The Berrien County Manufacturers Council (BCMC) held its annual meeting at Orchard Hills Country Club Wednesday. Invited guests included manufacturers in Berrien County along with representatives of the many organizations working to provide services and support to manufacturers. Students from Brandywine, Buchanan, Niles, Southwestern Michigan College and Lake Michigan College were also present.

Shelley Klug, executive di rector of the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance and BCMC, welcomed guests and led the business portion of the meeting, which included the election of officers and regional representatives for 2012. Following the approval of the slate as presented, the newly elected board president, Mike Oros of Hoffmann Die Cast Corp., introduced U.S. Rep. Fred Upton as the keynote speaker.

Upton brought updates from Washington and presented his views and positions on legislation most likely to impact manufacturers. Upton answered questions covering a variety of topics including energy regulation, corporate and income tax reform, health care reform, President Obama’s 2012 budget and the GM bailout.

Following the meeting, Upton toured Clark Engineering Services in Buchanan, Tem-Pace in Niles, and Hoffmann Die Cast in St. Joseph.

The BCMC annual meeting is a popular event for manufacturers to network with each other and discuss topics of mutual interest. The 2012 Officers elected at the meeting are: Mike Oros, president (Hoffmann Die Cast), Larry Holben, vice president (Lakeside Manufacturing Co.), Pat Brandstatter, secretary/treasurer (Kruger Plastics Products Corp.), Mike Dreher, immediate past president (Modineer Co.).

In addition to the officers who serve as regional representatives, the 2012 regional representatives include: Gloria Ender (Freedom Finishing), Ed Faulkner (Tafcor, Inc.), Rob Woerdehoff (Arlington Metals Corp.), Matt Tyler (Vickers Engineering), Dominick Saratore (C & S Machine Products) and Christopher Tapper (Buchanan Metal Forming).

Any Berrien County manufacturer interested in participating in the council as a member or representative can contact Shelley Klug at 683-1833.