Monday, October 20, 2025 | The Westin Charlotte
Come register and pick up your badge at Grand Promenade.
Welcome to the Workforce Summit 2025!
- Rachael Scheffler, AVP, Partnerships & Philanthropy, The Manufacturing Institute
As manufacturers face an increasingly uncertain economic landscape, the need for strategic workforce development has never been more critical. This session will explore the intersection of economic trends, workforce policy, and industry realities—offering insights into how manufacturers can adapt, invest in talent, and remain competitive.
- Gardner Carrick, Chief Program Officer, The Manufacturing Institute
What does it take to cultivate a workforce that goes beyond simply performing job duties but instead innovates, grows and provides a competitive advantage? In this candid conversation, senior executives from Amatrol, Winton Machine, ABB Inc. and Trane Technologies reveal how their organizations are reimagining workforce strategy through initiatives that extend from the leadership suite to the manufacturing floor. From aligning culture with business outcomes to investing in retention through purpose and innovation, speakers will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how top manufacturers are shaping the future of talent. Expect bold insights, practical strategies and real-world applications you can use for your own workforce.
- Jason Green, Country HR Manager, U.S., ABB Inc.
- Mairead Magner, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Trane Technologies
- Paul Perkins, President, Amatrol
- Lisa Winton, CEO, Winton Machine
- Moderator: Gardner Carrick, Chief Program Officer, The Manufacturing Institute
Discover how the Manufacturing Institute partners with communities, companies, and educational institutions to tackle the most pressing workforce challenges in manufacturing. This session highlights real-world examples of how collaboration, innovation, and strategic problem-solving are used to build talent pipelines, strengthen organizations, and prepare the next generation of manufacturing leaders.
- Gardner Carrick, Chief Program Officer, The Manufacturing Institute
- Tony Davis, National Director, FAME USA, Manufacturing Institute
- Amy Thomas, National Director, Heroes MAKE America, Manufacturing Institute
- Lexi Champion, National Director, STEP Ahead, Manufacturing Institute
Presented by Smurfit Westrock
Thank you for joining the reception!
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | The Westin Charlotte
Join us early for breakfast!
Welcome to Day 2 of the Workforce Summit!
- Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to fill critical roles, adapt to AI and automation, and build a workforce prepared for constant change. This fireside chat will explore how skills-based strategies can help employers gain a competitive edge—not just in hiring, but also in career mobility and workforce agility. Drawing on real-world examples, this conversation will highlight how shifting from static qualifications to dynamic, validated skills creates the transparency needed to understand future job demand, align evolving roles with business needs, and accelerate learning in a fast-changing environment. We’ll dive into how manufacturers are using skills as the common language to match the right talent to the right opportunities at the right time—strengthening pipelines, improving retention, and unlocking career growth.
- Sean Murphy, Director, Economic Opportunity, Walmart
- Sytease Geib, Strategic Workforce Development Consultant
For decades, companies have prioritized investment in capital and infrastructure, and recent trends in investment show no signs of slowing in an digital industrial age. But one thing is clear: Those that prioritize investing in talent outperform their peers by a wide margin across operational and financial metrics. Talent Investment has never been more important across the manufacturing industry, and The Manufacturing Institute, in collaboration with McKinsey and company, are changing the narrative on how organizations invest in their people.
- Tyler Freeman, Associate Partner, McKinsey
- Hannah KitzMiller, Engagement Manager, McKinsey
- Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
Make your way to breakout sessions!
Developing Future STEM Teachers via Manufacturing Externships (Shaw Industries)
Level Two – Practical
Across the United States, K-12 STEM educators are in high demand and short supply. Shaw Industries and Dalton State College have partnered together to implement a Manufacturing Externship model that is part of the required curriculum for aspiring STEM Teachers. Attend this workshop to learn how you can replicate this model in your community!
- Brian Cooksey, Director Workforce Development, Shaw Industries Group
- Randall Griffus, Dean, Dalton State
- Sharon Hixon, Dean, Dalton State
Designing Onboarding Through a Job Analysis Lens (Golden Aluminum)
Level Three – Advanced
Manufacturers often struggle with onboarding programs that are too generic or disconnected from the realities of the shop floor. Golden Aluminum‘s session offers a practical approach to designing skills-based onboarding using structured job analysis. By identifying the specific knowledge and skills required in each department, you can create onboarding experiences that are relevant, targeted, and more effective at building job-ready employees. Attendees will learn how to conduct a simple, scalable job analysis to uncover things like responsibilities and process, and use that data to shape onboarding content, hands-on activities, and evaluation. We’ll share a real-world example from a manufacturing facility that redesigned its onboarding process based on job analysis findings—resulting in faster time-to-competency, clearer training expectations, and improved early retention. This session is ideal for those seeking actionable strategies to improve onboarding and align training with workforce needs.
