BENTON HARBOR, Mich.,
July 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) will host the Michigan Innovation
Forum at its North America
headquarters, Friday, July 18, from
1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.
The Forum will include U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Congressman Fred Upton, Jeff M.
Fettig, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool, and select
Michigan business leaders who will
discuss the role Michigan
businesses play in creating jobs through winning investments in
innovation. Doug Rothwell, chief
executive officer and president of Business Leaders for
Michigan, will moderate the forum
discussion.
"Innovation is the engine for economic growth and competitive
advantage in the global marketplace. Michigan has a proud history of innovation and
is the right launching point for a renewed focus on investments in
innovation that support U.S. competitiveness," said Fettig.
"Whirlpool is at the forefront of investing in America, and we are
pleased to host this important discussion about why companies like
ours are discovering that investing, innovating and manufacturing
in the U.S. makes economic sense."
The Innovation Forum panel discussion will highlight
Michigan's history of innovation
and include participation from Michigan executives Fred Bauer, chairman and CEO, Gentex
Corporation; Kurt Darrow, chairman,
president and CEO, La-Z-Boy Inc.; Jim
Keane, president and CEO, director, Steelcase Inc.;
Kevin Lobo, president and CEO,
Stryker Corporation; Bill Parfet, chairman and CEO, MPI Research; and
Bill Weideman, executive vice
president and chief financial officer, The Dow Chemical
Company.
The event provides a unique opportunity for state business
leaders and U.S. Government officials to take part in an important
exchange of ideas. The open forum will highlight innovation's vital
role in strengthening state and local economies, providing a
competitive edge to business communities and the state of
Michigan.
"Innovation is what makes companies and communities leaders,"
said Rothwell. "This conference is a great opportunity to showcase
how Michigan and a great
Michigan company, Whirlpool, are
putting innovation to work."
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation
is the world's leading global manufacturer and marketer of major
home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2013, 69,000 employees, and 59
manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The
company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana,
Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names.
Additional information about the company can be found at
http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
About Whirlpool Invested in America
Founded in 1911 in Benton Harbor,
Michigan, Whirlpool Corporation employs more U.S. workers
than all of our major competitors, with 23,000 employees in
the United States. Of the products
we make, more than 80 percent of products sold in the U.S. are made
in U.S. The company has made more than $3.2
billion in U.S. plant, equipment research and development,
and innovation investments since 2010. It also invests in its
communities, providing more than $77
million in cash and in-kind donations to U.S.-based
nonprofit organizations since 2006.
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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation