ROLLA, Mo. — A non-profit consulting organization that receives funds from the Missouri Department of Economic Development has elected a new board chairman and welcomed two new members.
Missouri Enterprise is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership and was founded in 1983. Funding from NIST MEP and the Missouri Technology Corporation in the DED aim at enabling Missouri Enterprise to offer manufacturers a wide range of services at affordable costs.
The non-profit recently elected Tom Brown as chairman with Dr. Sean Siebert and Mark Harper joining the board.
“As chairman, I want to see a greater awareness of Missouri Enterprise throughout the Missouri manufacturing community. I feel that Missouri Enterprise is an underutilized resource, so by elevating its presence more businesses can benefit from the education, guidance, and resources it provides,” said Brown, Executive Director of Operations at Brewer Science. “Through this growth, the leadership of the Missouri Enterprise board and staff can grow stronger companies, richer communities, and position the positive impact of Missouri Enterprise on the manufacturing of Missouri as a model for our nation.
“The Missouri Enterprise board of directors is an impressive collection of successful business leaders that are energetic and willing to share their insights for the betterment of other companies across Missouri. Throughout the state we are seeing companies experiencing challenges – from workforce development to supply chain management – as they work to grow and prosper. In this new role, I am looking forward to continuing the board’s engagement and guidance of the Missouri Enterprise leadership as it carries out its mission of growing our small to medium sized manufacturing organizations.”
Brown has been a part of many major strategic initiatives and recently helped Missouri Enterprise launch its inaugural “In the Lab” workshop, an event that will take place later this month at Brewer Science where other Missouri manufacturers participate in a live simulation on Lean and then experience the practices through an interactive tour at the campus in Rolla. The class has been so popular that it has had to plan two concurrent classes, doubling its original size.
The board also elected two new members to the board: Dr. Sean Siebert of Cuba, Mo, and Mark Harper of Springfield, Mo.
Dr. Sean Siebert is an entrepreneur and serves as the Founder and C.E.O. of the strategic management firm Invent Yourself, LLC, and the Creator of the “Adopt An Innovator” business model for rural community redevelopment.
“Having witnessed firsthand, the tremendous benefit that Missouri Enterprise has brought to the manufacturers in my hometown, I truly believe in the mission of this organization. Helping Missouri Manufacturers Succeed. That’s meaningful, that’s impactful, and it’s something that I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be involved with,” said Siebert. “As a board member, I look forward to collaboration in the areas of working with secondary, and post-secondary aged students, as it relates to career opportunities in manufacturing. Workforce is society’s migraine, and we’ll continue our proactive strategies of addressing this challenge. We’ve gotten out in front of this issue, and strategically, we’ll stay ahead of it.”
As a client of Missouri Enterprise for more than 10 years through his company, Mark Harper brings a unique perspective to the board.
“I hope to use my actual experiences with Missouri Enterprise to provide guidance for existing and future programs and services. I am passionate about manufacturing and its impact on the families of Missouri. I have worked my entire career in manufacturing and believe in supporting this significant business segment of our economy,” said Mark. “No other organization in the state has the focus, direction, and resources to impact manufacturing companies like Missouri Enterprise.”
“We couldn’t be happier with the board’s decision to promote Tom to Chairman and to bring on Mark and Sean. Each brings a new perspective to the board, which we believe will be quite beneficial to Missouri Enterprise as we tackle challenges and develop new strategies in strengthening manufacturing in the Show-Me State,” said Missouri Enterprise CEO and President Dusty Cruise.
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