- Danielle Suprick, Training and Development Leader, Golden Aluminum
Closing the Skills Gap : Meeting People Where They Are (Textron Aviation)
Level One – Foundational
Employers can’t sit on the sidelines expecting others to solve the skills gap. Textron Aviation has been strongly investing in workforce and training, culminating in the creation of the company’s new Career & Learning Center (CLC) in 2024. Creating a great employee experience meant revamping inquiry, application, hiring, onboarding, training and support. Discover four zones: Career, Preemployment, Learning, and Design Build Fly. New training gives employees confidence via hands-on and role-specific training, and a simulated manufacturing floor. Inspiring students and educators are available with age-appropriate design, build, fly activities that range from balsa gliders to flying a Cessna Skyhawk simulator, the world’s most popular trainer aircraft. Go on the journey of workforce and training transformation as we share about lessons learned. This session will be insightful for those seeking inspiration on K-12 outreach, recruitment marketing, hiring, training and onboarding.
- Michele Gifford, HR Director, Textron Aviation
- Jennifer Whitfield, HR Director, Textron Aviation
Solution Series Workshop: Navigating AI’s Impact on Your Workforce
This interactive workshop–designed for manufacturer attendees– will explore how manufacturers are adopting AI on the shop floor and beyond, and what it means for hiring, upskilling and career pathways. Through peer-to-peer conversation and guided discussion, attendees will tackle key questions and identify solutions on topics like preparing for AI integration, reskilling strategies, and maximizing impact for both the workforce as well as the bottom line.
- Jordan Morang, Director, Workforce Innovation and Policy, Manufacturing Institute
- Steven Moskowitz, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Make your way to breakout sessions!
No Factory Experience? No Problem. (Siemens)
Level One – Foundational
Manufacturing is experiencing a resurgence in the US, leading to a massive demand for skilled workers. Despite the promising job growth, the industry faces a critical challenge: filling these roles amidst a significant talent shortage driven by Baby Boomer retirements and a widening skills gap. Siemens’ innovative approach to workforce development offers a promising solution to the talent shortage in US manufacturing. By focusing on teachable soft skills and providing comprehensive hands-on training to workers from all backgrounds, Siemens is paving the way for a more resilient and adaptable workforce. This approach has not only boosted retention and performance but is also being scaled nationwide. This presentation will highlight the successes and lessons learned from Siemens’ initiatives, providing valuable insights for other manufacturers facing similar challenges.
- Dr. Khourie Jones, Training Manager, Siemens
Student Engagement On Their Journey To Manufacturing Careers (Honda)
Level One – Foundational
This session will explain three of our methods for engaging with students at various strategic age groups exposing them to manufacturing opportunities at Honda. Middle School – We work with local schools and their regional career centers utilizing the Innovators Quest board game to expose younger students to STEM & Manufacturing related careers while using the associated career center students to provide a near to peer atmosphere that simultaneously exposes them to opportunities at their local career center. High School – We work with local high school and career center engineering programs to highlight the engineering spectrum engineering technology through engineering, hands-on through theory and the associated roles to help students make informed decisions about their best educational and career path fit after high school. College – Student cohort creation and execution exposing students not only to careers linked to their declared major but also our company and its culture.
- Derek Davis, Strategic Workforce Partnerships – Honda-Ohio State; University Partnership Talent Lead, Honda
- Meredith Reffey, Strategic Workforce Partnerships Department Lead, Honda
- Matt Springer, Central Ohio Workforce Partnerships Lead, Honda
Building AI-Ready Talent in Manufacturing (Grant Thornton)
As AI moves from concept to everyday reality, manufacturers face new challenges in preparing their people for what’s next. This session will explore how to ready the workforce for an AI-enabled future—upskilling employees, aligning HR and operations and using AI to enhance, not replace, human decision-making. Attendees will gain strategies to build a resilient, future-ready workforce that turns disruption into opportunity.
