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Arriving late, just after dark, I chose to walk the Mall from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. It was chilly — even for a Midwest guy used to the cold — and it turns out DC is not especially well equipped to handle the volume of snow it recently received.
My ultimate goal was to see the World War II Memorial, which carries special personal significance for me. My connection to my birthplace of Michigan remains strong, but capturing a photo representing my Wisconsin home with the Monument in the background was particularly meaningful.
That evening, upon returning to the hotel, I connected with one of my main contacts at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), who introduced me to a new group of friends and fellow business leaders. From a leading voice on data center implementation in our state to the leader of a transportation company quietly revolutionizing freight, it was a powerful start to what would become a great trip. The response to hearing about Gilman and our precision manufacturing capabilities landed right at the heart of the broader conversation around rebuilding U.S. manufacturing capacity and strengthening “Made in the USA.”
On my flight into DC, I had shared a row with a senator. I’m not a constituent, and I imagine our political views don’t always align. Regardless, I would have loved to talk her ear off — but here was someone making a trip to do her job, just like I have so many times myself, and she clearly needed some space, as I often do on work travel.
A few minutes before landing, as I looked out the window taking in our approach to DCA with a bit of wonder, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that this incredibly influential person was also taking a moment to enjoy the view, wearing a hopeful smile despite having probably seen it hundreds of times. A very human moment that reminded me that no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, we are all Americans. I wish we could find more ways to work together effectively for the betterment of our country and our people.
The day was filled with meeting new faces and discovering common connections — common customers, common markets, and just common interests. We joke about “Smallwaukee” being a better connector than Kevin Bacon’s six degrees of separation, but the reality is the entire Wisconsin business ecosystem is tight. Our per-capita manufacturing output as a percent of GDP consistently ranks near the top among U.S. states, and it means a lot to be part of that.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is an impressive building. From briefings on tariffs and trade policy to energy, the defense outlook, and challenges within the defense industrial base, it was an impactful morning hearing directly from people on the front lines of influencing national policy.
One message came through clearly: as a country, we must heavily invest in the future of manufacturing — both technology and people — if we want to compete and win against certain geopolitical adversaries I’ll politely leave unnamed. There was also broad recognition that acquisition reform is needed. It remains very tough (as I can personally attest) for smaller manufacturers to gain traction in government business.
The next stop was one I had been looking forward to. We moved through White House security to enter the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The professionalism of the Secret Service deserves real credit.
Our briefing with the White House Liaison Office took place in the Indian Treaty Room, which holds remarkable history and architectural beauty. Most of us took advantage of the photo opportunity. The windows look directly over the West Wing, and it was wild to be that close to the action.
We heard from White House staffers who were younger than expected but energetic and well spoken. The messaging was understandably consistent, but I appreciated their openness to dialogue and their willingness to gather feedback and take the pulse of the people. It was an incredible experience to be inside a building with so much history and to see firsthand the sheer number of people required to keep the Executive Branch running.
Next up was what turned out to be a very engaging and energetic briefing at the Department of Transportation.
We had a candid and entertaining discussion with Secretary Sean Duffy (with strong Wisconsin roots) about the state of our national infrastructure — especially the FAA. Some of it was eye-opening, though not entirely surprising given some of my own recent travel issues that trace back to aging systems that keep planes safely in the air.
I hope Congress continues to support funding for upgrades to our radar and air traffic control systems so the U.S. can remain a global leader for decades to come. Interestingly, there was also a supportive stance on high-speed rail. It was eye-opening to hear about several recent efforts that ultimately failed due to permitting hurdles and other politically driven challenges. More on permitting later — it was a consistent theme throughout the visit.
We wrapped the day with a fantastic dinner hosted by Michael Best. A renowned pollster provided early insight into voter perceptions and other election-related trends. It’s shaping up to be an “interesting” midterm season no matter where your political loyalties sit.
Surrounded by so many great colleagues from Wisconsin, we then did what Wisconsinites tend to do — more networking. The evening included a stop at the oldest original firehouse still standing in DC, where they serve some appropriately unique beverages.
Our day started with a high-powered breakfast featuring Senator Ron Johnson and Representative Tim Tiffany.
Senator Johnson dove right into the issues we presented, including the high cost of healthcare. His description of what he views as “legalized fraud” in the system resonated with me, and I hope this is an issue we can solve as a nation. I respect his candor and willingness to push back on party lines when they don’t make sense. If we had more business people in DC, we might get a lot more accomplished.
Representative Tiffany, the presumptive Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, shared a broader outlook on the state and its importance to the national economy — especially as home to many first-class manufacturing companies like Gilman Precision. I can only imagine the challenge of balancing congressional duties with a gubernatorial campaign.
Walking between the House and Senate office buildings, we took in a wide range of sights — from foreign dignitaries to protesters with barely legible signs and slogans. Hats off to the men and women of the Capitol Police for keeping the chaos in check and everyone safe.
I had the opportunity to meet Representative Mark Pocan, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Representative Scott Fitzgerald (who represents my home district). Each meeting included a WMC representative presenting the core issues facing Wisconsin businesses, with a strong emphasis on manufacturing, before opening the floor for discussion.
Representative Pocan shared interesting insight into the appropriations process and pending tariff rulings. Senator Baldwin’s meeting room was packed and energetic, with strong discussion around healthcare costs — which have become a major challenge for small manufacturers like Gilman Precision when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.
We also discussed the impact of EPA attainment rules on the cost of manufacturing in the state. Many companies are affected far more than Gilman Precision, and the resulting overhead burden is significant.
The discussion with Representative Fitzgerald was candid and engaging on many of the same topics. I also appreciated discovering we share several common interests in books and authors.
After a long and engaging day, it was finally time to head to the airport. Walking out of the Rayburn House Office Building, my timing coincided with the conclusion of hearings on the Epstein files, which made for a crowded and somewhat chaotic exit. It was also about that point when I realized that wearing dress shoes on a 15,000+ step day — rather than the dress sneakers most of my much smarter traveling companions chose — had me feeling like I had just worked a four-day trade show.
As the energy wound down, one of my favorite sayings proved true as we took off from DCA: you can sleep on the plane.
I am deeply grateful for the experience, the new connections I made, and the countless people working behind the scenes to keep the United States operating. And since my departure was delayed due to air traffic control congestion — causing me to miss my connection and earn an unexpected bonus hotel night — I am especially enthusiastic about the FAA infrastructure upgrades we heard about.
Proud to be back at Gilman with my incredible team driving precision manufacturing — all Made in America.
