hang your shingle 
TESTIMONIAL
“Almita Piling of Ponoka, Alberta has been a CARMA member since 2010. In the last year we have really taken advantage of the many benefits that are offered through CARMA with its affinity partners. The greatest savings Almita has realized has been through new electricity and gas contracts with 8760 Group – our annual savings from this CARMA affinity program will be $40,000. CARMA members also receive complimentary affiliate membership with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), a national business association with extensive business resources. The annual CME membership cost for our size of company would have been around $4,000. This year we also received a $1,000 subsidy for one of our employees to attend FabTech in Toronto; through CARMA and its spearheading of the Central Alberta Manufactures Cluster Project this subsidy solidified our decision to attend this trade show. Another key benefit of CARMA membership has been the access to low cost, industry relevant training programs that are delivered right in the CARMA facilities in Red Deer. We have sent over 16 employees to 5 different training courses. If we had to send these employees to Edmonton or Calgary for training we may have incurred hotel, meal and significant travel costs. With the Red Deer location and the low cost fees, Almita has saved over $10,000. There are many other tangible benefits to being a CARMA member – free Lunch & Learn sessions on current business topics, many of the affinity partners also offer discounts on products and services to all employees of CARMA members (a great way to help retain employees) and, of course, the business networking. Many CARMA members have found new business relationships through their CARMA affiliation. The pure cost savings noted above have paid for the low membership fee many times over and I would be happy to speak to any Central Alberta business leader that is interested in joining CARMA.”
Bill Baillie, Director of Operations - Almita Piling Inc.
Latest News Releases
Posted: 4 months ago | 0 CommentsCARMA 2013 Total Compensation Survey
CARMA is very pleased to announce that we are commencing work on our 2013 Compensation Survey.
A Survey Questionnaire (the “Survey”) will be sent out at the beginning of February for those companies interested in taking part. This year marks the third annual survey compiled by CARMA; with the addition of 13 new positions, including everything from President and CEO to Yard Coordinator and all that lies between. Also new to 2013 anyone who takes part in the survey will receive a complimentary copy.
The Survey includes (but is not limited to) information on total compensation, mileage rates, vacation practices, general increase practices, special holidays and allowances.
The Survey Questionnaire will be sent in both PDF and Word format so that you may complete it electronically or fill it out by hand and submit it. There will be three items sent to you: the Survey Questionnaire in two formats and the Position Benchmark Descriptions. There are detailed instructions on how to complete the survey contained with the Survey Questionnaire. To facilitate the process for previous year’s participants, your previous questionnaire will be sent back to you for your review and any required changes.
Posted: 4 months ago | 0 CommentsCARMA Supervisory Development Program
CARMA Supervisory Development Program – February, 2013
On February 14th CARMA held the last two modules of our Supervisory Development Program. This session on Recruitment, Selection and Retention Strategies was again facilitated by Ed Grose of Hr Outlook. The session was attended by 9 members, 6 of which graduated from the program having fulfilled the requirement of completing all 6 modules in the program. The feedback from the session was all extremely positive.
Our congratulations to Jamie Paul, Katte Ross & Steve Bowman of Control Technology, Jeff Frost & Jesse Loewen of Almita Piling and Andrew Chalifoux of McLevin Industries on their completion of the CARMA Supervisory Development Program.
Posted: 4 months ago | 0 CommentsMultigenerational Workplaces – Tips for Working with Generation Y
Keeping up with the gen Yers
By Harley Richards - Red Deer Advocate
Published: February 13, 2013 7:57 PM
Holly Bilton has spent the last decade working with members of generation Y — young people born between 1980 and 2000, and who are becoming an increasingly important part of the labour force.
The Central Alberta team lead with Careers: The Next Generation — a non-profit youth employment organization — Bilton shared her insights with a group of mostly older business people at a Central Alberta Rural Manufacturers Association (CARMA) luncheon in Red Deer on Wednesday. She explained why so many of them have probably been left shaking their heads after dealing with employees from this youthful generation.
Whereas baby boomers — who were born between 1945 and 1964 — struggled to find work in their teen years, gen-Ys have had endless opportunities, pointed out Bilton. Boomers had three television channels to choose from, gen-Ys have hundreds; boomers had to rely on their parents’ phone for communication, gen-Ys have cellphones, pagers and access to all kinds of social media.
Many other differences have influenced the two generations, including some that are now causing the younger group to question everything.
Posted: 7 months ago | 0 CommentsBusiness leaders split on Obama victory
By Harley Richards - Red Deer Advocate
Published: November 07, 2012 7:28 PM
Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau once compared living next to the United States to sleeping with an elephant, observing that, “one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”
There was plenty of twitching and grunting on Tuesday, as Americans re-elected Democratic President Barack Obama over Republican challenger Mitt Romney. And reaction appears mixed on the Canadian side of the border.
“For myself, it was a major disappointment,” said Mike Drotar, Servus Credit Union’s vice-president treasury.
He fears Obama’s return to office will mean big government and high taxes, with adverse consequences.
Posted: 7 months ago | 0 CommentsBill 6: The Protections and Compliance Statutes Amendment Act (New Penalties for Health, Safety and Trade Violations)
Edmonton... Alberta workers and employers who violate Alberta’s safety rules and fair trading practices are facing new penalties and significantly greater fines.
“There will be no more slaps on the wrist in Alberta; a worker or employer who puts health and safety at risk, or is misleading or unfair in their business dealings, will be held accountable,” said Human Services Minister Dave Hancock.
Bill 6: The Protections and Compliance Statutes Amendment Act introduces new administrative penalties and significantly increases fines for penalties that already exist. It affects three pieces of legislation: the Safety Codes Act, the Fair Trading Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“This is about protecting Albertans and ensuring those who place the public in danger are held accountable,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths. “Stiffer penalties for those who violate the Safety Codes Act will be a deterrent, and will enable the courts to assess penalties that are appropriately severe in the most serious cases.”
