By City News Service

POSTED: 04/01/17, 12:24 AM PDT

The president and CEO of a Torrance-based manufacturer was among the participants in a listening session Saturday with President Donald Trump at the White House organized by the National Association of Manufacturers.

Kellie Johnson described ACE Clearwater Enterprises to Trump as a “family business.”

“We’re a supplier to the aerospace and power generation industries,” said Johnson, a member of the National Association of Manufacturers Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

“We build products out of metal. If it flies or is launched, our parts are on it. We employ 200 of the best men and women in our industry. And on behalf of all of them, thank you for what you’re doing.”

Johnson invited Trump to visit her business when he is next in Southern California.

Johnson said she “would never forget” joining her husband in approaching Trump in the lobby of the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes during the nearly decade-long dispute over a 70-foot flagpole at the club.

“We respected your position and we are so proud that that flag is flying today,” Johnson told Trump.

Trump told the group his administration “is working every day to make it easier for manufacturers to build, hire, and grow in America.”

“We’re removing job-killing regulations and lifting the burdens on American industry like I would say have never been lifted before,” Trump said. “We’ve done a lot of work over the last 60, 70 days, and I think you’re seeing some real production.”

Trump also discussed Friday’s release of the first Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey since he took office.

The survey of the association’s membership of more than 14,000 large and small manufacturers found more than 93 percent feeling positive about their economic outlook, the highest figure in the survey’s 20-year history, according to association President and CEO Jay Timmons.

In December, 77.8 percent of manufacturers reported feeling positive and 56.6 percent one year ago, Timmons said.

“These survey results are a further vote of confidence in our plan to bring back jobs, lower taxes, and provide a level playing field for our workers,” Trump said.