Illinois Manufacturers' Association

06/23/2026

REMINDER: Join us on June 26 for a webinar exploring one of the most challenging aspects of LOTO compliance: the Minor Servicing Exception (MSE).

Industry experts Aaron Gelb and Mark Ishu of Conn Maciel Carey LLP, along with Ted Sberna of White Horse Safety Inc. and the ANSI B11 machine guarding standards committee, will provide practical guidance on:

▶️ Understanding OSHA's interpretation of "routine, repetitive and integral to production"
▶️ Identifying tasks that qualify for the Minor Servicing Exception—and those that do not
▶️ Avoiding common compliance mistakes
▶️ Conducting effective hazard assessments
▶️ Implementing alternative protective measures to ensure worker safety

📅 June 26, 2026 ⏰ 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. CDT
💻 Webinar. https://ow.ly/AE4X50ZeGRR

06/22/2026

The IMA, through a partnership with the American World Trade Chamber of Commerce, offers electronically chamber stamped Certificate of Origin and export related documents. Ensure your process is compliant and future proof by enabling document verification – learn more: https://ow.ly/SsTl50XJlto

06/22/2026

Applications are now open for the next phase of Scaling Transformative Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (STAMP), a statewide initiative helping connect more students to careers in modern manufacturing.

Led by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association in partnership with Education Systems Center (EdSystems) at Northern Illinois University, STAMP supports the launch, enhancement, and expansion of high-quality manufacturing career pathways across Illinois, helping students gain the skills and experiences needed for in-demand careers.

Apply by July 31, 2026: https://ow.ly/Fxqq50ZaKiO

06/22/2026

SAVE THE DATE! Join us on December 11 for our 133rd IMA Annual Luncheon—at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.

This year’s event will once again include our popular breakout sessions leading up to the luncheon, keynote remarks, celebration of our Manufacturer of the Year, as well as member milestone anniversary awards.

This IMA premier event sells out every year! Nearly 1,000 business leaders and elected officials will attend, so mark your calendar now — registration opens in the fall! https://ima-net.org/annual-luncheon/

06/22/2026

IMA members - make sure every package is protected! InsureShield Shipping Insurance by UPS Capital helps safeguard your shipments from loss, damage, and even porch piracy.

Sign up for a new IMA UPS account to join the UPS® Savings Program and unlock your member savings. Already have an account? Use your IMA UPS® Savings Program discount to save up to 65%* on domestic UPS Next Day Air® and up to 42%* on UPS® Ground. Learn more: https://ow.ly/f08150ZeHpF

06/21/2026

Happy first day of summer! ☀️

From backyard cookouts and road trips to ballgames and time at the lake, Illinois manufacturers help make summer traditions possible. Whether firing up the grill, enjoying your favorite snacks and beverages, or cooling off with a frozen treat, products made right here in Illinois are part of the season's biggest moments. Here's to a safe, fun-filled summer—and to the manufacturers and workers who help keep it stocked with the food, drinks and products we enjoy all season long!

06/20/2026

REMINDER: Join the mHUB team for day of fun, food, drinks, and live music as we celebrate Chicago entrepreneurship at mHUB Chicago's annual Community BBQ on Thursday, July 16 at 4:30 PM. Registration is now open – we can’t think of a better way to enjoy the summer season!

🍔Great food & drinks🎶 Live music
🎯 Outdoor games
🔥 Cook-Off Competition
🤝 Networking with Chicago’s innovation community

Learn more and register to join the fun:

Join 1,000+ innovators, tech leaders, creators, and changemakers for one of the summer’s most anticipated gatherings — the mHUB Community BBQ, featuring a…

06/19/2026

Calling all of our small member manufacturers! Join us June 26 for the next Small Manufacturers Council (SMC) meeting — an initiative created exclusively for IMA manufacturing members with 150 employees or fewer to connect, collaborate, and tackle shared challenges. This month’s Small Manufacturers Council meeting is focused on practical workforce resources and ideas that manufacturers in Illinois are actually using today — from apprenticeships and community college partnerships to pipeline development strategies that work in smaller organizations.

SMC Chair Nirel Inman, President of Chicago Glue & Machine, will lead a conversation with Sarah Hartwick, Senior Vice President of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Executive Director of the IMA Foundation, sharing information on workforce programs and resources available to Illinois manufacturers.

**Participation is open exclusively to active IMA manufacturing member companies (150 employees or fewer). Register now: https://ow.ly/Ueu250ZaKsQ

06/19/2026

Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, marks the date in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the end of slavery—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Now recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is an opportunity to acknowledge this moment in U.S. history and learn more about its significance.

As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on our history, honor the pursuit of freedom and equality, and deepen our understanding of the events and people that have shaped America.

To learn more about the history and significance of Juneteenth, visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture:

🔗https://ow.ly/c6TE50W9l6b
🔗 https://ow.ly/uNfn50W9l6a

06/18/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us today for the Southeastern Illinois Manufacturing Roundtable in Flora today! Presented in partnership with Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Business & Industry, IMEC, HELLA Electronics Corporation and Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, today's event offered a hands-on, solution-oriented event focused on workforce development, employee retention, and strategies manufacturers can put into practice immediately.

Big thank you to all of our presenters and panelists, including Randy Prince (IMA); Anthony Browning (Hella Electronics Corporation); Alyson Grady (Illinois DCEO); Sarah Hartwick (IMA); Pamela Barbee (SOUTHERN 14 WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD INC); Sharmila Kakac (Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Frontier Community Coll; Cindy Mayer LWIA #23, C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation; Christy Carroll (Continental Tire the Americas, LLC). We also got a special behind-the-scenes tour of Hella Electronics! https://ow.ly/CXJQ50Z8ARb