Rockford, Ill. ─ The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), will sponsor Metal Matters: The Premier Annual Conference for the Metal Fabricating Industry on March 15-17, 2007, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Economic futurist Jeff Thredgold will deliver a keynote projecting a financial forecast for the industry. A second keynote on industry economics will be presented by Clare Zempel of Zempel Strategic. Other management sessions will address high performance leadership, business exit strategies, lean manufacturing, healthcare issues, and conflict resolution.

FMA’s Precision Sheet Metal Technology Council and its Plate Processing and Fabricating Technology Council will present sessions on advancements in their respective industries.  Optional post-conference workshops will be offered on cost estimating, work force development, and leadership appraisal.  Networking opportunities will include golf at Disney’s Eagle Pines Golf Course, Afternoon receptions with the exhibitors, a fireworks reception at Epcot, and an evening at Cirque du Soliel® La Noube^TM.

Details and registration are available online at www.fmanet.org, or by calling 815-399-8775.

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl., is the leading educational association serving the metal forming and fabricating industry. FMA offers technical conferences, workshops, and in-plant training; its official publication,  The FABRICATOR®; industry surveys; networking opportunities; the industry’s most extensive research library; and a foundation scholarship program. FMA co-sponsors FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show, North America’s largest annual tradeshow for metal forming and fabricating professionals. Visit FMA on the Web at www.fmanet.org.

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CONTACT:
Dena Mattausch
FMA Marketing
815-227-8253
denam@fmanet.org