Last week, California Steel Industries (CSI) President and CEO Marcelo Botelho participated in a virtual manufacturing roundtable led by California Governor Gavin Newsom to share his company’s swift response efforts, operation modifications and employee experiences with other industry participants.
CSI’s testimony was part of a collaborative effort to assist in guiding the policy surrounding reopening the economy and help the Governor envision what recovery in the manufacturing sector can look like amid a new pandemic-related economic landscape.
As the COVID-19 state-of-emergency orders in California progressively ease, and leadership efforts shift to Stage 2 recovery, it is increasingly being recognized by state authorities and legislatures that a strong economic recovery will not be possible without a strong manufacturing industry.
In recent weeks, state leaders and large industry players have stepped up their collaborative efforts to drive recovery policies that will help protect jobs and ensure that manufacturing in California remains viable and ready to lead robust economic growth when the crisis abates.
On April 28, Governor Newsom and members of the Task Force on Business & Jobs Recovery kicked-off a series of digital roundtable conversations titled, “Economic Recovery and Reinvention Listening Tour” to hear directly from California workers, small businesses and employers throughout the state severely impacted by COVID-19 crisis.
As manufacturers play a critical role in the process of California’s economic recovery, last week Governor Newson hosted a listening session with the manufacturing community to discuss industry challenges, opportunities and ways to meet these foreseen challenges in partnership as the state moves forward.
With the help of CSI’s partners at the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), CSI’s Marcelo Botelho was invited to take part in the roundtable discussion. During the virtual meeting, Marcelo relayed the company’s experience facing the COVID-19 crisis and touched on their current business constraints (Section 232 and slab supply challenges).
The unique steps CSI has taken to put the safety, health and livelihoods of their employees first, the adapted communication efforts to keep their workforce informed daily, and the precautionary efforts made to reaffirm operation confidence for their workforce and customers were positively received and noted by the Governor, state leaders and CSI’s industry colleagues.
Other participants on the call included the Chief Executive Officer of Bishop-Wisecarver, Pamela Kan, the President of Almack Liners Inc., Susana Almack, California representatives from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Governor’s chief of staff, Ann O’Leary, and billionaire climate activist and former Democratic presidential candidate, Tom Steyer, who are heading up the new Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery, California Department of Public Health Director and State Health Officer, Sonia Angell, and the Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Julie Su.
NaturallyNat 