Chris Weiser named to Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board

Chris Weiser, owner and chief executive officer of J.V. Manufacturing in Springdale, Arkansas, has been named to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) Advisory Board.

The national board is legislatively mandated and established pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Weiser is the first Arkansan appointed to the Advisory Board. His term will expire in 2020.

MEP is a unique program, consisting of centers in each of the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico with partnerships at the state, federal, and local levels. The MEP Advisory Board provides advice on the activities, plans, and policies of the program; assessments of the soundness of the plans and strategies of the program; and assessments of current performance against program plans. Last year, MEP Centers assisted more than 25,445 manufacturers, leading to $9.3 billion in sales, $1.4 billion in cost savings, $3.5 billion in new client investments, and helped create and retain more than 86,602 jobs.

“Manufacturing has a rich history in Arkansas that continues to grow due to innovative manufacturers that expand and locate in the state,” said Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. “The fact we now have an Arkansan serving on this board is a testament to Chris’ reputation among his colleagues and Arkansas’ significant manufacturing presence. Congratulations to Chris on his selection to join this influential group of leaders.”

“It’s an honor to join the MEP Board as we work to support and grow manufacturing throughout the United States,” said Weiser. “I have a passion for manufacturing and look forward to sharing the knowledge I’ve gained through years of experience with my colleagues on the board. I believe, with support from organizations like MEP, the future for manufacturing in the U.S. is extremely bright.”

“Manufacturing is a crucial sector in Arkansas’ economy and we need to continue to foster an economic environment that helps the industry succeed in today’s global economy,” said Senator John Boozman (R-AR). “That is why it is imperative that an Arkansan has a seat at the table. In this role as a member of the MEP board, Chris can provide valuable insight and counsel that will help manufacturers around the country build off the successes we have seen here in Arkansas.”

Weiser will join a team of 14 manufacturing professionals chosen to provide advice and guidance to the National Manufacturing Extension Partnership.  A native of Northwest Arkansas, Weiser graduated from Springdale High School in 1967. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas and is a graduate of the Executive Program at the University of Virginia. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, he worked for Freeport MacMoran, a minerals and oil-and-gas producing company in Louisiana. He returned to Arkansas in 1985 to help his parents run J.V. Manufacturing Inc. The privately owned company has been in business since 1978 providing CRAM-A-LOT® Solid Waste & Recycling equipment for commercial and industrial applications. The company has two manufacturing locations, one in Springdale and the other in Conway.

Established in 1995, Arkansas’ NIST MEP is a program of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Manufacturing Solutions Division. Over the past five years, Manufacturing Solutions has helped Arkansas manufacturers with $836 million in increased and retained sales, $15 million in cost savings, $152 million in client capital investment, and more than 7,166 created and retained jobs.

Additional information on Manufacturing Solutions can be found here.