At our May Division Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, we approved the long-range schedule for our road shows. All four courses (supplier audit, supplier certification, supplier nonconformances, and business continuity) will be offered. We will share the cluster coordination duties among the four instructors to even out the load. Exact dates for 2012 should be determined in a couple of months.
If you would like to assist in the planning efforts for any of these clusters, please contact our CSD Education Chair, Maria Stoletova, m_stoletova@hotmail.com.
1st Quarter 2012 – Southern Cal (Long Beach, Riverside, Temecula, San Diego)
Lots of industry, especially aerospace, in the Torrance/Long Beach/Downey area. We have been here several times in the past. They have a strong local ASQ presence. Riverside also has lots of businesses and will draw from the eastern LA Basin of Ontario and Fontana. Temecula is a nice community on the road to San Diego. Home to device, pharma, and wineries. San Diego is San Diego. All easy drives. Dick Gould will be coordinating this cluster.
2nd Quarter 2012 – Grasslands (Okla City, Wichita, Tulsa)
We know there is a lot of activity in both Oklahoma City and Wichita. It’s a 2 3/4 hr. drive between them. The Wichita ASQ is quite active. Tulsa is a big and progressive city. We were planning to be in Joplin, but the tornado beat us to it. Dennis Arter will be coordinating this cluster.
3rd Quarter 2012 – Mid America (Columbus, Toledo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh)
We are quite familiar with Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. They have all been good draws in the past. As the Great Recession ends, companies here are tooling up for more business. While we have never done a roadshow in Toledo, I feel the opportunities are high. Betty Kildow will be coordinating this cluster.
4th Quarter 2012 – Arizona Mini (Phoenix and Tucson)
We have been to Phoenix a couple of times before. They always wait until the last minute to sign up, so it is frustrating. It’s a 2 hour drive down to Tucson. They have a strong ASQ group. Not much else within driving distance, so we make this a mini. Dick Gould will be coordinating this cluster.
1st Quarter 2013 – Bayou (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Biloxi)
There’s enough oil, gas, and chemicals in the New Orleans – Baton Rouge corridor to fill several classes. We may wish to add Houma (down near the bottom of the state), which is surprisingly active with agriculture and shipbuilding. Biloxi will serve Gulfport to Pascagoula and maybe even Mobile. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Baton Rouge. Dennis Arter will be coordinating this cluster.
2nd Quarter 2013 – Piedmont (Reston, Harrisburg, Baltimore)
Northern Virginia out by Dulles airport will draw the government contractor crowd. We had good attendance in Harrisburg back in 2007. Baltimore has also been good in the past. Richmond was considered, but dropped because of the long drive in Washington, DC, traffic. Kathryn Roberts will be coordinating this cluster.
3rd Quarter 2013 – North Country (St. Paul, Winona, Eau Claire)
We always have a successful run in the Twin Cities. Last visit was in 2008 and just before the recession pause. We overbooked the rooms! We can count on the ASQ section to support us. Winona is home to Benchmark Electronics and a few other businesses. Surprisingly active and will also draw from Rochester and the Mayo Clinic crowd. Eau Claire is a big city and home to small manufacturing and wood products. We have not been here before. Betty Kildow will be coordinating this cluster.
4th Quarter 2013 – West Texas Mini (Amarillo and Lubbock)
Amarillo is agriculture and DOE contractors. Don’t know if it would fly, but it is an unserved community. Lubbock is a booming metropolis with a significant amount of high tech industry. And wind generators. Kathryn Roberts will be coordinating this cluster.
Dennis Arter, CSD Content Chair
