Michigan Innovation Forum to Include U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Business Leaders

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Jul 18, 2014, 09:00 ET

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., July 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) will host the Michigan Innovation Forum at its North America headquarters, Friday, July 18, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.

The Forum will include U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Congressman Fred Upton, Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool, and select Michigan business leaders who will discuss the role Michigan businesses play in creating jobs through winning investments in innovation. Doug Rothwell, chief executive officer and president of Business Leaders for Michigan, will moderate the forum discussion.

"Innovation is the engine for economic growth and competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Michigan has a proud history of innovation and is the right launching point for a renewed focus on investments in innovation that support U.S. competitiveness," said Fettig. "Whirlpool is at the forefront of investing in America, and we are pleased to host this important discussion about why companies like ours are discovering that investing, innovating and manufacturing in the U.S. makes economic sense."

The Innovation Forum panel discussion will highlight Michigan's history of innovation and include participation from Michigan executives Fred Bauer, chairman and CEO, Gentex Corporation; Kurt Darrow, chairman, president and CEO, La-Z-Boy Inc.; Jim Keane, president and CEO, director, Steelcase Inc.; Kevin Lobo, president and CEO, Stryker Corporation; Bill Parfet, chairman and CEO, MPI Research; and Bill Weideman, executive vice president and chief financial officer, The Dow Chemical Company.

The event provides a unique opportunity for state business leaders and U.S. Government officials to take part in an important exchange of ideas. The open forum will highlight innovation's vital role in strengthening state and local economies, providing a competitive edge to business communities and the state of Michigan.

"Innovation is what makes companies and communities leaders," said Rothwell. "This conference is a great opportunity to showcase how Michigan and a great Michigan company, Whirlpool, are putting innovation to work."

About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2013, 69,000 employees, and 59 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

About Whirlpool Invested in America
Founded in 1911 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Whirlpool Corporation employs more U.S. workers than all of our major competitors, with 23,000 employees in the United States. Of the products we make, more than 80 percent of products sold in the U.S. are made in U.S. The company has made more than $3.2 billion in U.S. plant, equipment research and development, and innovation investments since 2010. It also invests in its communities, providing more than $77 million in cash and in-kind donations to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations since 2006.

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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation