LEWISTON — “Precision Manufacturing and the Economic Health of Central Maine” will be the topic of discussion at the next Corporate Partners/L-A “Issues Breakfast” on Thursday, April 3. H. Fred Walker, PhD, from USM’s School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology will be the featured speaker.

Walker will talk about the importance of central Maine’s future in manufacturing technology. Topics he will cover include national and regional trends, including the movement toward higher value-added, environmentally friendly, discrete parts/products.

Walker will also discuss Maine’s response to a changing manufacturing economy and USM’s role in addressing the significant gap in the workforce with the kind of training and education needed by this industry.

Walker is associate professor of technology and chairman of the Department of Technology at the USM. He also serves as coordinator of the master of science program in manufacturing systems. Walker earned his BS and MBA from California State University at Fresno and his PhD from Iowa State University. He teaches courses in cost analysis and control, quality systems, engineering economy and applied research systems.

The forum will be held from 7:15 to 9 a.m. in the function room at L-A College. For more information call Debbie at 753-6536 or [email protected].