This change reflects our commitment to evolving with the needs of the manufacturing industry, bringing together expertise, innovation, and leadership in one powerful event.
Keynote: Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 8:15 AM
Make Your Business Human: Truths That Drive Organizational Success
Matt Havens Generational Expert
Industry Panel: Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 10:00 AM
Upskilling and Reskilling Initiatives for the Future of Manufacturing
Denise Cowburn Senior Client Executive/Workforce Development Specialist – Tooling U-SME attraction and retention.
Emily Caballero Learning and Development Manager – Component Repair Technology
Reagan Reid Human Resources Representative – Pella Corporation
Dr. Stacy Seaworth Aerospace Operations Training Manager – Woodward
Industry Panel: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 11:00 AM
Fostering Diversity in Manufacturing: Creating an Inclusive Talent Pipeline
Greg Surtman Workforce Development Manager – Tooling U-SME
John Wheeler Consultant & Board Member – Uniquely Abled
Greg Wasko Executive Vice President-Partner – Starn Tool & Mfg. Co. & Mecal by Starn
Neil Ashbaugh President/CEO – New Century Careers
Jason Spudic Vice President – True Position Inc
Terry Cousins Lead CNC Programmer – True Position Inc
Networking Session: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 1:00 PM
Networking Session
Industry Panel: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 3:00 PM
Building Bridges: Partnerships Between Industry and Education
Shelley Wooley Director, Educational Programs – SME
Dr. Barbara Wall Deputy Superintendent – Georgia Department of Education
Gerald Wyatt CEO – Thinc College and Career Academy, Lagrange, GA
Marco Brown, Human Resources Manager of Kia Georgia, Inc.
Keynote: Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 8:15 AM
Industry Pulse: Advancing Workforce Development
Jeannine Kunz Chief Workforce Development Officer – SME
Featured Speaker: Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 9:00 AM
Manufacturing Imperative and a Smart Manufacturing Mindset
Dan Sloan Director of Industry & Workforce Partnerships – SME
Industry Panel: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 10:00 AM
Improving Qualification Programs for Front-Line Leadership
Denise Cowburn Senior Client Executive/Workforce Development Specialist – Tooling U-SME
Dave Rea Managing Director of People Initiatives – Catalyst Connection
John Ciora Director of Operations – Schroeder Industries
Peggy McGee Manager, Learning Programs – American Axle & Manufacturing
Eliza Wiseman Human Resources Generalist – American Axle & Manufacturing
Industry Panel: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 11:00 AM
Strategic Approaches to Talent Acquisition in Manufacturing
Gretchen Schultz Director of Workforce Development – Tooling U-SME
Tiffany Loner-Diemer Senior Manager Learning and Development – West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Beth Bittenbender Executive Director, Operations, Special Projects, and Workforce Development – Pennsylvania College of Technology
Danielle Demirovic Pre-Apprenticeship Supervisor – Pennsylvania Department of Labor
Featured Speaker: Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 1:00 PM
Planning Your World-Class Learning and Development Program
John Hindman Director, Learning and Performance – Tooling U-SME
Industry Panel: Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 2:00 PM
Innovative and Emerging Trends Advancing Training and Development
Dan Sloan Director of Industry & Workforce Partnerships – SME
Matthew Hladki Grede – Chief Administrative Officer
Becca O’ Toole Partnership Director – Cengage Group
Megan McInroy Head of Partnerships – Cengage Group
Darin Coats Operations Manager South Carolina Hub – Leadec
Christopher Ray Apprenticeship Supervisor – Stihl
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 8:30 am
Welcome and Introduction, Jeannine Kunz, Chief Workforce Officer, SME
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 9:30 am
Keynote: Strategies for Manufacturing to Engage and Retain, Lisa Ryan, Grategy Expert
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 10:45 am
Panel: Aligned for Success
Matt Hilgendorf, Vice President of Operations, Atkore, Inc
Breonna Rogers, Talent Development Specialist, Pella Corp.
Kurtis Webb, Operations Manager, MES Plant, Pella Corp.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 1:00 pm
Panel: Impactful Program Design
Jennifer Carter, PHR, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Business Partner, Pyrotek, Inc.
Jeremy Garber, Central Services Manager, Miba Bearings US, LLC
Spencer Noel, Training and Development, AGC Automotive North America
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 2:00 pm
Presentation: Modernizing Your Training and Development Program
John Hindman, Director of Learning Services, Tooling U-SME
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 3:15 pm
Presentation: Tooling U-SME Virtual Labs Training
Chad Schron, Senior Director, Tooling U-SME
Thursday, June 9, 2022, 8:30 am
Welcome and Introduction, Jeannine Kunz, Chief Workforce Officer, SME
Thursday, June 9, 2022, 8:30 am
Welcome and Introduction, Bob Willig, Chief Executive Officer, SME
Thursday, June 9, 2022, 8:45 am
Panel: Program Performance and Impact
Lawrence Hancock, Training & Development Manager, Products Group, Inc.
Steve Heethuis, Training Director, NN Mobile Solutions
Thursday, June 9, 2022, 11:15 am
Closing Remarks
Thursday, June 9, 2022, 10:00 am
Panel: Spirit of Collaboration
Greg Surtman, Senior Workforce Education Strategist, Tooling U-SME
Michel Conklin, Executive Director, BotsIQ
Neil Ashbaugh, President & CEO, New Century Careers
Scott Dietz, Director, Workforce Initiatives, Catalyst Connection
Stephen Leonard, Operations & Program Manager, Digital Foundry at Penn State New Kensington