BCCEDA Manufacturers Council Fall Forum: Succession Planning

The BCCEDA Manufacturers Council invites you to attend the Fall Forum and learn about the process of succession planning!    As the workforce continues to age, and the rate of retirement accelerates, succession planning is a topic of ever-increasing interest.  The Fall Forum will kick-off with presentations that introduce the concepts of succession planning including exit planning and transition planning.

Speakers from West Michigan Works, the Small Business Development Center and Steenbergh Consulting will provide their insights into the complete succession planning process to ensure your company is prepared to deal with any potential disruptions caused by leadership changes, retirements, and/or ownership changes. 

Aircraft Precision will offer insights into another aspect of succession planning: ownership.  Having successfully transitioned to an ESOP (employee-owned stock option), Aircraft Precision will discuss the process of establishing an ESOP, and the pros & cons of doing so. 

Breakout sessions will follow the introductory presentations before convening for a panel discussion/ Q&A panel.

Additional details and speaker bios will be available shortly.  

Emily Gary, West Michigan Works: Coming Soon!

Craig Steenbergh, Steenbergh Consulting
Craig was in planning, research and product development in the Mold, Robotic and Specialty Machine and Building Products industries until starting his own business in 1989. His business' primary offering revolves around achieving profitable improvement through strategic planning, marketing systems and continuous improvement/lean. He provides customers with a systems approach of planning, leading, measuring, monitoring and controlling the change and standardization of critical processes. The focus is on the systems approach to improving business and business profitability. Recent projects include Current Engineering; Self-managed Teams; Lean  Enterprise solutions; and, Lead-time Reduction.

Craig has a strong engineering and manufacturing background, including certification in manufacturing processes from GMI and BSI Lead Assessor Training.
FULL BIO HERE

Brooks Kindel, Small Business Development Center
Brooks Kindel is a small business strategist, coach, Certified Small Business Consultant, Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Certified Value Builder. He holds an MBA from Western Michigan University with a concentration in corporate finance. Since starting his career as a banker, he has held a variety of corporate finance positions including CFO and has been General Manager of several manufacturing operations. He has significant experience in over a dozen industries as well as business turnarounds, and mergers & acquisitions.
 
He is currently a Business Growth Consultant for the Michigan Small Business Development Center at Grand Valley State University, working with clients in building the value of their business, exit planning, and aiding with the sale.
FULL BIO HERE

Bill Henderson, Aircraft Precision: Bill is the CEO of Aircraft Precision Products, an employee-owned manufacturer in Ithaca, Michigan, that specializes in gas turbine engine parts for customers such as GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Industria de Turbo Propulsores, and the Department of Defense.  He has over 40 years of experience in aerospace machining.

As a passionate advocate for the promotion of manufacturing as a career choice, Bill chairs several boards including the Central Michigan Manufacturers Association and the Greater Gratiot Development.  He is the immediate past-chair of the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) board.  Bill was able to bring these groups together to facilitate the passing of career technical education millages in a four-county area.  

A graduate of MSU, Bill has been married to his wife Candace since 1992, and enjoys two stepsons and their families, including five grandchildren.

FULL BIO HERE