will be a center for manufacturing innovation, increased market competitiveness, and a magnet for talent attraction.
In the last six years, St. Louis manufacturing has seen a tremendous downturn. Ford ended production of the Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Mercury Mountaineer. Chrysler ended production of the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, and Dodge Ram. Boeing has ended the production of the C-17. Over the next five years Boeing is facing significant risk to the F-15 and the F/A-18, as the F-35 gets closer to ramping up production. As a result of these impacts to St. Louis manufacturing, it is more important than ever for St. Louis’s private and public organizations to come together. This public-private partnership will then need to make a deliberate decision that St. Louis will move itself to the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing and remain there for the foreseeable future.
In the last six years, St. Louis manufacturing has seen a tremendous downturn. Ford ended production of the Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Mercury Mountaineer. Chrysler ended production of the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, and Dodge Ram. Boeing has ended the production of the C-17. Over the next five years Boeing is facing significant risk to the F-15 and the F/A-18, as the F-35 gets closer to ramping up production. As a result of these impacts to St. Louis manufacturing, it is more important than ever for St. Louis’s private and public organizations to come together. This public-private partnership will then need to make a deliberate decision that St. Louis will move itself to the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing and remain there for the foreseeable future.
The Speakers:
Brian Lane
As Project Manager for Advanced Manufacturing with the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Brian Lane manages the organization’s Defense Industry Adjustment Federal Grant awarded from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment – aimed at reducing the regions dependency on defense spending through the development of an interconnected advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Brian’s career reflects the current workforce climate of continuous education and training, with the flexibility to utilize transferable strengths to work in multiple industries. A graduate of the University of California at Davis, Brian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Biotechnology.
As a former reluctant St. Louis transplant, he is focused on changing the domestic and global reputation of St. Louis to highlight the abundance of amenities available to businesses and families.
As Project Manager for Advanced Manufacturing with the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Brian Lane manages the organization’s Defense Industry Adjustment Federal Grant awarded from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment – aimed at reducing the regions dependency on defense spending through the development of an interconnected advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Brian’s career reflects the current workforce climate of continuous education and training, with the flexibility to utilize transferable strengths to work in multiple industries. A graduate of the University of California at Davis, Brian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Biotechnology.
As a former reluctant St. Louis transplant, he is focused on changing the domestic and global reputation of St. Louis to highlight the abundance of amenities available to businesses and families.
John Hixson
John Hixson serves as the Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. John provides executive leadership in the area of defense business and defense worker retention and transition. The Partnership is working to dramatically expand the advanced manufacturing ecosystem for the St. Louis Region.
John believes St. Louis’ has earned its place in history as the Gateway to the West and the Gateway to aerospace, and should rightfully be the Gateway to Global Advanced Manufacturing.
John Hixson serves as the Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. John provides executive leadership in the area of defense business and defense worker retention and transition. The Partnership is working to dramatically expand the advanced manufacturing ecosystem for the St. Louis Region.John believes St. Louis’ has earned its place in history as the Gateway to the West and the Gateway to aerospace, and should rightfully be the Gateway to Global Advanced Manufacturing.
MML First Fridays Event Details
Friday May 6, 2016
7:15 – 8:00 am – Breakfast & Networking
8:00 – 8:45 am – Presentation
8:45 – 9:00 am – Question & AnswerEvent Location
The Lodge Des Peres
1050 Des Peres Rd.
St Louis, MO 63131
Event Registration
Friday May 6, 2016
7:15 – 8:00 am – Breakfast & Networking
8:00 – 8:45 am – Presentation
8:45 – 9:00 am – Question & AnswerEvent Location
The Lodge Des Peres
1050 Des Peres Rd.
St Louis, MO 63131
Event Registration
