About LAMA
The Lakes Area Manufacturers Alliance
Connecting Brainerd Lakes Manufacturing Leaders; promoting the importance of manufacturing to our region and state economy and encouraging the best and brightest to join our industry.
Membership is available to manufacturing companies in the Lakes area counties of Aitkin, Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Todd and Wadena. An Associate membership class allows companies supportive of area manufacturers to join too.
Our Purpose:
- Promoting manufacturing economic importance to our region consists of the Counties of Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena, and Aitkin.
- Promoting career opportunities in manufacturing within our region to our young learners, encouraging them to invest their ambitions and talents in our industry.
- Provide youth educational opportunities in advanced manufacturing through the Youth Skills Training Program under the Department of Labor and Industry.
- Providing scholarship opportunities to graduating secondary students to continue post-secondary education in manufacturing related careers.
- Providing a method of networking and sharing critical information amongst the manufacturers within our region. This has been particularly significant by sharing best practices & information on regulatory issues affecting our industry.
- Providing for a central point of contact and voice of manufacturing by collaborating with the Midwest Manufacturers Association, Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce, BLADEC, Sourcewell, Initiative Foundation, Enterprise Minnesota, Minnesota Precision Manufacturers Association and the 360 Centers of Excellence – Minnesota Manufactured and our area schools.
Address
406 W. Washington St, STE 5, PMB 178
Brainerd, MN 56401, US
Board of Directors
Deborah L. Hoel
LAMA Executive Secretary
Jenny Castle
LAMA President
LINDAR
Cole Hunstad
LAMA Vice President
AxisNorth Solutions
Robin Loftis
LAMA Secretary/Treasurer
Clow Stamping Company
Alicia Thomsen
LAMA Board Member
Graphic Packaging, Int'l
Brian Bordwell
LAMA Board Member
Brainerd High School
Jim Gardiepy
LAMA Board Member
Lexington Manufacturing
Bob Jackson
LAMA Board Member
Lonesome Cottage Furniture
Sheila Hoehn
LAMA Board Member
Central Lakes College
Glen Young
LAMA Board Member
Pequot Manufacturing
Craig Swanson
LAMA Board Member
ATEK Access Technologies
Alison Medeck
LAMA Board Member
Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp.
Staff
Midwest Manufacturers' Association serves as the “central office” for associations and trade groups focused on manufacturing including AMFA, CMMA, LAMA, MDMA, and TSMA. MMA’s primary service region is Minnesota, western North Dakota, western South Dakota, and northwest Wisconsin.
MMA serves as a catalyst for the creation of new manufacturing-focused trade organizations and the collaboration of existing organizations throughout the Upper Midwest. By joining forces under one central office, the manufacturing industry in the Midwest region has a way to express its collective voice … to government, to suppliers of common goods and services, and to each other.
Lynda E. Bailey
Executive Director
Since 2024, Lynda E. Bailey has served as the Executive Director for MMA and our affiliates.
Lynda joined us following her tenure as Executive Director of the Riverside Medical Clinic Charitable Foundation in Riverside, California. With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, she also brings extensive expertise in marketing, honed through her role as the owner of Bailey Communications, Inc. Lynda holds a degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Purdue University.
Relocating to be nearer to family, Lynda now resides in Nashwauk, Minnesota, with her husband, Reyna, their Bernese Mountain Dog and her Heinz 57 Shepherd, Lily.
You can contact her at Lynda@MidwestManufacturers.com or 218-812-8665.
Katie Baumann
Development Coordinator
Katie Baumann joined MMA in December of 2024, with a strong background in marketing from the manufacturing sector, bringing expertise in digital marketing, SEO, social media, content creation, and communication. She is passionate about creativity, relationship building, and helping members get the most out of their MMA experience. Outside of work, Katie runs her own photography business and enjoys time with family, Peloton workouts, and reading.
You can contact her at Katie@midwestmanufacturers.com.
Sandy Kashmark
Controller
In 2021 Sandy transitioned from the Executive Director to part-time controller after a 31-year with MMA. Her Controller role includes all bookkeeping duties as well as assisting with various membership tasks. Prior to 2022, she served as Executive Director of the associations. She is a graduate of North Dakota State College of Science and Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Sandy and her husband, Dennis, live in Hoffman, an excellent location from which to pursue their most recent side hustle - residential real estate/home improvement. Sandy spends her free time with visits to grandchildren (in Buffalo, WY and Fargo, ND), reading, walking, and spending time with friends.
You can contact her at Sandy@MidwestManufacturers.com
Carolyn Petruga
Meeting Coordinator
Carolyn joined the MMA in 2024, after spending several years in the offices of public education assisting students, parents and staff. Prior to that she worked as an executive assistant and legal assistant in the Twin Cities.
Carolyn lives in Duluth, Minnesota with her husband Jim, who was once a board member of AMFA and MMA. They have two adult children, one living in Duluth and the other in Chicago.
In Carolyn’s free time you will find her enjoying outdoor activities, this includes riding her horse through the beautiful trails of Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota She also loves spending time with family and friends, especially during their weekly board game night.
You can contact her at Carolyn@midwestmanufacturers.com.