- Kelly Schindler, Head of Manufacturing Industry, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
- Joe Ranzau, Partner, Business Consulting, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
- Doug Thompson, Director, Business Consulting, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Embedding Innovation and Scalable Workforce Programs Into Manufacturing Operations (Trane Technologies)
Learn how manufacturers are embedding innovative workforce strategies into daily operations to build resilient, high-performing teams. This session features real-world examples and practical insights on scalable programs—such as apprenticeships, mentorship and upskilling—that are driving measurable business impact. Speakers will bring diverse perspectives from both plant-level operations and strategic workforce development, sharing how these initiatives are being piloted, expanded and connected to long-term talent growth. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to implement in their own facilities and organizations.
- David Brennan, VP, Innovation and Product Management, Trane Technologies
- Amy Volz, Director, Workforce Innovation, Trane Technologies
Join us for lunch in Grand Ballroom CD and grab a seat at one of our Lunch & Learn Tables!
AI-Powered Connected Workers: Overcoming Workforce Headwinds and Building Resilience
- Manufacturers today face mounting headwinds with difficulty attracting and retaining talent, retiring expertise, and widening skills gaps. This session explores how AI-powered connected worker tools can capture critical knowledge, engage the frontline, and create safer, smarter workflows that build a resilient, future-ready workforce. Join Dozuki’s Jerry Dolinsky to discuss how leading companies are paving the path forward and using AI in practical ways to achieve monumental wins.
Empowering Your Manufacturing Workforce with Go1
- In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, compliance, leadership development, and employee retention are critical. Join Go1 as we explore how to leverage the world’s largest learning marketplace to mitigate risk, cultivate future leaders, and boost employee engagement – ultimately transforming your workforce into a competitive advantage.
Keeping HR Human in the Age of AI
- Manufacturing HR teams are stretched thin with a steady turnover rate ensuring that recruitment activities never halt even if they have slowed a bit. And onboarding and retention activities are always close behind. AI and automation can ease the burden. Join American Fidelity to discuss the survey produced in partnership with Manufacturers Alliance, its findings, and how manufacturers plan to incorporate AI and automation while retaining the human touch.
Expanding Occupation Health to Address Total Worker Health
- When it comes to employee health, what is the goal of your occupational health strategy? Is it simply to treat worker injuries, or are you looking to go further and help employees optimize their overall health, wellbeing, and productivity? Join Premise Health’s Michelle Bowers to discuss how an integrated approach to occupational health, primary care, behavioral health, and chronic condition management helps employers build a stronger, healthier workforce.
The Future of Manufacturing: Closing the Talent Gap
- Nearly 2 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2033. That’s not just a talent gap—it could become a full-blown workforce crisis. As automation accelerates and veteran workers retire, HR leaders are under pressure to fill roles, build skills, and keep teams engaged on the shop floor.
Making Apprenticeship Work for Manufacturers
As manufacturers face growing challenges in attracting and retaining skilled talent, apprenticeship is emerging as a powerful, proven solution. In this session, panelists will explore apprenticeship models and the partnerships that drive their success. The conversation will unpack the nuances of state-level systems and incentives, the federal emphasis on registered apprenticeship and offer insights into how employers evaluate a program’s return on investment. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how apprenticeship can be tailored to meet their workforce needs, and actionable ideas for launching or expanding programs in their own facilities.
- Layel Burton, Apprenticeship Coordinator, ZIEHL-ABEGG Inc.
- Jason Dinscore, Manager, Workforce Partnerships, CMC
- Michael Frame, Executive Vice President – MACNY
- Moderator: Jordan Morang, Director, Workforce Policy and Innovation, Manufacturing Institute
Industry’s Role in Closing the Manufacturing Skills Gap is Changing (The Boeing Company)
Level Two – Practical
Manufacturers can no longer rely on reactive hiring or lament the lack of “shop classes.” The skills gap persists not from lack of interest—but from industry’s slow evolution. The Boeing Company will help companies of all sizes to rethink their role—moving from sharing one person’s input at advisory boards to deeply understanding the learning outcomes of programs with transferable skills. Attendees will learn how to partner across sectors to map those outcomes to job-specific competencies and proficiency needs—using data to better align career and tech education with real jobs. We’ll explore how even one or two dedicated staff at small and midsize companies can make an impact by building strategic relationships with larger firms and tapping into shared community pipelines. Larger manufacturers will be called to share—not silo—their resources in service of a sustainable talent ecosystem. This session delivers a practical, scalable model for resilient workforce pipelines.
