2021 AGMA Foundation Gear Industry Survey

The AGMA Foundation is undertaking a strategic planning process. As part of this effort, we are seeking input from American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) members and other important stakeholders about how the AGMA Foundation might optimize member value in support of AGMA’s mission. This survey seeks both to establish the context (industry trends, challenges and potential disruptors) and to surface new ideas about optimizing our future impact. Please take a few minutes to complete this important Impact survey today.

Thank you in advance for your help, and please know that your contribution to this effort is invaluable. If you have any questions about how the survey results will be used, please contact Mary Ellen Doran, Foundation Executive Director at 703-838-0065 or doran@agma.org

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* 1. Your company is a member of the American Gear Manufacturers Association?

Yes

Unsure

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* 2. Your division/business unit would be considered which AGMA membership category?

Gear Manufacturer

Supplier to the gear industry

Professional Service Provider (e.g. Market Research, Consultant)

End user of gear products

Academic Institution

Unsure

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* 3. Your division/business unit is headquartered, where?

Within the U.S.

Outside the U.S.

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* 4. Your parent corporation is headquartered:

Within the U.S.

Outside the U.S.

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* 5. The annual U.S. dollar value of combined shipments of your power transmission products and services is approximately:

< $50 million

$50 million - $99 million

$100 million - $299 million

> $300 million

Unsure

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* 6. Your primary functional focus is (select one primary even if you wear multiple hats):

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* 7. Your organizational level is (select one):

Top Corporate executive (Founder, Owner, CEO, President)

Top Division Executive (CEO, President)

Senior Corporate/Division Executive (COO, EVP, SVP, CFO, CTO, CIO, CMO, CHRO, etc.)

Vice President

General Manager/Plant Manager

Functional area manager/Supervisor

Project or Program manager

Specialist/Team member/Individual contributor

Sales and or Marketing

Human Resources/Training

Other (please specify)

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* 8. The number of employees globally dedicated to your gear manufacturing business is approximately: (select one):

1-49 employees

50-99 employees

100-499 employees

500-999 employees

1,000-4,999 employees

> 5,000 employees

unsure

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* 9. The number of employees within the U.S. dedicated to your gear manufacturing business is approximately: (select one)

1-49 employees

50-99 employees

100-499 employees

500-999 employees

1,000-4,999 employees

> 5,000 employees

Unsure

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* 10. Your age range:

Under 35

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 or older

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* 11. What currently are your top growth, market positioning & external factor challenges? (select 3)

Identifying new business development opportunities/market adjacencies

Understanding country regulations to understand hurdles & implications of exporting to new markets

End-user (companies) awareness of our products/innovations

Influencing those who influence prospects (gatekeepers, designers, etc.)

Low barriers to entry for companies entering the market

Obtaining sufficient & actionable market intelligence to forecast demand, identify markets to pursue & business development opportunities, especially in emerging markets

Pairing customer solutions with product customization; additive manufacturing enhancing customer operations/experience

Consolidation among customers

Staying current with challenges faced up and down the supply/value chain

Identifying new distributors

External influences on quality standards, codes, and/or performance testing

Downturn in one or more industry sectors that you sell into

Industry image, including misconceptions, inaccurate information

Influencing regulators; Regulatory relations

Regulatory compliance burden & rapid response when regulations change

Staying current on EHS best practices

Forecast of raw materials availability

Testing and showcasing our industry impact on end-users

Surfacing actionable data about end-user trends & perceptions

Keeping yourself and your employees current with emerging technologies

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* 12. What currently are your top operational challenges? (select 3)

Business planning

Research and development to innovate (time and capital to devote)

New product/solution rollout to the marketplace

Increasing profitability including: cost controls, process optimization/alignment across the organization, minimizing waste, implanting LEAN principles

Customer "experience"/customer engagement & retention

Providing technical support to customers

Customers' pressure to cut costs

Managing relationships with suppliers and strategic alliances

Interface with distribution channels/partners

Workflow/keeping capacity balanced

Our own aging facilities/equipment updates/preventative maintenance

Supporting our customers' aging technology, processes, equipment

Technology infrastructure (systems interoperability, data mining capability, analytics, visualization, data security, customer interface via technology)

