U.S. Commerce Secretary visits A. Zahner Co. in Kansas City to talk jobs

ALICIA STICE | KCBJ

Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank visits A. Zahner Co., a Kansas City-based engineering and fabrication company that specializes in architectural metal and glass work.

Missouri is part of ?America?s Manufacturing Renaissance,? acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank said during a Monday visit to Kansas City.

Missouri manufacturing jobs have increased by the thousands during the past two and a half years. That drew Blank to tour A. Zahner Co., a family-owned engineering and fabrication company specializing in architectural metal and glass work. Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders joined the tour, then discussed how the government can help businesses such as A. Zahner grow.

The company employs about 150, a number that fluctuates depending on project numbers.

CEO Bill Zahner III said that as he looks toward long-term growth for the company, he hopes for an increased focus on math and science in schools, as well as legal changes that would allow companies in construction to get paid earlier. Currently, his company gets paid 60 days after a project is complete.

During the tour, Blank, James and Sanders looked at some of the projects the company has in progress, including aluminum tobacco leaves cut from 10-foot by 20-foot aluminum plates bound for a museum in Mexico City.

After the tour, Blank and James spoke of the importance of encouraging students to pursue math and science even before they get to college. The country has fallen behind in training workers in those sectors.

?This guy lives and dies by engineers,? James said, referring to Zahner.

An increased focus on that type of education would help companies such as A. Zahner recruit strong employees, Zahner said.

?In order for us to stay competitive globally, we need intelligent people invigorated by it,? he said.

Alicia is an intern and University of Missouri-Columbia student.

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