OUR MISSION AND VISION
Mission — To continuously define California's small manufacturers' present and future needs in a globally competitive environment, and leverage, coordinate and disseminate resources and services through established providers.
Vision — SMI will increase profitability and productivity for California's small manufacturing community.
Our History
The Small Manufacturers' Institute (SMI) is a manufacturing-driven institute that promotes California state-wide, regional, and grassroots participation in identifying small manufacturers' specific needs, coordinating existing resources and services and disseminating those programs through established providers and associations. It was originally established by the Small Manufacturers' Association (SMA) of California, the California State University Institute, and the two federal Department of Energy laboratories in California, Sandi and Lawrence Livermore. Over the last 20 years, SMA is the last of the partners to continue the mission of SMI. SMI is a California 501-c3 charitable corporation, incorporated in 1994, and is not a membership association.
Board of Directors
David Goodreau
President/Co-Founder
David has more 40-years in the aerospace supply chain, as an owner and employee. His eclectic span of experience has brought a unique...
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Roberto Gutierrez
Vice President
Roberto oversees the Manufacturing Academy, a six-week CNC and conventional machining training program for unemployed individuals...
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Dr. Ralph Mills
Secretary/Treasurer/Co-Founder
Ralph served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs, California State University Chancellor's Office...
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John Chocholak
Board Director
John has taught Industrial Technology classes for over 36 years at the middle school, high school and community college level. He was one of the first...
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Dr. Marshall Gartenlaub
Board Director
Marshall officially retired in 2010 after a long career as engineer, plant manager, VP of operations, and then higher education where he spent the...
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Tarek Shraibati
Board Director
Tarek is responsible for the REC Foundation’s regional operations in California, Nevada and Hawaii. The Foundation’s mission is to increase...
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Kenneth Mechsner
Board Director
Kenneth has been in the Engineering and Manufacturing business his entire life as a third-generation manufacturer. His background stems...
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Antonio Cordova
Board Director
Antonio discovered his passion for Manufacturing Engineering at an early age when his father, Martin Mechsner (Former SMI President), introduced...
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Martin J. "Marty" Mechsner (1953-2017)
Co-Founder
Martin J. "Marty" Mechsner was a leader who was on the founding boards of the Small Manufacturers Association of California (SMA) and the Small Manufacturers Institute (SMI)...
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SMI researches, creates, and/or supports grassroots reforms in manufacturing education and economic development. The Century Club is an advisory structure within SMI that collaborates with multiple corporate, foundation donor...
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CMC is a body of association stakeholders collaborating to support apprenticeship and training for the manufacturing industry. The association partners contribute by giving our mutual support of manufacturing education...
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