Early Warning Network Capacity Building Project & Manufacturing Succession Solutions:
Proactive Support for Legacy Manufacturing Companies
Manufacturing Renaissance (MR) was a 2023-2024 Phase 1 grantee of the City of Chicago’s Community Wealth Building Initiative. MR’s project focused on capacity building of stakeholders and community members through education/training and relationship building. The goal was to provide training to up to 24 community, economic and cooperative development practitioners to learn about the manufacturing sector, building an Early Warning Network, how to identify, engage and provide technical assistance to legacy manufacturing companies, including for ownership succession transition.
The 24 hour pilot training was held in Fall 2024. In December 2024, representatives from 13 Chicagoland community and industrial organizations successfully completed Early Warning Training.
The following individuals currently serve as Advisory Committee members for the project and helped us revise our Early Warning Manual (the primary training tool) as well as provided valuable input as we created a training curriculum and developed a complementary online course:
With the successful pilot training completed in December 2024, the Chicagoland Industrial Retention Network (CIRN) has now launched! Members of the network convene on the first Tuesday of every other month starting in February 2025.
Tom Goldblatt is the Managing Director of Ravinia Capital Management in Chicago. Tom is an award-winning investment banker, and he is considered a financial rock star in his industry.
Manufacturing Renaissance is thrilled that in addition to doing huge projects like this bankruptcy sale of the ROTI restaurant chain presented below, he is also an active member of the leadership team for the newly launched Chicagoland Industrial Retention Network (CIRN). Tom believes that a robust manufacturing sector is good for Chicago, good for the state and vital for America. For over two years, Tom has helped MR convene events and spread the word to the financial community about ownership succession and the unique relationship between money and manufacturing. We salute Tom for his vision and leadership, and we congratulate him for his continued success.
“The work of Chicago/ Manufacturing Renaissance has never been more important. I am honored to work closely with this group in fulfilling their mission.
Building back manufacturing companies and jobs is one thing everybody can agree on.”
Sandra Finley is the President, CEO, and Board Chair of the League of Black Women, a premier national leadership organization dedicated to empowering Black women. Under her guidance, the League has been lauded for providing strategic resources that support Black women’s leadership aspirations, emphasizing a holistic approach that promotes sustainable and joyful living.
In addition to her role at the League, Sandra collaborates with Manufacturing Renaissance, leveraging the dynamic energy of modern, driven women entrepreneurs. This partnership focuses on transforming potential challenges in the manufacturing sector into opportunities, ensuring that businesses not only survive but thrive within their communities. Through this alliance, Sandra plays a pivotal role in fostering economic democracy and community development, aligning with her commitment to creating inclusive and sustainable growth.
Billy Banks is a seasoned entrepreneur and performance coach with a diverse background spanning startups, human resources, education, and manufacturing. Throughout his career, he has founded companies, facilitated business acquisitions and sales, raised capital, and contributed to generating substantial revenues for both his ventures and those he has consulted for.
Currently, Billy serves as a trusted advisor to startup founders, individuals undergoing career transitions, and CEOs of small to medium-sized enterprises, focusing on their personal and professional development to enhance performance and achieve sustained success.
Billy also collaborates with Manufacturing Renaissance, supporting initiatives that transform challenges in the manufacturing sector into opportunities for sustainable growth and community development. His work helps foster economic democracy and empower future manufacturing leaders.
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