Organizational restructuring to increase agility/deliver new solutions/enter new markets

Post-merger integration

Risk management

Workforce safety & OSHA compliance

Cybersecurity

Utility costs

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* 13. What currently are your top workforce acquisition & development challenges in the U.S.? (select 3)

Finding qualified science, engineering & technical employees at the technical/associate degree level

Finding qualified hourly, plant staff

Influencing careers in power transmission/gear manufacturing; includes shifting any negative perception about today's manufacturing environment

Wage pressures

Labor productivity

Managing increasingly flexible, contingent, "gig economy" workforce

Staff development for scientist, engineers & technical staff; includes staying current with latest industry innovations & practices

Leadership/mid-management development

Staff engagement/morale/talent retention

Managing organizational culture transitions

Preparing for/orchestrating company leadership transitions/succession

Union relations/interface

Unionizing activity

Aging workforce

Cross-generational issues (how they learn, interact, work style, management style, etc.)

Diversity challenges (language, culture, etc.)

Team development

Benefits administration & compliance

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* 14. When finding qualified science, engineering & technical employees, please rate the difficulty at the following levels:

	Extremely difficult	Very difficult	Somewhat difficult
Technical/Associate degree level	Technical/Associate degree level Extremely difficult	Technical/Associate degree level Very difficult	Technical/Associate degree level Somewhat difficult
Bachelor Degree level	Bachelor Degree level Extremely difficult	Bachelor Degree level Very difficult	Bachelor Degree level Somewhat difficult
Graduate degree level	Graduate degree level Extremely difficult	Graduate degree level Very difficult	Graduate degree level Somewhat difficult

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* 15. Please list any additional challenges not mentioned in the prior questions where you would find AGMA/AGMA Foundation assistance as potentially extremely valuable:

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* 16. Market Sector Expansion: Which of these market sectors is your company most interested in expanding into?

	Very interested	Somewhat interested	Not interested	Unsure
Aerospace/Defense	Aerospace/Defense Very interested	Aerospace/Defense Somewhat interested	Aerospace/Defense Not interested	Aerospace/Defense Unsure
Automotive (including commercial)	Automotive (including commercial) Very interested	Automotive (including commercial) Somewhat interested	Automotive (including commercial) Not interested	Automotive (including commercial) Unsure
Construction machinery	Construction machinery Very interested	Construction machinery Somewhat interested	Construction machinery Not interested	Construction machinery Unsure
Farm machinery	Farm machinery Very interested	Farm machinery Somewhat interested	Farm machinery Not interested	Farm machinery Unsure
Industrial machinery	Industrial machinery Very interested	Industrial machinery Somewhat interested	Industrial machinery Not interested	Industrial machinery Unsure
Material handling equipment	Material handling equipment Very interested	Material handling equipment Somewhat interested	Material handling equipment Not interested	Material handling equipment Unsure
Mining equipment	Mining equipment Very interested	Mining equipment Somewhat interested	Mining equipment Not interested	Mining equipment Unsure
Oilfield equipment	Oilfield equipment Very interested	Oilfield equipment Somewhat interested	Oilfield equipment Not interested	Oilfield equipment Unsure
Power equipment (electric, water, wind, etc.)	Power equipment (electric, water, wind, etc.) Very interested	Power equipment (electric, water, wind, etc.) Somewhat interested	Power equipment (electric, water, wind, etc.) Not interested	Power equipment (electric, water, wind, etc.) Unsure
Railroad equipment	Railroad equipment Very interested	Railroad equipment Somewhat interested	Railroad equipment Not interested	Railroad equipment Unsure
Shipbuilding	Shipbuilding Very interested	Shipbuilding Somewhat interested	Shipbuilding Not interested	Shipbuilding Unsure
Machine and other tools	Machine and other tools Very interested	Machine and other tools Somewhat interested	Machine and other tools Not interested	Machine and other tools Unsure

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Geographical Market Expansion: Over the past 2 years, have your sales efforts been expanding into new countries?

Yes

Unsure

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* 18. Disruptors (global) - Of the following potential disruptors to your business (coming from within the industry, upstream or downstream), to what extent are these likely to impact your business?

