Welcome to Furnace Record Pressing’s February 2024 edition of The Boiler Room!

Happy LEAP DAY – the greatest day of the year that only comes around every four February has been bustling at Furnace, filled with transitions and furry escapades. Our dynamic duo, Tibby and Slippy, are morphing from timid kittens into bold, playful (and occasionally dramatic) teen-cats (even running away from home once or twice).

In the realm of humans, we’re thrilled to announce some exciting changes. We welcomed Ali Miller as our new CEO, while our visionary founder Eric Astor gracefully assumes his role as a strategic advisor. With 16 years of invaluable experience at Furnace, Ali brings her expertise from the music industry and manufacturing into her new leadership role. And as of March 1st, Ali makes history as the sole woman at the helm of a domestic pressing plant—just in time for Women’s History Month.

Looking ahead, Ali assures us that the transition will be seamless. “This shift has been in progress for the past year,” she explains. “We remain committed to our exceptional clientele and are dedicated to enhancing our strengths. We’ll continue crafting top-notch records and innovating our processes to make them even better, faster, and more enjoyable.”

You can read more about Ali Miller’s appointment to CEO in Billboard.

Recently, we had the distinct privilege of speaking at the 2024 Workforce Development Institute Conference in New Orleans. VP of Manufacturing Mark Reiter represented Furnace alongside Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation. Organized by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the conference boasted over 1000 attendees. All Within My Hands is a non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.

Mark took part in a panel discussion titled “Unapologetically Loud: Dignifying the Trades,” alongside Robin Shaw from Upstage Productions and Richard Ammon from the College of Lake County. Hosted by AWMH organizer Pete Delgrosso, the panel tackled the pressing need for youth to consider trade careers and strategies to diminish the stigma surrounding such work. They highlighted the excitement, potential, and economic importance of trade professions. Mark had the chance to spotlight Furnace’s dedication to staff, LEAN manufacturing practices, and the development of a nearly self-sufficient facility through prioritizing staff training and retention.

Representing Furnace at the conference was an honor for Mark, who was deeply impressed by Metallica’s extensive commitment to supporting schools and students. The experience left a lasting impression, introducing Mark to a multitude of passionate individuals dedicated to furthering AWMH’s educational mission.

Through initiatives like the Metallica Scholars program, All Within My Hands actively aids over 30 trade schools and community colleges, benefitting more than 6000 students. Their support encompasses tuition and housing assistance for students as well as financial backing for educational institutions. The 2023-2024 school year marks the fifth year of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. Together with their partners at the AACC, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has grown from 10 schools to 42 across the United States, supporting a variety of career and technical education programs through a total of $8 million in grants. To support or learn more about All Within My Hands, visit https://www.allwithinmyhands.org/

 

Check them out, courtesy of our pals at ORG Music!

Time marches on,
FRP

ps. time for a cat joke:

	Hey Tibby! Have you met Ali’s two cat roommates: Thor and Lemon?
	I haven’t met them Slippy, but Lemon seems like a real SOURPUSS! 🍋🐈‍⬛