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Dave Kolaz

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has announced the formation of a new Manufacturers’ Environmental Group (MEG) within the Association to help our efforts in the legislative and regulatory arena. To help navigate complex environmental issues at the Capitol and assist individual members address specific issues, the IMA has retained the services of an expert, Dave Kolaz, to coordinate the efforts to make sure that businesses are able to compete in the economy while working in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Mr. Kolaz is an environmental consultant with Conestoga-Rovers & Associates and licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois with more than 35 years of experience, including serving as the Chief of the Bureau of Air at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). In that capacity, he managed a 325-member team and $90 million budget while responsible for all aspects of Illinois’ air control programs. Mr. Kolaz is a frequent speaker and has provided expert testimony at countless legislative hearings and public forums.

With the new Manufacturers’ Environmental Group, the IMA will continue to be the leading voice on environmental issues for manufacturers at the State Capitol. Below are other new services available to IMA members including:

  • The MEG will coordinate the IMA’s response to the report issued by Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Climate Change Task Force
  • A new group will meet to discuss and debate important pieces of legislation, rules and regulations that impact industry
  • A new Environmental Newsletter published during the year will provide important up-to- date information and notices to member companies
  • Specific advice and consulting, at no additional cost, will provide individual member companies with answers to their environmental questions

For more information or quesions on environmental issues, contact Dave Kolaz at dkolaz@ima-net.org.
The Buzz

Governor Asks IL Businesses to Push for Pension and Medicaid Changes
From WUIS: Governor Pat Quinn is urging business owners to support his plans for overhauling state employee pensions and Medicaid. He spoke to a gathering of Illinois manufacturers and retailers in Springfield…Mark Denzler is vice president of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association. “Well Illinois businesses want to operate in state that’s not bankrupt, that’s not on the edge of a fiscal abyss. So it’s important that the state of Illinois, the Governor and General Assembly address pensions and Medicaid which are spiraling out of control, so we applaud the Governor’s message for fiscal restraint, for reforming pensions and Medicaid, and we think it’s a movement in the right direction.” It’s unclear if lawmakers will keep going in that direction, however. TO READ MORE …
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Thursday
Feb162012

NAM: Contact Your Members of Congress and Ask Them to Support the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012!”

DateThursday, February 16, 2012 at 4:39PM

Congress is considering legislation to finally provide long-term, well-funded surface transportation reauthorization to maintain national competitiveness. Urge your Representative to support the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012” (H.R. 7) when it is considered by the House of Representatives in the upcoming weeks.

Investment and updates to our nation’s transportation infrastructure are absolutely essential to manufacturers’ ability to compete and create jobs. Manufacturers provide good-paying jobs to 12 million Americans, and countless company bottom lines depend on an efficient supply chain and the ability to move goods to market. America’s international competitors in Asia, Europe and South America are ramping up investments in their infrastructure while America’s road and bridge conditions worsen and congestion costs U.S. businesses billions of dollars.

Our nation needs a long-term, well-funded surface transportation reauthorization legislation to maintain our competitiveness. Please take this opportunity to contact your Representative this week and ask him/her to support the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012” (H.R. 7). 

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