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MiMfg Magazine
December 2019
Thank You for Letting Me Serve You
By Chuck Hadden • MMA
As many know, I will be retiring at the end of
2019 and so this will be my final opportunity to
address the large majority of MMA members. I
asked for this space to say thank you to our members
and the MMA family for this fantastic experience to
lead the Association and work for the best industry
in Michigan.
Some know this story but, when I first came to
town in 1984, I was working for the Licensed Beverage
Association. I had no idea what an association was
but I quickly realized that this was my calling. When
I decided that this was my career path, I sat down
and listed out the top associations in the state.
The first one on the list was the MMA.
What better place to work than for people who
make things! If I could help them to make those
things better, what a career that would be. This has
always been my dream job and I was lucky enough
to come to MMA. It was at a time where the
industry had been beat up quite a bit.
At that time, there were plants being built outside
of Michigan by Michigan companies. Why? Because
we weren’t competitive. I am proud that MMA has
been able to play a role in making our state competitive
again — with other states and with locations around
the world — but it hasn’t been easy. It’s small steps
forward, always looking ahead until one day you
look back and can smile at just how far you’ve come.
And we still have farther to go.
To succeed, you must tell your story and share
the truths about what makes your business great.
I’ve had the chance to walk through hundreds, maybe
thousands, of facilities during my time at MMA and
it is with 100 percent sincerity that I say every single
one of those visits has inspired me. I’m like anyone
else — if you can inspire me, you can inspire your
legislators, your community leaders, the media in
your region, your teachers, the friends and family of
your employees and, most importantly, the next
generation who are still trying to decide who they
want to be as adults. Let them know about you. Let
them know that manufacturing is an opportunity.
Tell your story and show the pride I know each of
you have for being a manufacturer.
More challenges still exist. Costs are too high.
Regulations can be too restrictive. Talent is still hard to
find. But I am encouraged by the manufacturers I’ve
had the privilege to work with, the pro-manufacturing
legislators who understand the important roles the
industry plays in Michigan, and the amazing team at
MMA who work every day for you and are dedicated
to helping you compete.
If I could leave you with one piece of advice it would
be this. Don’t take yourselves lightly or underestimate
the success that can come when manufacturers work
to do something amazing. Be proud of who you are
and what you can do. Manufacturers add to the
economy — you are the most influential and vital
part of Michigan. The paychecks you give out stay
in your communities. The taxes you pay result in
better roads and bridges, more effective first responders
and hospitals, schools and parks to be proud of. You
are all leaders deserving of recognition and your
businesses are deserving of so much success.
I can look back at my time at MMA and see that
we have come a long way. It would not have been
possible without the support of you, the members.
Thank you so very much for your trust and for allowing
me to be a part of this great journey with you.
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Chuck Hadden has served MMA since 1993, first as a public policy
officer and as lead lobbyist. He was named president and CEO in 2008.
During his tenure, he was instrumental in obtaining passage of
significant legislation to benefit the manufacturing sector, including
restructuring Michigan’s tax and energy policies. He also sits on the
Michigan Works! Board of Directors as an advocate for talent and
workforce development initiatives in manufacturing.
In retirement, Chuck is looking forward to touring the national parks in
his RV with his lovely wife Cindy when they’re not “beach-bumming it”
on the shore of Lake Michigan in their new home of Grand Haven.