- Tia Rivera, Senior Manager, Workforce Development, The Boeing Company
Continuous Improvement on Workforce Development (Toyotetsu Texas, JCB)
Level Three – Advanced
This session will focus on strategic discussions regarding the path our FAME chapter took to develop community-based partnerships that are critical to enhancing the image of manufacturing in our community and pipeline development. Toyotetsu Texas will take a deep dive into the return on investment of establishing an industry sector partnership and the benefits of proactively engaging in the workforce development, education, and economic development ecosystem. We will highlight the tangible and intangible returns that member companies have experienced by investing time, talent, and resources into collaborative workforce solutions. We will also showcase how the collective ROI of these partnerships extends beyond individual companies. This session will provide attendees with insights on how aligning workforce development strategies with economic and educational objectives can yield high-impact results not just for companies, but for the community as a whole.
- Leslie Cantu, Vice President, Toyotetsu
- Angela Pineda-Santos, Human Resources Business Partner JCB, North America
Spice Up Your Knowledge (McCormick)
Level Two – Practical
Leveraging the talent of your workforce, you can develop an employee-driven skill building program that highlights the individual talents and superpowers of employees. By enabling qualified technicians to create and deliver short, targeted workshops to their peers, you will build a library of real-world learning opportunities for the challenges occurring on the line. Instead of learning being pushed to technicians, we can drive a learning culture that supports capability building created at the front line – where the work happens and is most impacted. McCormick’s employee-driven program is one component of a technician career development program that puts development in the hands of the employee, requires minimal technology for the plant that is not ready or able to invest in technological enhancements in learning, and engages the workforce to own their career while also supporting their peers. This is the breakthrough for gaining buy in and engagement for your learning culture.
- Courtney Johnson Wasylenko, Americas Supply Chain Training and Development Leader, McCormick
Head to the general session!
Join us for an early look at findings from PwC and MI’s 2025 Frontline Leader of the Future Survey. This session will highlight how frontline leaders are navigating the AI-enabled workplace by shaping the employee experience, strengthening critical digital and leadership skills, and guiding teams through AI-driven change. You’ll also have the opportunity to review initial results and contribute your perspective to help shape the final findings.
- John Karren, Workforce Solutions Leader, Industrial Manufacturing, PwC
- Rachel Roizin-Prior, Workforce Insights & Enablement Specialist, Industrial Manufacturing, PwC
In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, the frontline workforce is the backbone of operational success. This session explores how AI-driven digital transformation can empower frontline workers with the tools they need to work safely, efficiently, and effectively. Learn why connected workers are key to bridging critical skills gaps and driving engagement, and how practical, grounded applications of AI can unlock new levels of productivity. We’ll dive into strategies for achieving worker buy-in, ensuring that digital tools are embraced. Discover how leading manufacturers are using AI to create smarter workflows, enhance safety, and foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Whether you’re just starting your digital journey or scaling existing initiatives, this session will provide actionable insights to help you build a future-ready workforce.
- Jerry Dolinsky, CEO, Dozuki
- Dr. Rebecca Powers Teeters, Senior Vice of Fluoromaterial Stewardship and President Chemical Operations LLC, 3M
- Moderator: Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
The workforce is changing fast – with millions of jobs expected to disappear globally while creating millions of roles in the same timeframe. It’s a double challenge to both equip people for today’s jobs while also preparing them for tomorrow’s – many of which don’t exist yet. Caterpillar believes the future of industry is not just about technology; it’s about people and technology working smarter, together. Asha Varghese, Head of CSR at Caterpillar joins us to share more about Caterpillar’s $100M commitment to help advance the innovation ecosystems needed to ensure that the workforce is equipped to design, produce, maintain and use manufactured equipment of today and the future.
- Asha Varghese, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Caterpillar and President, Caterpillar Foundation
- Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
Grab a ice cream and a beer on your way to a Brewing Solutions session!
Grab a pre-reception drink and/or a sweet treat and join us for a Brewing Solutions session! Each session offers a space for attendees to engage in candid conversations around key challenges, emerging opportunities, and innovative ideas related to the selected topic. Lightly facilitated by summit staff, the Brewing Solutions sessions are intentionally informal—encouraging participants to speak freely, exchange perspectives, and learn from one another. The Engaging Students in MFG session will give you the chance to team up with fellow attendees and experience The Quest for the Crystal of Innovation (Innovators Quest) first hand.
