010920_SCMA Textile Summit Review

Charles Hamrick, CFO of Hamrick Mills and chairm of SCMA’s Textile Division, welcomes attendees. He informed members of the passing of two previous chairmen of the alliance’s predecessor organization, the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association. Fred Dent, a Spartanburg businessman and textile industry leader who led Mayfair Mills for decades and served in top political in two presidential administrations, was 97. And George Stone, 85, the former president of Jackson Mills, was 85.	Kim Glas, president & CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), speaks about the council’s efforts to help push the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) across the finish line, as well as other issues in which the NCTO is involved such as the China 301 IPR case, Miscellaneous Tariff Bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) expansion and more.	Max Metcalf, manager of Government and Community Relations at BMW Manufacturing Company, LLC, Greer, S.C., and chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance’s Board of Directors, welcomes attendees.
Bill Jackson, assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, Office of U.S. Trade Representative, Washington, D.C., updates members on various trade issues at the Textile Summit.	Sara Hazzard, president & CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, provides an Alliance and legislative update.	Honorable Senator Harvey Peeler of the South Carolina State Senate discusses priorities for the 2020 S.C. legislative session.
Joey Von Nessen, research economist at University of South Carolina Moore School of Business, provides an economic update.	Dirk Pieper, president & CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors, Greenville, S.C., makes an announcement.	A panel discusses employment challenges in South Carolina (L-R) Tiffany Jaspers, director of Business and Economic Development, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW); Elisabeth Kovacs, deputy director of Workforce Development, S.C. Department of Commerce; Jennifer Little, director of Career Services, Spartanburg Community College; and moderator James Richter of the SCMA.
James Richter of the SCMA moderates a panel on employment challenges in South Carolina.	Tiffany Jaspers, director of Business and Economic Development, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), speaks during the panel session.	Elisabeth Kovacs, deputy director of Workforce Development, S.C. Department of Commerce, makes a point during the panel session on employment challenges.
Jennifer Little, director of Career Services, Spartanburg Community College, discusses how the school is helping local manufacturers with their training needs.	Harriett Scarborough of Central Textiles listens to a presentation.	Don Bockoven, CEO of Fiber Industries, LLC, takes in a presentation.
	Cameron Hamrick, president of Hamrick Mills, Gaffney, S.C., listens to NCTO President & CEO Kim Glas discuss the USMCA.	Bill Bowen, vice president of purchasing at Inman Mills
Charles Little, vice president of procurement at Mount Vernon Mills

Posted January 9, 2020

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) featured a variety of speakers at its annual Textile Summit here last month.

The conference provided a forum for South Carolina's textile community to hear from state and national experts, learn more about trends and issues facing the industry and exchange ideas with other textile leaders.

Topics and speakers included:

Trade Update

Kim Glas, president & CEO, National Council of Textile Organizations

Federal Update

Bill Jackson, assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, Office of U.S. Trade Representative

Employent challenges panel discussion

Tiffany Jaspers, director of Business and Economic Development, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW);
Elisabeth Kovacs, deputy director of Workforce Development, S.C. Department of Commerce;
Jennifer Little, director of Career Services, Spartanburg Community College; and
Moderator James Richter of the SCMA.

Priorities of the 2020 South Carolina Legislative Session

Sen. Harvey Peeler, South Carolina Senate

Current State of the Economy

Joey Von Nessen, USC Moore School of Business

– Devin Steele

SCMA Textile Summit attracts executives to diverse program

Max Metcalf, manager of Government and Community Relations at BMW Manufacturing Company, LLC, Greer, S.C., and chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance’s Board of Directors, welcomes attendees.

Bill Jackson, assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, Office of U.S. Trade Representative, Washington, D.C., updates members on various trade issues at the Textile Summit.

Sara Hazzard, president & CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, provides an Alliance and legislative update.

Honorable Senator Harvey Peeler of the South Carolina State Senate discusses priorities for the 2020 S.C. legislative session.

Joey Von Nessen, research economist at University of South Carolina Moore School of Business, provides an economic update.

Dirk Pieper, president & CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors, Greenville, S.C., makes an announcement.

James Richter of the SCMA moderates a panel on employment challenges in South Carolina.

Tiffany Jaspers, director of Business and Economic Development, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), speaks during the panel session.

Elisabeth Kovacs, deputy director of Workforce Development, S.C. Department of Commerce, makes a point during the panel session on employment challenges.

Jennifer Little, director of Career Services, Spartanburg Community College, discusses how the school is helping local manufacturers with their training needs.

Harriett Scarborough of Central Textiles listens to a presentation.

Don Bockoven, CEO of Fiber Industries, LLC, takes in a presentation.

Cameron Hamrick, president of Hamrick Mills, Gaffney, S.C., listens to NCTO President & CEO Kim Glas discuss the USMCA.

Bill Bowen, vice president of purchasing at Inman Mills

Charles Little, vice president of procurement at Mount Vernon Mills