Vice President Addresses New Flyer Employees
Joe Biden’s message to Minnesotans is clear: It’s time to get involved.
BY PAUL SOUBRY
On behalf of all the members of the New Flyer team, we were honored to host Vice President Joe Biden and the Middle Class Task Force March 19. Just a few days before the event, we received a call from the White House asking if New Flyer—a heavy-duty transit bus manufacturer based in the United States and Canada—would be interested in hosting. Our St. Cloud team jumped into action, and the result was an intimate and informative town hall-style meeting. About 400 New Flyer employees, Minnesota citizens and media representatives took part in an honest and direct discussion with the vice president and key secretaries about the administration’s plans for economic stimulus of the middle class.
Biden spoke with passion about the Task Force, a program implemented by President Barack Obama to raise the living standards of middle class, working families in America. He also took questions from the audience and answered honestly, frankly and passionately, often turning over the microphone to others on the Task Force, including Transportation Secretary Raymond LaHood, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
One of the vice president’s key messages—one that I know our employees will carry with them—is the need to get involved. Regardless of individual political affiliations, it’s clear that the United States and the world are facing a time of crisis. It was obvious to the audience that the government is trying to make a difference. At New Flyer, we believe that we cannot simply rely on government support or stimulus. Manufacturers nationwide must take the initiative to understand what is available to them from this investment. From my perspective, this is an opportunity not to be missed. If we stand back and expect the world to change, or we expect money from Washington to just show up on our doorstep, shame on us.
While New Flyer was selected as host for a number of reasons—namely its growth during this economic downtown and its commitment to environmentally friendly technologies—I don’t think it was happenstance that the White House chose a company in Minnesota as the backdrop for its second Task Force assembly. The state’s central location, skilled workers, strong work ethic and the positive attitudes of its citizens bodes well for Minnesota companies and individuals to continue to drive economic recovery nationwide—and Washington is well aware of this. After all, we didn’t go to Washington asking for help; Washington came to Minnesota.
Paul Soubry is president and CEO of New Flyer of America Inc., a heavy-duty transit bus manufacturer in the United States and Canada.