Valentine's Day MFG Expo draws thousands to Cleveland's Galleria

CLEVELAND - Valentine's Day at downtown Cleveland's Galleria is being called "fall in love with manufacturing day."

According to organizers, more than 3,000 people are attending the inaugural International Manufacturing Conference and Expo being held at the shopping mall both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"What you're going to see is a lot of people", said Mary Kaye Denning, President of The Manufacturing Mart , which occupies permanent space at the Galleria. "We're going to have manufacturers who will have a table and they'll be in a booth - like a little storefront - and they'll be showing you what they do."

The Expo is essentially a trade show meant to connect the estimated 10,000 Northern Ohio manufacturers with each other and new business.

"We believe that if we give people the chance to walk into the building with an idea or desire, then they can walk out on the other side of the building in a couple of days with a new venture," said Denning.

More than 100 of the area's top manufacturers have displays spread throughout the Galleria. In attendance are guest speakers, inventors, a workforce development center and even a resume drop. The free public exhibition space is open 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with a ticketed manufacturing conference taking place early both mornings.

The event is timely. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that U.S. manufacturers added 50,000 jobs in the month of January - and 418,000 manufacturing jobs in the past two years.

Just last week, Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced a $40 million expansion and 200 new jobs at Euclid welding equipment manufacturer, Lincoln Electric. Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich also talked manufacturing jobs while campaigning at metal parts maker Jergens Incorporated in Cleveland's Collinwood area.

Representatives from Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center will have a large presence at the Manufacturing Expo and are offering to share their technology and expertise with local innovators.

"We recognize the importance of our manufacturing base to build future jobs and help our economy," said NASA Business Capture Manager Robert Romero. "How can NASA and NASA Glenn be an important role in this, that's what we're looking at doing."

NASA astronaut Greg Johnson attended the conference Tuesday morning and signed autographs with the public.

"We welcome you to come and meet with the resources," said Denning. If you have a great background in math and science and you love engineering, there's probably an opportunity for you here."

Click on the following link for more information about the Manufacturing Expo: www.mfgtradeshow.com