Events Recap

Keynote: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 8:30 AM 

Mission Critical: Developing a Future-Ready Workforce 

Jeannine Kunz, CEO – SME 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 9:45 AM 

Reducing Machine Downtime: Using QR Codes for Maintenance

John Hindman, Director, Learning & Performance Improvement – Tooling U-SME 
Dan Sellhausen, Power Tool Accessory Prototyping – Milwaukee Tool 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 9:45 AM 

Breaking the Mold: Transforming Traditional Hiring Methods 

Becca O'Toole, Partnership Development Director – Cengage Ready to Hire
Denise Cowburn, Sr. Client Executive/Workforce Development Specialist – SME
Matt Hladki, Chief Administrative Officer – Grede 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 9:45 AM 

How Community Solutions Can Build Your Manufacturing Workforce 

Ashley Powell, Project Manager, Workforce Development – SME
Dennis Triggs II, Director of Employment & Workforce Development – Urban League of West Michigan
Matt Carr, President & CEO – Storch Magnetics
Terri Sandu, Director, Talent and Business Innovation – Lorain Community College 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 11:00 AM 

Closing the Engineering Skills Gap: Onboarding, Upskilling & Machine Learning in Training 

Dan Sloan, Director of Industry & Workforce Partnerships – SME
Derek Anti, Global Director of Manufacturing Engineering – Cummins Machining Category
Geoff Lipnevicius, Senior Manager, Organizational Effectiveness – Lincoln Electric
Thomas Deslongchamps, Director of Training & Continuous Improvement – Pindel Global Precision 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 11:00 AM 

A Diverse Talent Pipeline: Transforming Workforce Development & Employment 

Toni Neary, Director of Community Engagement & Workforce Innovation – SME
Joann Blumenfeld, Catalyst Founder & Director – North Carolina State University
Tara Havlicek, Program Manager, MEAF, Grants Management, Disability, Inclusion & Volunteer Engagement – Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
Tara May, CEO – Aspiritech 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 11:00 AM 

State Government & Manufacturing Associations: Partnering to Build a Stronger Workforce 

Allyssa Johnson, Program Manager – Workforce Development, SME
Dr. Mardy Leathers, Principal – Hashtag Strategies
Michael Eaton, Executive Director – Missouri Association of Manufacturers
Mike Frame, Executive V.P. – The Manufacturers Association & The Manufacturers Alliance of NY State
Nick Moore, Director – Alabama Governor’s Office of Education & Workforce Transformation 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 3:30 PM 

Growing an Advanced Manufacturing Workforce With ManufacturingUSA Institutes 

Dan Sloan, Director of Industry & Workforce Partnerships – SME
Ed Herderick, EWD Director – America Makes
John Zappa, Director of Product Management – ARM Institute
Susan Ipri-Brown, Strategic Initiatives Manager – National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Panel: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 3:30 PM 

College Innovations for Inclusive Talent Development 

Dr. Deb Volzer, Director of Governments and Workforce Partnerships – SME
Dr. Annette Parker, President – South Central College
Dr. Janine Janosky, President – Richard J. Daley College
Dr. Juan E. Mejia, President & CEO – Tyler Junior College
Jeff Spain, Senior Director – Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at Columbus State
Kelvin L. Byrd, Academic Dean – Greenville Technical College 

Keynote: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 8:30 AM 

Elevate Your Leadership & Transform Connection Into a Culture of Collective Excellence to Embrace AI 

Sara Ross, Founder & Chief Vitality Officer – BrainAmped 

Panel: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 9:45 AM 

RAMPing Up: Driving the Rivian EV Manufacturing Talent Pipeline 

Hugh Shadeed, Director of Learning and Development – Rivian 
Adam Campbell, Dean, Career & Technical Education – Heartland Community College
Dan McManus, Deputy Director, External Relations – Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Dan Sloan, Director of Industry & Workforce Partnerships – SME 

Panel: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 9:45 AM 

Retention from Day One: AI-Driven Engagement and Stay Interviews 

Denise Cowburn, Sr. Client Executive/Workforce Development Specialist – SME
Bethaney Mucci, Human Resource Director – Kent Elastomer
Dan Rabin, Senior Vice President, Partner Development – Mainstay 

Panel: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 11:00 AM 

Apprenticeship Pathways to Success: Exploring New York’s Talent Development Strategy 

Amy Stage, Director of Apprenticeship & Workforce Development – MACNY, The Manufacturers Association
Chris White, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development & Upward Mobility – State University of New York
Christine McLear, Workforce Development Lead – GlobalFoundries
Greg Surtman, Workforce Development Manager – Tooling U-SME 

Panel: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 11:00 AM 

Preparing the Next Generation Workforce: Education-Industry Partnerships for Success 

Dr. Shelley Wooley, Director, Education Programs – SME Education Foundation
Paul Aiello, Executive Director - FANUC America Corporation
Daniel Rodriquez, Sales Director – Didactic NAM, Festo Didactic, Inc.
Jenny Geno, Workforce Development Specialist – Hemlock Semiconductors
Rob Baker, Physics & Engineering Teacher – Frankenmuth High School 

Panel: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 1:00 PM 

Building Sustainable Community Partnerships for Youth Apprenticeships: Lessons From the Carolinas 

Phil Leighton, Apprenticeship Program Leader – SCHUNK
Daniel A․ Theriault, Training & Development Specialist – Cummins
Greg Jones, Strategic Programs and Partnership Director – SME 

Panel: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 1:00 PM 

Building Workforce Pipelines: Leveraging State Funding for Industry & College Partnerships 

Barry Kinsey, Director of Workforce Development – Monroe County Community College
Brian Stavola, Training and Development Specialist – Constellium
Cynthia Brown, Associate Dean of Economic Development – Chattahoochee Tech
Denise Cowburn, Sr. Client Executive/Workforce Development Specialist – SME 

Workshop: Thursday, April 10, 2025, 10:30 AM 

Making the Case Workshop: Securing Leadership Buy-In for Learning & Development

John Hindman, Director, Learning & Performance Improvement – Tooling U-SME
LaDonna Moore, Program Manager – Tooling U-SME 

Workshop: Thursday, April 10, 2025, 10:30 AM 

Smart Workforce Workshop: Leveraging Industry 4.0 & IIoT in Additive & Subtractive Manufacturing 

Duane Hebert, Talent & Workforce Services – Tooling U-SME
Nat Frampton, CEO – LECS Energy LLC
Dan Sloan, Director of Industry & Workforce Partnerships – SME

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