	Very likely	Somewhat likely	Not likely	Unsure
Trade regulations	Trade regulations Very likely	Trade regulations Somewhat likely	Trade regulations Not likely	Trade regulations Unsure
U. S. energy policy	U. S. energy policy Very likely	U. S. energy policy Somewhat likely	U. S. energy policy Not likely	U. S. energy policy Unsure
Federal infrastructure spending	Federal infrastructure spending Very likely	Federal infrastructure spending Somewhat likely	Federal infrastructure spending Not likely	Federal infrastructure spending Unsure
Productivity improvements, driving automation down to the lowest levels	Productivity improvements, driving automation down to the lowest levels Very likely	Productivity improvements, driving automation down to the lowest levels Somewhat likely	Productivity improvements, driving automation down to the lowest levels Not likely	Productivity improvements, driving automation down to the lowest levels Unsure
Competition from low-cost imports	Competition from low-cost imports Very likely	Competition from low-cost imports Somewhat likely	Competition from low-cost imports Not likely	Competition from low-cost imports Unsure
E-commerce, buying things online, impacting the supply chain	E-commerce, buying things online, impacting the supply chain Very likely	E-commerce, buying things online, impacting the supply chain Somewhat likely	E-commerce, buying things online, impacting the supply chain Not likely	E-commerce, buying things online, impacting the supply chain Unsure
Market dynamics that reduce or expand the supply chain; including end-user manufacturing gears in-house	Market dynamics that reduce or expand the supply chain; including end-user manufacturing gears in-house Very likely	Market dynamics that reduce or expand the supply chain; including end-user manufacturing gears in-house Somewhat likely	Market dynamics that reduce or expand the supply chain; including end-user manufacturing gears in-house Not likely	Market dynamics that reduce or expand the supply chain; including end-user manufacturing gears in-house Unsure

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* 19. Disruptors (general) - Of the following potential disruptors to your business to what extent will each impact your business?

	Very likely	Somewhat likely	Not likely	Unsure
Attracting and retaining a younger workforce to replace an aging workforce	Attracting and retaining a younger workforce to replace an aging workforce Very likely	Attracting and retaining a younger workforce to replace an aging workforce Somewhat likely	Attracting and retaining a younger workforce to replace an aging workforce Not likely	Attracting and retaining a younger workforce to replace an aging workforce Unsure
Enhancements that change the product lifecycle	Enhancements that change the product lifecycle Very likely	Enhancements that change the product lifecycle Somewhat likely	Enhancements that change the product lifecycle Not likely	Enhancements that change the product lifecycle Unsure
Population/Demographic changes impacting the regions you most frequently sell into	Population/Demographic changes impacting the regions you most frequently sell into Very likely	Population/Demographic changes impacting the regions you most frequently sell into Somewhat likely	Population/Demographic changes impacting the regions you most frequently sell into Not likely	Population/Demographic changes impacting the regions you most frequently sell into Unsure
Population/Demographic changes impacting workforce availability in the regions where you have manufacturing plants	Population/Demographic changes impacting workforce availability in the regions where you have manufacturing plants Very likely	Population/Demographic changes impacting workforce availability in the regions where you have manufacturing plants Somewhat likely	Population/Demographic changes impacting workforce availability in the regions where you have manufacturing plants Not likely	Population/Demographic changes impacting workforce availability in the regions where you have manufacturing plants Unsure

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* 20. Please check all of the AGMA Foundation programs that you are aware of:

Scholarship program

Funding of AGMA Education Programs and for the AGMA National Training Center

Funding emerging technology events/speakers

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* 21. Are you aware of AGMA education and training offerings (in-person, online, and on-demand)?

Yes

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* 22. Have you attended an AGMA training program in the past three years?

Yes

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* 23. AGMA's current training offerings fulfill my professional development needs?

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

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* 24. What other type of training do you need RIGHT NOW? (check all that apply)

Bevel gears, design, and inspection

Gearbox design, inspection, condition monitoring

Overview of different types of gear systems and how they compare

Materials technology - all systems selection

Lubrication systems - lubrication selection

Heat treat processes, all types

Inspection and repair - whole gear drive systems

Inspection and Repair Procedures - vertical and horizontal contact changes

Reverse engineering

Accuracy standards

Vibration monitoring - a single machine or maintenance program

Energy initiatives - nuclear, inspection, and repair

Wind turbine maintenance, inspection and repair

Surface temper inspection

Electric drive systems, design, application, key requirements

Other (please specify)

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* 25. Has your company developed any formal partnerships with educational institutions to impact their programming, create internships, etc.?

Yes

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* 26. If you answered yes to the previous question, please let us know the institution.

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* 27. Voice of the Industry - Where is your go-to source for each of the following. (Please indicate one selection for each row.)

	AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Another Association	A source that is not an Association	I need a primary source, but have none	Don't need this
Trade press ads/articles promoting the industry	Trade press ads/articles promoting the industry AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Trade press ads/articles promoting the industry Another Association	Trade press ads/articles promoting the industry A source that is not an Association	Trade press ads/articles promoting the industry I need a primary source, but have none	Trade press ads/articles promoting the industry Don't need this
Federal policy advocacy	Federal policy advocacy AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Federal policy advocacy Another Association	Federal policy advocacy A source that is not an Association	Federal policy advocacy I need a primary source, but have none	Federal policy advocacy Don't need this
Regulatory interface (OSHA, EPA, etc.)	Regulatory interface (OSHA, EPA, etc.) AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Regulatory interface (OSHA, EPA, etc.) Another Association	Regulatory interface (OSHA, EPA, etc.) A source that is not an Association	Regulatory interface (OSHA, EPA, etc.) I need a primary source, but have none	Regulatory interface (OSHA, EPA, etc.) Don't need this
State legislative & regulatory interface	State legislative & regulatory interface AGMA/AGMA Foundation	State legislative & regulatory interface Another Association	State legislative & regulatory interface A source that is not an Association	State legislative & regulatory interface I need a primary source, but have none	State legislative & regulatory interface Don't need this
Industry standards development	Industry standards development AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Industry standards development Another Association	Industry standards development A source that is not an Association	Industry standards development I need a primary source, but have none	Industry standards development Don't need this
Consumer/end-user education	Consumer/end-user education AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Consumer/end-user education Another Association	Consumer/end-user education A source that is not an Association	Consumer/end-user education I need a primary source, but have none	Consumer/end-user education Don't need this

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* 28. Sales and Networking - Where is your go-to source for each of the following. (Please indicate one selection for each row.)

	AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Another Association	A source that is not an Association	I need a primary source, but have none	Don't need this
Trade shows in the Spring	Trade shows in the Spring AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Trade shows in the Spring Another Association	Trade shows in the Spring A source that is not an Association	Trade shows in the Spring I need a primary source, but have none	Trade shows in the Spring Don't need this
Trade shows in the Fall	Trade shows in the Fall AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Trade shows in the Fall Another Association	Trade shows in the Fall A source that is not an Association	Trade shows in the Fall I need a primary source, but have none	Trade shows in the Fall Don't need this
Local/Regional meetings	Local/Regional meetings AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Local/Regional meetings Another Association	Local/Regional meetings A source that is not an Association	Local/Regional meetings I need a primary source, but have none	Local/Regional meetings Don't need this

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* 29. Education/Professional Development - Where is your go-to source for each of the following. (Please indicate one selection for each row.)

	AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Another Association	A source that is not an Association	I need a primary source, but have none	Don't need this
Conferences/Trade shows with education	Conferences/Trade shows with education AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Conferences/Trade shows with education Another Association	Conferences/Trade shows with education A source that is not an Association	Conferences/Trade shows with education I need a primary source, but have none	Conferences/Trade shows with education Don't need this
Special topic meetings/Technical short courses	Special topic meetings/Technical short courses AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Special topic meetings/Technical short courses Another Association	Special topic meetings/Technical short courses A source that is not an Association	Special topic meetings/Technical short courses I need a primary source, but have none	Special topic meetings/Technical short courses Don't need this
Advanced technical training	Advanced technical training AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Advanced technical training Another Association	Advanced technical training A source that is not an Association	Advanced technical training I need a primary source, but have none	Advanced technical training Don't need this
Online, on-demand education	Online, on-demand education AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Online, on-demand education Another Association	Online, on-demand education A source that is not an Association	Online, on-demand education I need a primary source, but have none	Online, on-demand education Don't need this
Webinars	Webinars AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Webinars Another Association	Webinars A source that is not an Association	Webinars I need a primary source, but have none	Webinars Don't need this
On-line training library with resouces	On-line training library with resouces AGMA/AGMA Foundation	On-line training library with resouces Another Association	On-line training library with resouces A source that is not an Association	On-line training library with resouces I need a primary source, but have none	On-line training library with resouces Don't need this
Mentor Program	Mentor Program AGMA/AGMA Foundation	Mentor Program Another Association	Mentor Program A source that is not an Association	Mentor Program I need a primary source, but have none	Mentor Program Don't need this

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* 30. Which of the following organizations and trade shows do you work with on a regular basis? (Check all that apply)

AGMA/AGMA Foundation

American Bearing Manufacturing Association (ABMA)

American Society for Metals (ASM)

ASM International - The American Society for Metals

ASM Materials Education Foundation

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association

Fluid Power Educational Foundation

Forging Industry Association

Metal Treating Institute

National Association of Manufacturers

National Fluid Power Association

Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA)

Other (please specify)

2021 AGMA Foundation Gear Industry Survey

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* 1. Your company is a member of the American Gear Manufacturers Association?

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* 2. Your division/business unit would be considered which AGMA membership category?

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* 3. Your division/business unit is headquartered, where?

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* 4. Your parent corporation is headquartered:

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* 5. The annual U.S. dollar value of combined shipments of your power transmission products and services is approximately:

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* 6. Your primary functional focus is (select one primary even if you wear multiple hats):

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* 7. Your organizational level is (select one):

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* 8. The number of employees globally dedicated to your gear manufacturing business is approximately: (select one):

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* 9. The number of employees within the U.S. dedicated to your gear manufacturing business is approximately: (select one)

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* 10. Your age range:

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* 11. What currently are your top growth, market positioning & external factor challenges? (select 3)

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* 12. What currently are your top operational challenges? (select 3)

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* 13. What currently are your top workforce acquisition & development challenges in the U.S.? (select 3)

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* 14. When finding qualified science, engineering & technical employees, please rate the difficulty at the following levels:

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* 15. Please list any additional challenges not mentioned in the prior questions where you would find AGMA/AGMA Foundation assistance as potentially extremely valuable:

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* 16. Market Sector Expansion: Which of these market sectors is your company most interested in expanding into?

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* 17. Geographical Market Expansion: Over the past 2 years, have your sales efforts been expanding into new countries?

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* 18. Disruptors (global) - Of the following potential disruptors to your business (coming from within the industry, upstream or downstream), to what extent are these likely to impact your business?

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* 19. Disruptors (general) - Of the following potential disruptors to your business to what extent will each impact your business?

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* 20. Please check all of the AGMA Foundation programs that you are aware of:

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* 21. Are you aware of AGMA education and training offerings (in-person, online, and on-demand)?

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* 22. Have you attended an AGMA training program in the past three years?

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* 23. AGMA's current training offerings fulfill my professional development needs?

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* 24. What other type of training do you need RIGHT NOW? (check all that apply)

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* 25. Has your company developed any formal partnerships with educational institutions to impact their programming, create internships, etc.?

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* 26. If you answered yes to the previous question, please let us know the institution.

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* 27. Voice of the Industry - Where is your go-to source for each of the following. (Please indicate one selection for each row.)

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* 28. Sales and Networking - Where is your go-to source for each of the following. (Please indicate one selection for each row.)

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* 29. Education/Professional Development - Where is your go-to source for each of the following. (Please indicate one selection for each row.)

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* 30. Which of the following organizations and trade shows do you work with on a regular basis? (Check all that apply)

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* 31. Please list any other organizations or industry meetings you rely upon.

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* 32. What one new service would you like AGMA/AGMA Foundation to provide to deliver more value?

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* 33. Any additional comments?