Last month, AEM launched a first-of-its-kind GOTV (or Get-Out-the-Vote) campaign. Equipped to Vote, a full-fledged digital campaign designed to engage, educate, and mobilize the 2.8 million men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry leading up to the general election this fall.
The campaign is quickly gaining momentum and has been widely covered by trade and local media in communities across the country. Thanks to the support from our I Make America Ambassadors, more than 50 member companies have signed up to participate in the campaign, and so far more than 1,000 equipment manufacturing workers have pledged to vote for pro-manufacturing candidates this election.
One of the first companies to join the team was Sullair, a major manufacturer of portable and stationary compressors designed for commercial and industrial use. More than 70 of the Indiana-based company’s employees have signed up for Equipped to Vote and are taking a series of actions using the campaign’s digital action center. Thanks to the support of Sullair’s leadership, employees now know just how critical their vote is in this election.
“Sullair is participating in the Equipped to Vote campaign to provide our employees and their communities the opportunity to learn about the industry’s policy priorities, get involved in the election and help strengthen equipment manufacturing in America,” said Charlie Takeuchi, president and CEO of Sullair. “Our goal is to encourage all of our employees to exercise their right to vote, as it has an impact on our business, our industry and our communities.”
Equipped to Vote participants are not the only ones who recognize how important this election is to the future of our industry and our nation. Stellar Industries' participation in Equipped to Vote got the attention of local press before it was even officially announced. Local news affiliate KIMT News 3 got word of the campaign and reached out to the Garner, Iowa company to learn more. And no matter where or how they are voting this year, the hydraulic truck-mounted equipment manufacturer wants its employees to remember to embrace and appreciate their civic duty.
“The right to vote did not come easy for many,” said Susan Bunz, human resources manager at Stellar Industries. “We have the opportunity and the obligation to take time to learn about the issues and then go to the polls (or your mailbox) to cast your vote.”
As part of their campaign participation, each company receives both a digital and physical toolkit, providing them with the resources they need to encourage the employee to participate and to show off their pro-manufacturing spirit on the factory floor. Kondex, a cutting and wear-resistant component manufacturer based in Lomira, Wisconsin, is taking advantage of the Equipped to Vote branded swag items they received by giving them out to early campaign participants. They, too, have stressed the need to support pro-manufacturing candidates to ensure the industry continues to thrive.
“The future of manufacturing depends on the decisions made on the ballot,” said Kondex President Keith Johnson. “To strengthen manufacturing in our country, it is important to support candidates who will work toward improving our industry.”
Want your company to join in on the fun? Contact AEM’s Wade Balkonis at [email protected] to find out how your employees can get involved, learn about important issues impacting our industry, and earn the chance to win prizes.
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