WHAT:          California State University, Northridge students, engineering graduate student James McCloskly and English major Lily Thiemens, are going to be presented with a check for taking first place in a national contest to come up with ways business leaders can attract the best and brightest to pursue careers in the manufacturing industry.

Miller Ingenuity, a manufacturing innovation leader located in Winona, Minnesota, invited all college and graduate students to submit plans and creative ideas in response to the challenge: “How Might American Manufacturers Attract the Best and Brightest Innovative Minds to Pursue Careers in the Manufacturing Industry.” Steve Blue, president and CEO of Miller Ingenuity, will personally present the CSUN students with their cash winnings.

For several decades, the U.S. manufacturing industry has lost its world dominance to countries with cheap and abundant labor. However, American companies have competed well when innovative products are combined with lean process and cutting-edge technologies to reduce costs. Miller Ingenuity has quadrupled its sales in recent years thanks to innovations throughout the company and they want to share how they achieved this success for the benefit and growth of the American Manufacturing industry.

WHEN:           10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2015

 WHERE:        

California State University, Northidge

Jacaranda Hall, 1^st Floor Conference Room 1568

18111 Nordhoff St.

Northridge, CA 91330

WHO:            

CSUN engineering graduate student James McClosky

CSUN English student Lily Thiemens

Steve Blue, president and CEO of Miller Ingenuity

Media Contacts: Carmen Ramos Chandler, CSUN Media Relations, (818) 677-2130, carmen.chandler@csun.edu, or Sarah Reese, (484) 716-2095, sarah@2010solutions.com