New FMA Youth Spokesperson Brennan Palmiter, Actor John Ratzenberger Speak About Manufacturing On 'Better Process' Podcasts

Host of “John Ratzenberger’s Made in America” and former "Cheers" star John Ratzenberger talks about the past, present and future of manufacturing in America, and Florida teenage race car driver and welder Brennan Palmiter discusses his new role as the face of youth manufacturing for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) on the “Better Process” show, a free daily podcast focusing on manufacturing and industry.

Rockford, IL (Vocus) April 25, 2008 -- Host of “John Ratzenberger’s Made in America” and former "Cheers" star John Ratzenberger talks about the past, present and future of manufacturing in America, and Florida teenage race car driver and welder Brennan Palmiter discusses his new role as the face of youth manufacturing for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) on the “Better Process” show, a free daily podcast focusing on manufacturing and industry.

Ratzenberger, a long-time proponent for introducing young people to the exciting career opportunities in manufacturing, states that the future of the industry in this country is in our youth. “Organizations such as the FMA Foundation and the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation, an organization I co-founded, aim to encourage youth to consider manufacturing as a career option,” he said.

“It’s a national hunger right now for our youth to get ‘hands on’ and actually create something,” he added. “These organizations fund camps that allow kids to create something they can build and actually feel good about making.”

Ratzenberger also discusses Palmiter’s new role as the face of youth manufacturing for the FMA, an announcement that was made at a press conference at the recent Metal Matters 2008 executive summit in Orlando. The FMA and its publication Practical Welding Today will sponsor 16-year-old Palmiter, a Livingood Motorsports race car driver from Ormond Beach, Fla., for the 2008 racing season in one initiative to accelerate the association’s outreach efforts to students and encourage young people to consider careers in manufacturing.

Ratzenberger’s full podcast interview can be heard at: www.podcasternews.com/bpp/4985/industry-report-john-ratzenberger-fma-foundation/

In another podcast, teenage race car driver and welder Palmiter talks about his new role with the FMA Foundation, which provides funding to organizations starting or expanding manufacturing camps for youths, and issues scholarships to students at colleges and trade schools pursuing careers in manufacturing.

Palmiter discusses his enrollment in an accelerated graduation program at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Fla., that allows him to graduate high school early, and about simultaneously taking night classes in welding technology at Daytona Beach Community College. In May of 2009, Palmiter will graduate from both high school and junior college with a high school diploma and a vocational certificate in welding technology with four specialized welding certifications.

“For every three welders that retires, only one is entering the industry,” said Palmiter. “What I want to do is to show other students my age that you can graduate high school early and have one heck of a degree at the same time.”

Palmiter will play a key role in the FMA Foundation scholarship program, which offers scholarships to young people attending trade schools or colleges and universities to prepare for metal forming careers in manufacturing. He also will speak to students about welding and fabrication.

Two promotions are already underway. The “GO Brennan” scholarship program awards 10 new scholarships of $500 each for students who create and post videos on YouTube explaining why they want to be in manufacturing, what career they seek and where they want to attend school.

A “Be True to Your School” promotion, sponsored by Practical Welding Today, asks readers to nominate a high school that Palmiter can visit, along with his stock car, and speak to students about welding, racing and manufacturing.

Palmiter’s podcast can be heard at: www.podcasternews.com/bpp/4993/industry-report-brennan-palmiter-fma-foundation/

About Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation

The mission of the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation is to avert a growing crisis in America, one that is occurring because too few young people now develop the kind of manual skills required by industries, workshops and engineering practices. Through mentoring programs, education and media awareness, NBTF seeks to introduce young people to the pleasures of tinkering. More information on the foundation is available by visiting www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org.

About the Better Process Podcast

Based in Colorado and across the US via Skype the Better Process Podcast interviews small and mid-sized manufacturing companies and the companies that service these companies. Shows are free to download from iTunes and are available most business days. More information on the show can be found at www.betterprocess.com. The Better Process Podcast is the voice of the small and mid-sized manufacturing firm.

About FMA Foundation

The FMA Foundation is a charitable organization that offers grants to not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions introducing young people to metal forming careers in manufacturing, provides funding to organizations starting or expanding manufacturing camps for youths, and issues scholarships to students at colleges and trade schools pursuing careers in manufacturing. More information on the foundation is available by visiting www.fma-foundation.org.

About FMA

Based in Rockford, Ill., the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), is a professional organization with more than 2,300 members working together to improve the

metal forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show. FMA also has a technology affiliate, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photography is available by contacting Ben Arens at 1-800-837-7123.

For more information contact:                

Ben Arens or Gary Goodfriend

L.C. Williams & Associates

(312) 565-3900 or (800) 837-7123    

Patricia Lee

FMA

(815) 227-8286    

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