Name: John J. Grady
Position: Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturing Association
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Background: Director of Corporate Relations, the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. Prior to that he was in public relations for member relations at Associated Industries
Education: State University of New York at Brockport
Age: 40
Residence: Johnston
Brought in a year ago to run the Rhode Island Manufacturing Association, John J. Grady has made it his mission to change the “smokestack stereotype” associated with the industry both at the State House and with the general population.
He has set out to do this through education and collaboration. Working with other organizations and connecting the state’s manufacturers through a bi-monthly newsletter, he has increased membership in RIMA by more than 100.
With his goals set on another 100, Grady has been planning and organizing a black-tie gala at the State House Friday Nov. 2, called “A Golden Moment for Manufacturing” the event will link the state’s manufacturers with legislatures. The idea is to create a new image for the state’s oldest industry and move forward with that image in the new millenium.
PBN: What is the Rhode Island Manufacturing Association?
GRADY: We are a lobbying group strictly for manufacturers in Rhode Island. We have over 200 members right now that include large, medium-sized, and some small companies. Our main membership is companies with between 15 and 100 employees. We have 19 companies represented on our board of directors, and they are very involved with the day to day aspects of the organization. The group itself has been around three years. We started with 100 core companies and have doubled our memberships making it a strong lobbying group. We are becoming very connected at the State House. Membership dues are based on the number of employees. We represent the companies and their employees because if the manufacturer isn’t healthy then the employees won’t have a job. To keep manufacturing in the state we have to keep employees employed.
What is the event that you are planning, and what is the goal behind it?
It’s called the Golden Moment of Manufacturing. It’s a black-tie affair at the State House. It’s probably going to be between 300 and 400 people. It’s a lot of legislators, and a lot of the area’s manufacturers who will be attending. We are going to give out three awards. One of them is a Commitment to Manufacturing Award and its going posthumously to John Hazen White Sr. of Taco. His wife Happy, and his son will be there to accept the award. The Rhode Island Manufacturers Advocacy Award is going to Senate Majority Leader Bill Irons, who we believe has made some great strides for manufacturing in Rhode Island. The third one is the Rhode Island Manufacturing Partnership Award and that’s going to the Manufacturing Partnership — a manufacturing training collaborative. The goal of the event is to change the perception of manufacturing, show people it’s not the old smokestack and mill buildings of yesteryears. It’s cutting edge manufacturing and there are people really connected to keeping manufacturing in Rhode Island.
Is the manufacturing community in the state a close one?
Most states have had a manufacturing association for 100 years, Rhode Island has had one for three. I think that people are excited about having the association and are excited about getting together to see what they can do to change the perception of manufacturing.
What are some of the initiatives that you are working on at the State House?
Health care costs are a big thing. Our members health care costs are really putting a stranglehold on them and that’s one of the issues that we really want to address. We are looking legislatively on some issues and some ways that we can change the laws to make competition better, or bring some competition into the state.
Is Rhode Island different from other states in the way they administer health care?
It’s a problem nationwide. Certainly some of the legislation that needs to be passed is going to be at the national level. We are going to work with the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, D.C. to try and see what we can do to help them change things on a national level and in turn help our manufacturers here in Rhode Island. It’s both a state and a national problem at this point.
People have called Rhode Island an “unfriendly place” for manufacturing, how do you respond to that?
I think there are a lot of challenges to manufacturing here in Rhode Island. I think that we are addressing some of the issues and things are changingwe have a ways to go still. There is certainly work to do.
Do you think that your group is at a disadvantage because it is so new?
I think from the beginning people have realized, because of the clout of our board and our members, that we are a force to be reckoned with. Like any organization, I think when you first start you have to make those inroads and we have certainly made them at this point. When we go to the State House we are recognized. People know that I am the director and that I am here to see if we can change things. So, certainly the recognition is high at this point.
There seem to be three major manufacturing groups in the state — you, the Rhode Island Manufacturing Partnership and the Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Services – do you work together or are you competitive?
We are together quite a bit, especially in the last six months because we are all now in the same building. So I see them every day, coming in from the parking lot. We have always been interested in working together, but especially now because of the proximity we work together on a day to day basis. All of our goals are common goals, certainly.
How would you describe the manufacturing industry today?
Progressive is exactly what describes manufacturing in Rhode Island. It really does, and a lot of people don’t realize that. I have gone through a lot of our members’ plants and it’s amazing what kind of work they do, how high tech it is and what kind of procedures they use.
How do you get the general public to understand that?
I think that our event next week is the number one way to do that. It shows people that the state’s manufacturers will come out for a black-tie event. People think that manufacturers aren’t interested in those kinds of functions. That may be true but they are interested in this function because it’s about manufacturing. It’s a step toward changing that perception.
Is there a certain area where Rhode Island manufacturers are focused?
I think in the past the focus was definitely with jewelry manufacturing. There still are a lot of jewelry manufacturers here, but there are a lot of other manufacturers here as well like plating, high tech, and Electric Boat. Every facet of manufacturing is pretty much done in the Rhode Island.
You mention high tech, what does that include?
There is something like software manufacturing, but even high tech is the computer work that people are manufacturing screws and fans for computers. It’s also about using technology — our group has companies that are making a plating piece and in the past they would plate the whole thing with gold where as now they can just do certain parts. Those parts can be as big as a pinhead, and the computer will go through and do it. That is high tech as well.
Over the last few years we saw a lot of people putting money in more cutting edge high technology firms. Are you seeing that come back to more traditional industries?
There is always the core manufacturing that will be supported. High tech had its heightsit’s always going to be there, but it’s always going to be supported by the other more traditional manufacturing. That’s the backbone of a manufacturing economy.
Do you think that Rhode Island has a solid manufacturing economy?
I think it has a manufacturing economy, and always has had one. But it could use a stronger one.
What are the greatest challenges for manufacturers today?
Our three-pronged approach is energy costs, health care costs, and taxation. The other thing is finding qualified help.
Do you think that you can successfully conquer all three or do you think you have to take them one at a time?
We are actually focusing on all three. I think that we can make the difference. The legislature wants to hear us it helps to have a receptive audience.
Has it been difficult for you to get acquainted with the manufacturing community here?
Being an outsider in this state is interesting because it was almost an advantage for me because I got to take a fresh look at the situations here. It was a quick study and everyone was very receptive to talking to me and meeting me. My board was very helpful in bringing me up to speed with what was going on. It didn’t take long to jump in and see what needed to be done.
How is Rhode Island manufacturing affected by the industries of surrounding states?
Our border states of Massachusetts and Connecticut have already addressed many of the issues that we are still talking about, and if a company is looking to move into Rhode Island they are going to look at the border states to see what their tax system is and what their energy costs are. A lot of times it’s just as easy to relocate to Attleboro, Mass., as it is to Woonsocket, RI. So we need to be a little more proactive to make it a better state to move to.
Environmentally, are local manufacturers challenged by the changes in the compliance regulations?
All manufacturers I think want to make sure that the state and the country are clean. No one wants to pollute. There are always going to be some compliance issues that need to be addressed. Manufacturers in Rhode Island, I am sure, want to follow the law.
