‘It’s about being a champion, a convener and a catalyst’
Mold resistant, pest resistant, rot resistant, fire resistant
October 7, 2024
ASHWAUBENON – Fourteen years ago, when NEW Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA) Executive Director Ann Franz went to her board of directors to ask for funding to launch an annual manufacturing expo, she said she got a skeptical reception.
“They were like, ‘no one’s ever going to go to an event like that,’” Franz said.
But as she anticipated, they were wrong.
“People did (go), and in fact, last year we had more than 1,000 people attending, and more than 200 exhibitors,” she said. “It’s fun to see how it’s evolved over the years.”
This year’s Manufacturing First Expo and Conference (a collaboration of Insight Publications, First Business Bank and NEWMA)– set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Resch Expo in Ashwaubenon – is designed for Wisconsin manufacturers to showcase industry advances, highlight successes and announce their latest developments, as well as hands-on opportunities to grow their businesses.
Franz said a lot has changed with the expo over the years – including its location.
The first several conferences were held at the KI Center in downtown Green Bay, but Franz said holding it at the 125,000-square-foot Resch Expo enables companies to bring in some of their larger ‘props.’
“Having it at Resch Expo now really gives us the opportunity to grow the show and have the most exhibitors ever,” she said. “And we can bring in a Pierce fire truck and all of these other bigger equipment items because of that.”
In the beginning, Franz said they fished from a smaller pond for their speakers, however, as the event grew in size and participation, the pool of potential speakers also grew.
“Our keynote speakers were local celebrities, so to speak, whereas now we’re taking national and international speakers and spotlighting them at our events,” she said. “If you went to a national conference, these are the types of people that would be the keynotes.”
The keynote speaker at this year’s expo – Steve Jones – Franz said, combines the best of both worlds.
As co-founder of Jadin Jones leadership coaching firm, Jones travels the country speaking to teams and organizations about leadership.
At the expo, Franz said Jones will speak on developing leaders who intentionally grow a winning culture – which he said focuses on having a white-belt mindset in life and being “a learn-it-all rather than a know-it-all.”
He will break down the power of connection, mindset, trust and servant leadership into actionable steps that business leaders can take back to their teams.
Other speakers at the expo include:
- Bryson Machonga of First Business Bank – who will speak on securing supply chains and preventing payment fraud in vendor relationships.
- Jeff Szalacinski of R&R Insurance – who will talk about using insurance data and analytics to reduce risk, improve customer experience and increase profits.
- Craig Weidemeyer of Werner Electric Supply – who will talk about leading with innovation.
In addition to speakers, Franz said the expo will also have breakout sessions on a variety of topics, including:
- Creating a culture of safety through employee involvement
- Insider travel tips
- The impact of artificial intelligence and disruptive technology
- Attracting new talent
- Human-centered innovation in the age of AI.
- Harnessing AI in manufacturing
- Career advancement and skill development in the future
- Healthcare hacks
- Eliminating dropped calls and poor connectivity
- Sustainability initiatives at Waupaca Foundry, Inc.
- Industrial sales, marketing tips and lead generation
- Improving productivity, reducing turnover and building teams
- Getting employees excited about implementing automation
Inspiring a new generation
Franz said the NEW Manufacturing Alliance has increased its focus in recent years on the need to interest young people in Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector.
Exposure – whether via investment in maker spaces and fab labs, partnerships between education and industry or simply inviting students to events like Manufacturing First – she said is key.
The Manufacturing First Expo, Franz said, provides another opportunity to do that.
Early in the day Oct. 30, hundreds of high school students will have a chance to tour the expo floor and talk with manufacturers.
“It shows kids, ‘Wow, look at all of the manufacturing companies in Northeast Wisconsin – it’s crazy,’” she said. “That has been a great twist (to the event).”
Some 200 students from schools in Seymour, Wrightstown, Shawano and Green Bay are expected.
In conjunction with the expo, Franz said the evening before (Oct. 29), the NEW Manufacturing Alliance will host its 13th Annual Excellence in Manufacturing and K-12 Partnership Awards.
“There are so many great stories about manufacturers and education working together, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to spotlight all of these wonderful partnerships?’” Franz said.
Proceeds from the event will go toward the scholarship fund.
The NEW Manufacturing Alliance will award five $500 education awards, as well as $65,000 in scholarship monies to two- and four-year colleges from the area.
“We give the colleges the scholarships, and they find students to give between $1,000 to $2,500 college scholarships (based on grade point average and financial need),” Franz said. “We’ve given more than $500,000 in college scholarships.”
All of the scholarships, she said, are awarded to students planning a career in manufacturing.
“We’ve had a lot of schools and manufacturers recognized over the years for coming together and giving kids the experience of seeing what manufacturing is all about,” she said.
