Celebrating Arizona Manufacturers Month in Tucson - #MFGAZ

Yesterday afternoon I joined Gov. Brewer at Universal Avionics in Tucson, where she toured their state-of-the-art facility and continued her promotion of October as Arizona Manufacturers Month.

Universal Avionics is a leader in aviation safety. They’ve been “safely guiding pilots and their passengers worldwide for over 30 years.” If you’ve ever heard of a black box, then you’ve heard of their products. Although, as was pointed out at yesterday’s event, the box is actually red or orange, not black.

 Gov. Brewer poses with participants at Wednesday's Universal Avionic's tour

Arizona was very fortunate when the company chose to relocate its headquarters from California to Tucson. Universal Avionics has a strong reputation among their suppliers and a good relationship with the state’s universities. The company’s legacy of safety -- and technological achievements -- has been noted by multiple groups, including the Arizona Manufacturers Council (AMC). In 2009 Universal Avionics was named Small Manufacturer of the Year by the AMC. They’ve also been three-time Arizona Tech Council award recipients. They’re obviously doing something right.

 Gov. Brewer tours Universal Avionics in Tucson

Gov. Brewer offered high praise to the company, and Universal Avionics returned the compliments, praising her for her continued work on four issues important to Arizona manufacturers: fostering workforce development, establishing a competitive tax structure, promoting entrepreneurship, and strengthening infrastructure. Gov. Brewer has provided a clear vision for the state – a vision where Arizona’s business climate is strong and progress is continuously being made. She has worked hard to improve our state’s education standards, ensuring Arizona manufacturers have a steady pipeline of qualified, skilled workers.

 Gov. Brewer provides a copy of the Arizona Manufacturers Month proclamation

Yesterday’s event was one of many for Arizona Manufacturers Month. You’ll find Gov. Brewer touring the state and highlighting Arizona manufacturers all throughout October. The Arizona Chamber and the AMC will be along for the ride. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates throughout the month, and check back into the Hamer Times blog often, as I’ll be sharing my experiences on the road. You can also share your own stories and view those of other Arizonans with the #MFGAZ hashtag. For a full list of Manufacturers Month events and some great videos highlighting Arizona manufacturers, visit www.manufacturingrevolution.com.

I’d like to thank Gov. Brewer, Universal Avionics, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and Steve Macias, President and CEO of Pivot Manufacturing and chairman of the AMC, for making yesterday’s event a great success.