NEW INDUSTRY

The Great Lakes WIND Network at WIRE-Net Cleveland, OH

Cultivating the Wind Industry Supply Chain

From: EdWeston, Director Great Lakes WIND Network
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 8:59 AM
To: MKD

Subject: Obama last Friday 

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President Obama and John Grabner Cardinal Fasteners

President Obama spoke with an assembly of manufacturers in the WIND industry.

President Obama shares his time after his speech listening to members from the audience.

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To all,

I was fortunate and invited, along with the CEOs of all of North America’s major wind turbine manufacturers, to attend Barack Obama’s plant tour visit at Cardinal Fastener in Bedford.

The President-elect arrived just before noon and one of the groups he met with first was ours. He encouraged the executives to stay the course because, he said, he would depend on them to create new jobs. He acknowledged his need to help and pledged to work to loosen credit for creation of new wind farms.

After a tour of the plant, he mounted a stage that Cardinal erected. From there he addressed the assembly for about 20 minutes  the employees and their families, a set of local dignitaries that included Ohio’s Governor and Lt. Governor, those of us from the wind industry, and about 130 members of the press. 

His topic was economic recovery, and at one point he said that if anyone doesn’t believe that a rust-belt company in a financially stressed like the state of Ohio can find a way to create new jobs and earn money in the alternative energy industry, then all they need to do is visit Cardinal Fastener and talk with John Grabner, its President.  

I got to meet the new President and shake his hand twice, once in our wind group meeting and again after his speech. And, speaking for the CEOs, I can say that if Obama didn’t win them over in general election, he made a huge step Friday with his wonderful appearance.

Ed Weston 

Director,  Great Lakes WIND Network™

4855 West 130th Street, Suite 1 

Cleveland, OH 44135  USA 

Tel:       216.588.1440, ext 125 

Fax:      216.588.1439 

Web:    www.glwn.org