Sangamon Sun

Several years ago, Matrix Four Inc., a classic injection molding company based out of Woodstock, was struggling to stay afloat.  

A victim of a competitive global economy and the recession that shattered the dreams of business owners across the country, Matrix Four was able to survive through President and CEO Patricia Miller's efforts.

In a conversation with Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson, the hosts of Chicago’s “Morning Answer,” Miller discussed how she brought her family’s business back from the brink of disaster. She also talked about her recent visit with President Donald Trump.

Miller and other members of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) met with Trump to discuss a recent survey published by NAM that shows manufacturers are actively seeking ways to increase their growth potential and viability. She also had her own message for the president.

“My message is making sure that I’m being engaged in this industry and having a seat at the table,” Miller said.

One of few women in the manufacturing industry, Miller’s grandfather founded the company she now runs. When the recession hit, she put together a team to help her determine where the manufacturing industry is heading and what gaps in the industry her company could fill. By doing that, the company is slowly bouncing back.

Miller says she left the meeting with Trump feeling like he genuinely cares about keeping a promise he made on the campaign trail to support American manufacturing.

“[He's] removing some of the red tape, looking at regulations a little bit smarter, and making sure that we are keeping a closer look on an industry segment that’s very important in our history,” Miller said.

Miller takes pride in being a jobs creator in Illinois. She started with a handful of employees and that number has grown to almost 50.

“I think that’s the best part of manufacturing companies or small businesses in general, that we are supporting local economies and communities,” Miller said.

Job growth is very important given the sluggish job numbers recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationwide, only 98,000 nonfarm jobs were added in March.

Scott Shellady, a Fox Business News contributor, discussed what the latest jobs report means for Illinois and the country with Jacobson and Proft. Proft is a principal of Local Government Information Services, which owns this publication.

“It stinks,” Shellady said of the March jobs report.

He’s also not impressed by the unemployment rate falling to 4.5 percent.

“That number doesn’t mean anything anymore," he said. "It’s economically insignificant because it is so skewed."

The March jobs numbers for Illinois are scheduled to be released on April 21. From January to February, 25,600 nonfarm jobs were added and the unemployment rate fell from 5.7 percent to 5.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois remains above the national unemployment rate.

Without game-changing economic innovation, Shellady said Trump can’t do much about the job numbers because the U.S. is still losing jobs overseas and the country is less competitive.  Rolling back regulations and tax cuts may help the market Shellady said. Access to capital was one of the biggest inhibitors of growth for Matrix Four Inc., but local and state policies also play a role in how successful companies can be.

“I think we need to take a hard look at how we retain or attract companies staying in Illinois,” Miller said.

She believes local and state governments need to keep lines of communication open with the business community to get the economy back on track.