What are the issues choking growth and threatening the future of your company in the alternative energy industry? And, what can be done? Those attending the first-ever WIND Summit on July 13-14 in Cleveland, OH, will have the unique opportunity to hear focused panel discussions from leaders who've found what works when it comes to job creation in the wind industry. The conference and exhibition will take on a town hall format where best practices, new ideas, and winning approaches will be exchanged. As an attendee, you'll have an open microphone in extended sessions that invite questions and answers, as well as group discussion.

Keynote speaker Dennis McKinley, ABB Inc. North America Wind Power, will describe how investments in alternative energy can benefit regional manufacturers and suppliers, as well as our nation. He will draw on his experiences in offering an extensive portfolio to turbine EMs and suppliers, as well as developers, owners and operators. In his 30 years with ABB Inc., Mr. McKinley has held a variety of roles in engineering, operations, sales and marketing, and business development. He is articulate, concise and committed to domestic manufacturing in North America.

Each expert panel session will feature at least five knowledgeable industry leaders, as well as policy experts to discuss issues and identify solutions to problems that are limiting our making it here in America. Panel speakers were chosen for their ability and willingness to leave their technology at the door and talk about answers to key supply chain problems that they have pioneered.

On Wednesday evening, Terence P. Stewart, Managing Partner of Stewart and Stewart, a Washington D.C. law firm which filed the 301 petition for United Steel workers on green technology practices by the PRC in 2010, will join in on the discussion. Mr. Stewart has helped shape trade policy and will provide insights on " Leveling the International Playing Field."

"Installing It Here: Joining in Wind Farm Construction" will feature Jeremy Sargent, Senior Project Manager at Barton Malow, among its panelists. Mr. Sargent has more than 15 years of construction experience ranging from bridge building to utility scale wind projects. With the installation of more than 1,500 wind turbines to his credit, Mr. Sargent's impressive hands-on skills and expertise will engage participants.

Dr. Lorry Wagner, an experienced energy engineer and longstanding member of the Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force, will drive our next session, " Doing It Here First: Offshore Wind in North America." Dr. Wagner is president of Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) and played a leading role in the installation of the wind turbine at the Great Lakes Science Center on Cleveland's lakefront.

"Achieving Global Manufacturing Competitiveness" will benefit from the ideas and expertise of Julian Trifan, Siemens Industry, Inc. Ð Power Generation Business Development. In this role, Mr. Trifan focuses on promoting Siemens Machine Tools and Automation solutions to gas, steam and wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers.

Linda Cassil, Senior Strategic Account Manager at Sherwin-Williams, will join the panel on "Inventing It Here: Lowering Costs through New Design." The session will examine how wind turbine OEMs and manufacturers succeed in lowering the costs of turbine ownership through adoption of new technology and design Ð a subject Ms. Cassil is quite knowledgeable in, as she leads a Sherwin-Williams team of scientists, technologists, application specialists and design engineers in developing and implementing cost-effective finishing products and processes.

The final panel session, "Managing Foreign Specifications for U.S. Manufacturability," will tackle issues and provide solutions to becoming a domestic supplier. Relying on knowledge gained from 38 years of foundry experience, Joseph Simko, Vice President of Development at Hodge & Elyria Foundries, has helped his organization realize growth in the alternative energy markets. You'll like what he has to say!

View our full list of speakers at www.GLWN.org, click on Making It Here.

Register Today!
Discounted registrations are available until July 1 at www.MakingItHere.org. Don't miss this opportunity to get unparalleled access to the people you want to meet, all in an intimate conference setting.

GLWN members receive a discounted meeting rate and exclusive members-only networking opportunities. Join the group that is driving changes needed to sustain supply chain growth. Become a GLWN member today, for as little as $500 annually. To find out more, go to at www.GLWN.org, click "Join."

See you at the Summit!