Former TMA Chairman Steve Kase Discusses Manufacturing Exports At White House Roundtable
(Park Ridge, IL.) - Former Technology & Manufacturing Association of Illinois Chairman Steve Kase recently participated in a roundtable discussion on exports at the White House. Kase, President of ASK Products in Aurora, IL, was a guest of Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11). United States Trade Representative Mike Froman and Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council Jeff Zients hosted the roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the West Wing. The event focused on exports for small businesses.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, so I am pleased that the White House is working to support small and medium business exports," said Foster. "Small and medium businesses have great potential to play a bigger role in exports, but we need to do more to support them and navigate an extremely complex process. Additionally, we need to provide stability by passing a long-term extension of the Export-Import Bank, an essential service for export businesses of all sizes."
"Job creation disproportionately comes from small to medium manufacturing entities; but, they are disproportionally under-represented in export activities," said Kase. "I was particularly encouraged by the Trade and Economic wings of our executive branch's intention to coordinate best practices across exporting states. Their leadership and employer organization's cooperation can support our efforts to navigate the complexity and risk of export toward more profitable sales and job creation."
At the meeting the group discussed efforts to get more small and medium businesses involved in exports. In 2013, Illinois exported $66.1 billion in merchandise, supporting 339,421 Illinois jobs. ASK Power is an Aurora, IL based manufacturer of electrical connectors for the Truck, Automotive, Telcom, Utility, and Military marketplaces. In 2012, Kase was Chairman of the Board of the TMA.
About TMA: 8 small manufacturing companies who thought they could better themselves by associating with one another founded TMA in 1925. Through the years, members established programs and services that would help their businesses grow and prosper, train their employees, and provide medical and retirement benefits. As a result of these efforts, TMA has grown into an almost 1,000 member not-for-profit organization representing more than 30,000 employees of precision manufacturing and supplier companies throughout Illinois.