National Press Release

DETROIT, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will be the kick off speaker at the Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum on July 9 at the Cleveland Key Center Marriott, the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council announced today. At the Forum Strickland will welcome attendees and deliver his message on the importance of collaboration and innovation to the future of manufacturing in Ohio and the region, especially in the emerging energy economy, bioproducts, biomedicine, and logistics sectors.

Earlier this month, Strickland signed a $1.57 billion bipartisan economic stimulus package, which makes investments in job-creating industries and in the state's communities, infrastructure and workforce to stimulate job creation and lay a foundation for long-term economic growth. Ohio is third among the 50 states in manufacturing, and 5th in Fortune 500 companies, and 7th in the production of bio-resources. If Ohio was a country, its economic output would rank 26th among all the nations of the world.

"Manufacturing in the Great Lakes Region has a rich heritage of innovation and a commitment to quality," said Ed Wolking, Jr., president of the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council. "Our challenge is to promote that reputation globally, as well as across the United States."

Other speakers at the Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum include:

-- Joseph Loughrey, president and COO, Cummins Inc.

-- William Testa, vice president and director of regional programs, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

    --  Donald McCabe, vice president, Corning Inc.
    --  Dr. Jared Cohon, president, Carnegie Mellon University

Sponsors include the Joyce Foundation, the Province of Ontario, Canada, National City Bank, Plante & Moran, ASG Renaissance, IBM, MAGNET, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Nortech, and Deloitte.

The Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum brings together leaders focused on promoting, enhancing and preserving manufacturing in the Great Lakes Region. Regional leaders will gather to discuss the image of the Great Lakes Region, innovation in manufacturing, the workforce and skills needed for manufacturing today and in the future as well as the borders and logistics requirements needed to succeed in today's global economy.

The Great Lakes Manufacturing Council is a long-term relationship and collaboration of regional leaders committed to the growth of manufacturing and the Great Lakes Region. For additional information about the Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum, go to www.greatlakesmanufacturing.org or call 866.615.2182.

Contact: Marge Sorge (734.578.6507) Martha Welsh (734.646.5372) Maura Campbell (517.944.0811)

SOURCE Great Lakes Manufacturing Council