This story was written by Chris Sammons, Machine Shop Manager, Calder Brothers Corporation.
At the start of the summer, I attended an I Make America event, Pancakes & Policy. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the organization that founded I Make America, brought some of their employees to Calder Brothers, where we talked about what are the biggest issues in Washington, D.C. right now and how they are impacting us here in South Carolina.
The most significant issues discussed were trade, infrastructure, and workforce development. Workforce development in particular was most interesting to me since that’s how I ended up at Calder Brothers! While I was studying machine tool technology at Greenville Technical College, I was recruited by Calder Brothers as an Entry Level Production Machinist. I worked my way up and now I’m the Machine Shop Manager. Career and technical education made a difference in my life, and I’m so grateful for the doors it has opened for me.
I enjoyed hearing directly from folks who work on these kinds of policies every day. And I liked knowing I have someone fighting for my interests in Washington!
I learned how important it is that my coworkers and I continue to participate in the civic process by engaging with I Make America. They make it so easy for me to contact my elected officials about the issues that matter the most to me. Manufacturing workers DO have a voice, and it’s thanks to I Make America.
