President Trump knows better than anyone how beholden he is to manufacturing workers for his victory, and he has sent a strong message that he felt their pain—and would attempt to ease it.
Mid-market manufacturers weren’t big enough to make the president’s dartboard of job-shaming. And CEOs of smaller manufacturers, as well as other mid-market chiefs, would like to see Trump take a broader view of U.S. job creation.
Phobio CEO Stephen Wakeling, for instance, urged the president not to “fight against big macroeconomic principles that I’m not sure he can beat.” The B2B wireless-technology company CEO noted that, “in manufacturing, automation is good. If we become a society of more process-oriented engineers, rather than skilled manufacturing laborers, then that’s good for GDP.”
To broaden the effectiveness of efforts to “reshore” jobs, President Trump might also consider ways to encourage bringing back some of the 1 million information-technology jobs that have been lost to cheaper foreign providers since 2000, suggested Harley Lippman, CEO of Genesis, a domestic tech-staffing firm. “The focus has been on manufacturing, but IT jobs are more plentiful,” he said. “And the cost differential has narrowed dramatically.”
CEOs also hope President Trump will put a kibosh on the Obama administration’s proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act that were put on hold by a federal judge in December.
Known as the “white-collar overtime provision,” the sweeping change will boost compensation for more than 4 million workers. “That would be one of the most damaging things for small and midsized businesses,” said Nick Turner, CEO of Kaye/Bassman International, a managerial recruiter.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
