Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting

06/12/2026

Precision manufacturing does more than make parts.

It helps create jobs, strengthen supply chains, support local businesses, and move the Kansas City economy forward.

Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting was honored to join KC NTMA for a tour of Ultratech Aerospace with special guest Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.

Thank you to UltraTech Aerospace and CEO Fred Stipkovits for opening their doors and showing the skill, discipline, and innovation behind this important industry. We also appreciate Commissioner Schmidt for taking the time to engage with manufacturers and learn more about their impact.

KD Economics is proud to support KC-NTMA’s upcoming economic impact report, *Precision Drives Kansas City*, which will help put clear numbers behind the role precision manufacturers play in our region’s growth.

The full report will be released in late July, and we look forward to sharing more soon.

06/01/2026

We’re excited to announce a strategic partnership between Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting and KC NTMA to strengthen manufacturing advocacy across Greater Kansas City.

Precision manufacturers play a major role in our regional economy. They support quality jobs, business investment, innovation, supply chains, and local communities.

Through this partnership, KD Economics will help KC-NTMA elevate the voice of manufacturers, strengthen economic research, and communicate the impact this industry has across the region.

We’re proud to support KC-NTMA and the manufacturers helping build Kansas City’s future.

05/20/2026

Exciting news from Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting!

Our President, Michael Austin, was published in The Kansas City Star with a new guest commentary on how federal, Kansas, and Missouri policymakers can provide drivers with temporary relief at the pump through a gas tax holiday.

At KD Economics, we believe sound research and clear economic analysis can help leaders better understand tradeoffs, protect taxpayers, and maintain quality government services.

No, it wouldn’t be a windfall, but research shows that the large majority of fuel tax cuts gets passed on to drivers. | Opinion

05/18/2026

Economic policy conversations are at their best when the people actually building, machining, producing, and employing are in the room.

Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting was honored to attend Vice President JD Vance’s manufacturing event in Kansas City, invited through the strong partnerships we’ve built within the regional manufacturing community.

One of the most valuable parts of events like this is seeing manufacturers, economic leaders, and policymakers connected in the same conversation, discussing workforce needs, supply chains, investment, energy, trade, and the future of American industry.

At KD Economics, we believe good economic analysis starts by listening to the businesses driving local economies every day. That’s especially true in manufacturing, where decisions made in Washington or Jefferson City often have immediate impacts on production floors across Kansas City.

Appreciate KC NTMA, Missouri Enterprise, and the many manufacturing leaders helping keep Kansas City a center for industrial innovation and opportunity.

05/05/2026

Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting is proud to announce our strategic partnership with Jobs for America's Graduates-Kansas .

JAG-K is helping Kansas students overcome barriers, graduate, and prepare for successful futures. We’re excited to support that mission with expert analysis, practical strategy, and clear communication that strengthens impact across Kansas.

04/18/2026

Manufacturing is evolving, and the signal from the KC/STL NTMA Joint Chapter Summit was clear.

From the growing application of AI on the shop floor to the continued importance of LEAN practices to the alignment of workforce skills with industry needs, manufacturers are actively adapting to stay competitive.

At KD Economics, these moments matter. They allow us to hear directly from manufacturers, understand what’s happening on the ground, and elevate those insights into a clearer picture of the industry’s impact.

A sincere thank you to Woodard Cleaning & Restoration for hosting, KC NTMA and St. Louis NTMA for bringing the industry together, and the many sponsors who made the event possible.

We’re excited about what we’re seeing and where manufacturing is headed next.

04/14/2026

We’re looking forward to joining metal manufacturers from across Missouri at the KC NTMA/St. Louis NTMA Summit in St. Louis.

At KD Economics, these moments matter. They allow us to hear directly from manufacturers, what’s working, what’s challenging, and where the industry is headed.

Those insights help us better elevate the voice of manufacturing and tell a clearer story about its impact.

See you in St. Louis.

04/06/2026

"Congratulations to Reinhard Mabry on an incredible 20 years with Alphapointe.

Last summer, I had the opportunity, through Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting, to tour Alphapointe’s facility. I walked away genuinely impressed. Not just by the scale and sophistication of the operation, but by how effectively it delivers on its mission.

What stood out even more was the people. There’s a clear sense of purpose, pride, and passion across the workforce that you don’t see everywhere. That kind of culture is built over time. and it reflects strong, consistent leadership.

Reinhard, your two decades of leadership have helped shape something truly special. Congratulations on this milestone and the lasting impact you’ve made."

Michael Austin, MA
Founder, Principal Economist
Knowledge & Decisions Economic Consulting

“We’re going to work around challenges or we’re going to bust through them.” – Reinhard Mabry When current Alphapointe President and CEO, Reinhard Mabry, walked through the doors of Alphapointe in the early summer of 2006, he wasn’t aware of the challenges that lay ahead. Soon he’d be ...

04/05/2026

Parade of Hearts 2026 is a Kansas City region-wide celebration brought to life through a magical, free public art experience featuring one-of-a-kind heart sculptures by local artists. It amplifies tourism, cultural pride, and connection while inviting all to feel the spirit, creativity, and generosi...

04/03/2026