AGENDA

8:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

Ryan Augsburger, President
The Ohio Manufacturers' Association

Sara Tracey, PhD., Managing Director of Workforce Services
The Ohio Manufacturers' Association

9:35 a.m.

Jon Husted
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

10:00 a.m.

Harvard business professor and podcaster Joe Fuller will share a national perspective on the future of work, drawing insights from extensive research on hidden workers, sector partnerships, and the skills gap. Professor Fuller will be joined in conversations with Ohio’s own experts on the manufacturing workforce as we explore the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing industry today.

Joseph Fuller, Professor of Management Practice
Harvard Business School

10:45 a.m.

Harvard Professor Joseph Fuller will be joined in a conversation with Ohio’s own experts on the manufacturing workforce as we explore the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing industry today.

Bishara W. Addison, Director of Workforce Innovation
Fund for Our Economic Future

Joseph Fuller, Professor of Management Practice
Harvard Business School

Edward (Ned) Hill, Professor Economic Development
The Ohio State University

11:30 a.m.

Whether you are deep in the weeds of Good Jobs Challenge or it is your first time hearing about it, this session is for everyone. You will hear from national and state team members about key strategies and goals, how you can get involved, and how manufacturers can benefit.

Jessica Borza, Executive Director
Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC)

Cristina Killingsworth, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs
Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Sean Cwynar, Chief Financial Officer
Diamond Metals Distribution LLC

Geoff Lipnevicius, Senior Manager of Workforce Development
The Lincoln Electric Company

Beth Hahn, Manager of Ohio's Good Jobs Challenge Initiative
The Ohio Manufacturers' Association

1:15 p.m.

Today’s low unemployment and tight labor market make it difficult for manufacturers to meet staffing needs. To help address the labor shortage, OMA is launching an Untapped Talent Learning Community aimed at identifying best practices and resources for recruitment and retention. Choose from one of the following breakout sessions to get a sneak preview of future Learning Community events:

Breakout 1: Women

Women currently only make up 27% of the manufacturing workforce in Ohio, even though they represent 48% of the state's workforce. This represents a wealth of untapped talent for manufacturers. HHW engages women and girls in critical technical and STEM pathways; career options, networks of support, and the confidence and skills to succeed. Join Kaci Roach, Executive Director of HHW, share her expertise and partnerships with an Ohio-based manufacturer and ISP. Their strategic collaboration supports an expansion of tailored outreach and engagement of women and helps shape a company culture that ultimately creates a sense of belonging for women, increasing retention.

Alanna Nicholas, Founding Principal
Capital Talent Development Group

Sylvia Rios, Grant Project Manager of Ohio TechNet
Lorain County Community College

Kaci Roach, HHW Ohio and Director, Strategic Initiatives
New Growth Group

Breakout 2: Justice-Impacted

Envoy is a social impact advisory firm specializing in organizational growth, philanthropic consulting, and Fair Chance Employment. Envoy partners with employers to help them establish long-term relationships with reentry-focused workforce development organizations. By removing barriers to the consideration of qualified job seekers with convictions, employers expand their access to motivated talent and as a result, build a stronger workforce. Cassi Zumbiel, Managing Director at Envoy, will share the story of a partner that proactively recruited and onboarded people with convictions. From this breakout session, employers can gain insights on how to have greater access to qualified job seekers, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and lasting community impact.

Sean Mitchell, Returning Citizen Coordinator
Sinclair Community College

Cassi Zumbiel, Managing Director of Fair Chance Employment Practice
Envoy

Keilon Ratliff, President and Chief Diversity Officer
Kelly

Adam Snyder, Chief Operations Officer
Talan Products

Breakout 3: Veterans

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS) provides opportunities and resources for the veteran community through advocacy, collaboration, and partnerships. ODVS provides education on veteran employment processes, interviewing, management, cultural competency, understanding mental health considerations of veterans, addressing stereotypes and myths, veteran benefits information, and connection to sources of veteran and military community talent. Danny Eakins, Administrator, Office of Veteran Policy & Programs, will co-present with an organization that intentionally recruited and retained veterans into their workforce.

Danny Eakins, Office of Veteran Policy & Programs Administrator
Ohio Department of Veterans Services

Bradley Moeller, Employment Enhancement Program Manager
Ohio National Guard

Samantha Erickson, Deputy Director for State Approving Authority
Ohio Department of Veterans Services 

Chris Picha, Managing Workforce Consultant
Ohio Department of Veterans Services

Zachary Ludi, Veteran Program Manager
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Michael Wood, Workforce Administrator
Ohio Department Veterans Services

Breakout 4: People of Color

Towards Employment champions the potential of every person to succeed in a rewarding career through skill development, comprehensive support, and strong employer partnerships, while working to create a more equitable and inclusive workforce system. As one of 4 agencies to participate in the original national Work Advance demonstration project, its programs are guided by industry-informed career pathways, with robust career coaching. The session will be supported by Towards Employment’s CEO, Jill Rizika; Connexions Consulting principal, Charmaine Brown, and workforce consultant Debbi Perkul. Manufacturing leaders will share initiatives designed to attract people of color, revealing both success stories and learning curves. Participants will learn about the effectiveness of DEI strategies, industry trends, and future planning. Through case studies highlighting practice changes, community partnerships, and actionable metrics, attendees will gain an understanding of what it takes to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in manufacturing.

Charmaine Brown, Founder and President
Connexions Consulting, Inc.

Jill Rizika, President and CEO
Towards Employment

Chris Campbell, Manufacturing Trainer
The Lincoln Electric Company

Dalithia Smith, SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Oatey Co.

Debbi Perkul, Impact Workforce Consultant
Healthcare Anchor Network

2:30 p.m.

Facilitated by Ohio-based Women Make America honoree, new manufacturing workers who started their careers as WorkAdvance and earn and learn participants will have a conversation on what hooked and kept them in their manufacturing career.

Danyal Harris, Director of HR
Libbey

Brett Smithers, Multi-Trade Maintenance Technician II
Worthington Industries

Mary Lamar, Quality Control Inspector
Talan Products

Nicole Neri, Women's Bureau Regional Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic Region
U.S. Department of Labor

3:05 p.m.

This is a historic time for Ohio manufacturing as Ohio responds to unprecedented investments in electric vehicles and the semiconductor industry to build the future of all of advanced manufacturing. Join industry experts and workforce professionals for a closer look at how these industries can serve as a force multiplier for all of advanced manufacturing. 

Nick Asadorian, Senior Manager in Strategy and Consulting Practice
Accenture

Scot McLemore, Executive in Residence
Columbus State Community College

Kevin Hoggatt, Director of State Government Affairs for Ohio
Intel

Meredith Reffey, Department Manager in Government & Industry Relations
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Eric Leach, Deputy Director
Ohio Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation

3:50 p.m.

Brian P. Benyo, Co-owner
The Brilex Group of Companies and Founder of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition

4:00 p.m.