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(May 3, 2017) - Too many job openings and not enough people to fill them: perhaps the number one challenge facing manufacturers across northwest Ohio and the country. Public accounting firm Gilmore Jasion Mahler works with many clients in the manufacturing space and is bringing them and other manufacturers together with educators, students, parents and other officials to discuss ways to work together to overcome these challenges. “Help Wanted: Getting Students and Manufacturers to Speak the Same Language” is an interactive panel discussion scheduled for Thursday, May 25th in both Maumee and Findlay. The events are from 11:30 am-1 pm at Findlay Country Club at 1500 Country Club Drive in Findlay and from 3-5 pm the same day at Brandywine Country Club at 6904 Salisbury Road in Maumee. “We know that the lack of young people pursuing the skilled trades has strained area manufacturers for many years,” says CPA Charlie Heid, who leads Gilmore Jasion Mahler’s Manufacturing Specialist Group. “We hear from our manufacturing clients this is perhaps the biggest challenge they continue to face. We also know we can’t solve this in an afternoon, but we’re hoping to move the needle and offer some valuable takeaways for our attendees. The moderated panel discussions will include TPS Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant, Penta Career Center Superintendent Ron Matter, Pam Hamlin, Career Tech Coordinator at Findlay’s Millstream Career Center as well as young people and their parents. The events are open to financial executives from area manufacturing & distribution businesses and their HR representatives. Some executives from the construction industry will also attend, as they face the same struggle. Other guests important to this ongoing conversation will include: • LuAnne Cooke, Governor’s Liaison to Northwest Ohio • Ryan Burgess, the Director of the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation • State Representative Bill Reineke • Tim Meister, Superintendent, Four County Career Center • Greg Edinger, Superintendent, Vanguard Sentinel Career & Technology Centers • Andrea Kramer, member of Governor Kasich’s Executive Workforce Board • Julie Baker, Executive Director, Owens Community College - Findlay There is no cost to attend the roundtable events. The Findlay event includes lunch. The Maumee event includes an optional social hour from 5-6 pm. Manufacturing financial executives and their HR representatives can RSVP via email for either roundtable event at info@gjmltd.com. Please specify which event you’ll be attending. Gilmore Jasion Mahler (GJM) established the Manufacturing & Distribution Financial Executive Roundtable series after learning that area manufacturers needed a way to come together to share their challenges and successes. The events are held three times a year. Previous roundtable topics have included the economic outlook, company culture, employee engagement and the state of Ohio manufacturing. Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD is the largest public accounting firm in the region, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers comprehensive financial services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory and healthcare management. GJM’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities. Learn more about Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD at https://gjmltd.com/. Contact: Susan Ross Wells, Marketing Manager Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD Direct: 419-794-2052, Mobile: 419-376-3601