- Brewing Solutions: Recruitment
- Brewing Solutions: Training and Upskilling
- Brewing Solutions: Culture and Retention
- Brewing Solutions: Engaging Students in MFG
Presented by American Fidelity, Go1 and Amatrol
Thank you for joining the reception!
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | The Westin Charlotte
Join us early for breakfast!
Welcome to Day 3 of the Workforce Summit!
- Rachael Scheffler, AVP, Partnerships & Philanthropy, The Manufacturing Institute
We’re living through one of the most transformative times in history. AI, global shifts, and sustainability demands are rapidly reshaping the way we live, work, and learn. To keep pace, we must take bold action to turn this momentum into lasting impact for the next generations and the continued success of our industries. In this keynote, futurist Desmond Dickerson will share insights from Autodesk’s State of Design and Make report, spotlighting the technical and human skills employers need most. He’ll explore why stronger connections between education and industry are critical for preparing the workforce of tomorrow. Together with Caleb Chance of Kimley-Horn, he’ll showcase the partnership between Autodesk, Kimley-Horn and Wake Technical Community College as a model for closing the skills gap. Join us to see how today’s challenges can become opportunities and how we can design and make a better world for all.
- Desmond Dickerson, Futurist, Autodesk
- Caleb Chance, Workforce Development Team, Kimley-Horn & Associates
Discover how Agentic AI is transforming the manufacturing workforce. This session explores effective change management strategies to support employees in adopting AI technologies, highlights some of the potential benefits across various manufacturing roles, and offers actionable steps for leaders to drive workforce readiness. Attendees will learn ways that can help their organizations embrace innovation and empower teams for the future of manufacturing.
- Leticia Roinesdal, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLC
Make your way to breakout sessions!
Investing in Talent: The Integrated Operating Model (McKinsey & Company)
Nearly one-third of skilled trades workers are nearing retirement, skill demands are shifting, and challenges in engagement and retention persist. Labor productivity has grown just 0.5% annually from 2015–2020, while outdated perceptions of vocational careers continue to constrain the talent pipeline. To address this, manufacturing leaders must prioritize talent transformation with the same discipline applied to capital investment. A “G-3” model – bringing together Operations, Finance, and HR – can align workforce strategy with business performance. Scalable, tech-enabled workforce solutions, skills-based hiring, and targeted upskilling programs can unlock $17K–$34K in value per FTE. By embracing their workforce as a core competitive advantage, manufacturers can stabilize their current operations while reimagining talent strategies to support long-term growth and resilience.
- Tyler Freeman, Associate Partner, McKinsey
- Hannah KitzMiller, Engagement Manager – McKinsey
What Is Going on with Today’s Entry-Level Workforce?
Workers walking out at lunch and never coming back. Sites nonstop training. Fortune 500 sites hiring 500 people just to keep 45 on the floor. This is the reality of today’s sub-$20/hour entry-level workforce. Todd Warner, President of MyWorkChoice, has seen the chaos up close and he’s not here to hand you theories. The workforce has changed, what attracts and retains entry-level workers now looks nothing like it did ten years ago. Learn about what today’s workers really want and how manufacturers are getting creative with solutions that actually work.
- Todd Warner, President, MyWorkChoice
From Policy to Practice: What Manufacturers Need to Know
- Jordan Morang, Director, Workforce Innovation and Policy, Manufacturing Institute
- Caitlin Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for U.S. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina
Head back to the general session!
As workforce needs evolve, companies must reimagine how they attract, train and retain talent in a competitive labor market. This conversation brings together HR and talent leaders who are redefining what it means to create workplaces where people can thrive, balancing purpose, inclusion and performance. The panel will explore how employers can adapt workforce strategies that meet both business goals and employee expectations.
- Salena Coachman, VP, Talent Sustainability, Talent Acquisition, D&I, Armstrong World Industries
- Scott Lamitina, HR Group Lead-Americas, Timken Company
- Moderator: Becky Schneider, Chief People Officer, Niron Magnetics
- Gardner Carrick, Chief Program Officer, The Manufacturing Institute
- Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
Grab a boxed lunch to go!
Unique and Relevant Topics
Real-World Challenges and Solutions
Collaboration and Partnership-Building in Real‑Time
Current and Future-Looking Strategies
One of a Kind
