Enterprise Minnesota, a Minneapolis-based business consulting firm dedicated to helping small and mid-size manufactures compete and grow, bills itself as the voice of Minnesota’s manufacturing field. So it stands to reason that the organization’s CEO, Bob Kill, is to a great extent the name and face of the industry.

A sought-after speaker and industry expert, Kill appeared at the June 10 National Conference of State Legislators, where he shared the results of Enterprise Minnesota’s 2020 State of Manufacturing Survey.

The survey, which was conducted from March 2 to March 23, offered insight into challenges that keep manufacturers awake at night, including the costs of health care coverage, the shortage of qualified workers and economic and global uncertainty.

Prior to leading Enterprise Minnesota, Kill was CEO and chairman of the board of Ciprico Inc., a manufacturer of high performance data and networking systems, according to his company bio. His resume also includes a stint with Burroughs Corp., and senior management positions with Northern Telecom Inc.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota-Morris, Kill has served on a number of industry boards, including the Minnesota Agriculture and Economic Development Board and the Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence Advisory Council.

In the following interview, Kill takes a deep dive into the state of Minnesota’s manufacturing industry.