History of MN Valley Med Net
The Minnesota Valley Medical Manufacturers Network (Mn Valley Med Net) is an outgrowth of an economic development initiative of the City of Burnsville named the Burnsville Medical Alliance (BMA). The purpose of the BMA was to foster the growth and expansion of the bioscience industry in Burnsville . In conjunction with that effort it was felt that a networking opportunity for Burnsville manufacturers related to the medical field should be created.
In January of 2006 a planning meeting of Burnsville manufacturers was held to discuss the possibility of creating a networking opportunity. Those companies present agreed the networking would be beneficial to their business. Subsequently breakfast meetings were held to further flesh out ideas. Three company presidents (Darlene Miller of Permac Industries, Rich Abbruscatto of Telehealth Technologies, and Rich Daly of Consatech) rose to the occasion to create a networking framework.
These three presidents created a working team that also included the Burnsville Chamber and the City of Burnsville to plan a framework. It was decided that an association should be created. During the discussion it was also decided that to limit the geographic scope to Burnsville would be too limiting. After a number of discussions it was decided that the geographic scope would be the Minnesota River Valley , hence the name - Minnesota Valley Medical Manufacturers Network.
On October 31, 2006, the first event of the new group was held. This was a seminar on FDA regulations and how they related to component manufacturers. This first event was held in the Council Chambers of Burnsville City Hall and attracted about 25 participants. This first event was followed by three networking events and two seminars in 2007.
The attendance at the 2007 events provided some interesting lessons to the start-up association:
• Many manufacturers were in need of both networking opportunities and education in how to capture or grow in the medical industry.
• Firms from well beyond the Minnesota Valley had an interest in belonging.
• Firms ranging from start-up device manufacturers to component manufacturers to service providers wanted to be members.
• The original board of five people needed to expand for greater knowledge and exposure.
• The planning of events needed to stabilize and occur further in advance.
• Committees needed to begin to be established.
At the beginning of 2008, the original board of Miller,Abruscatto, Daly, Van Helden (Chamber), and Nienhaus (City) was expanded to include Anja White(Heraeus Medical Components) and Brad Tutch (Automated Control Systems). Later in 2008, two committees were created; membership headed by Jahn Stopperan (Northfield Medimation) and events, headed by Laurie Bahr ( Enterprise Minnesota ).
Membership tripled in the first two years and continues to grow as does opportunities for networking and education. |
