Gardner Carrick is the Vice
President of Strategic Initiatives at the National Association of
Manufacturers' Manufacturing Institute.  Mr. Carrick leads the Institute’s
research activities including partnerships with internationally recognized
consulting firms and the production of a regular series of reports on the
issues and challenges affecting the U.S. manufacturing sector.  Mr. Carrick
also leads the development of a national education data system that will
integrate education, certification, and labor market data to deliver outcome
information on education programs. He is also leading the development of a
new industry-recognized apprenticeship system to change how manufacturers and
schools partner to prepare the workforce.  Previously, Mr. Carrick led the
Institute's partnership with the U.S. military to assist veterans and
transitioning military personnel prepare for and find jobs in manufacturing
and the Institute's work on skills certifications.  Prior to joining the
Institute, Mr. Carrick worked at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment
and Training Administration