The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA) is pleased to announce industry veteran Neil Kagan has accepted a position as executive director. Kagan has nearly 30 years experience in the field, 20 of those in the Southwest Florida market. Furthering economic development gains for manufacturers in the region and reinforcing a robust workforce are among his top priorities.
Starting with a degree in industrial engineering from California State College-Long Beach, Kagan has worked in capacities such as director of quality assurance and operations manager. In 2007, he joined the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and became an efficiency expert working with small, medium and large companies in a variety of industries. Kagan maintains expertise in process improvement and quality systems such as Lean Manufacturing and ISO 9001.
Kagan said, “I enjoy listening to the ideas and concerns of local manufacturers and look forward to strengthening the SRMA as a resource center to enhance regional conversation. Manufacturers are in an excellent position to thrive economically while attracting and retaining highly skilled, engaged employees who can also expect to be fairly well compensated. It’s an exciting time.”
The SRMA will provide on-going informational workshops, seminars and other activities to increase the engagement of its members and enhance the benefits they receive from the organization. An abiding principle of the SRMA is that manufacturing sector success will result in a more vibrant, diversified economy for Southwest Florida.
For any questions or comments, or to get involved, please contact Neil Kagan at 239-560-0052.
