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A day packed with innovation and forward-thinking presentations
U.S. Manufacturing at a Crossroads: Building an Industrial Base for the 21st Century
9:00 a.m. | G-P Atrium
Manufacturing is at the forefront of discussions about U.S. national and economic security. How the manufacturing industry engages with innovation, AI, digital transformation and workforce development is critical to the country’s ability to generate economic prosperity, be globally competitive and defend our national interests. In this session, our keynote speakers will explore the reasons behind the rising interest and prominence of manufacturing in our country, the state and federal government's role in shaping its future, and what strategies you can adopt to navigate and lead in this evolving landscape.
This session emphasizes that it’s not just about the technology, it's about empowering our workforce to embrace and leverage technological advancements effectively.
Keynote Speakers:
The NEMC Hub Fall Member Meeting has a dedicated program agenda for its Hub members and those interested in learning more about the microelectronics ecosystem.
10:00 a.m.
The Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP) Grant Award Announcement
10: 00 a.m. | G-P Atrium
The Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing will announce 24 Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP) grant awards.
The MMAP program aims to help Massachusetts-based small to medium-sized manufacturers prepare their businesses to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and the manufacturing of new technologies and innovations that align with key industries in the state. Grant funding can be used for capital expenditures under GAAP.
NEMC Hub PROPEL Manufacturing Program Announces Intent to Award Grantees
10: 00 a.m. | G-P Atrium
The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub (NEMC Hub) intends to award 13 PROPEL (Powering Regional Opportunities for Prototyping Microelectronics) Manufacturing Program grants.
The PROPEL Manufacturing Program provides grant awards to NEMC Hub members, particularly startups and small companies, to offset costs associated with hardware lab-to-fab development. By reducing the capital needed to advance novel microelectronics technologies, this program aims to advance their progress from early concepts to validated devices.
FORGE Start-Up Pitch Contest
10:30 a.m. | G-P Atrium
FORGE will be holding a live Startup Pitch Contest featuring local startups who are building exciting new physical products, and will be awarding cash prizes of FORGE Product Development Grants supported by M&T Bank. These grants are to enable the startups to progress their product development from physical prototype to commercialization and impact at scale. There will also be voting onsite for an Audience Choice Award sponsored by Re:Build Manufacturing, Inc.
Speakers:
- Laura Teicher, President and Executive Director of FORGE
- Lina M. González, CEO and Founder SpadXTech
10:45 a.m.
Partnering With the DoD: Strategies for Small Businesses and Startups to Win
10:45 a.m. | Southwest Red Landing
This session has been designed to empower small businesses and startups with the knowledge and strategies needed to successfully collaborate with the Department of Defense (DoD).
Speakers:
- Carl Horstmann, CEO, Mass Tank
- Gregg Jessen, Distinguished Fellow of Technology, MACOM
- Louise Sengupta, Director of Business Development, Northrop Grumman
- Jesse Silverberg, CEO and Research Director, Multiscale Systems
Mastering Digital Transformation With Strategic Roadmapping
10:45 a.m. | Northwest Lounge
This session will cover essential aspects like assessing digital maturity, defining a technology roadmap, prioritizing initiatives and planning for effective implementation. Whether you're just starting or refining your strategy, this session offers valuable insights to help your company thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Speakers:
- Michael Braley, VP of Operations, Gemline
- Craig Dory, Director, Northern Region and CESMII Certified Smart Manufacturing Roadmap Professional, CESMII
- Ellen Ellsworth, Innovative Growth Services Director, MassMEP
11:45 a.m.
Upskilling and Engaging Employees for Digital Transformation
11:45 a.m. | Northwest Lounge
Discover invaluable tips and best practices from industry peers who have successfully navigated the challenges of workforce engagement during digital transformation.
Moderator:
Jason Ray, Co-Founder and CEO, Paperless Parts
Speakers:
- Charlie Anastos, VP of Operational Excellence, Harmonic Drive
- Katie Szelewicki, Vice President of Human Resources, NE-XT Technologies
Design and Transition for Manufacturability (Locally)
11:45 a.m. | Suite R71
In this panel discussion, we will address the critical elements in progressing a concept design through prototyping into a manufacturable product, drawing on the perspectives and experiences of local startups and manufacturers.
Moderator:
Mark L. Michalski, Manufacturing Expert in Residence, FORGE
Speakers:
- John Erickson, CEO, Product Resources
- Sissi Liu, CEO and Co-founder, Metalmark Innovations
- Sebastien Mannai, Founder and CEO, Amplified Industries
- Tom Merle, General Manager, FIKST
MA State Resources: They're More Accessible Than You Think.
11:45 a.m. | Southwest Red Landing
Massachusetts provides a wide range of support to help our manufacturers scale. Hear from your peer companies on how they navigate this landscape and leverage state dollars to get to the next level.
Moderator:
Sue Whitaker, Senior Regional Director, MOBD (MA Office of Business Development)
Speakers:
- Joanna Dowling, Director, The Custom Group Center for Manufacturing Technology and Custom Machine
- Ali Forsyth, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, Alloy Enterprises
- Zhiao Yu, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CTO, Feon Energy, Inc.
10th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony
10:00 a.m. | Cross Insurance Club - Main Stage
Presented by: the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus
The Manufacturing Awards Ceremony honors manufacturers from across the Commonwealth for their outstanding leadership roles and contributions to the manufacturing sector. Massachusetts has become a strong leader in advanced manufacturing, and it is important for government and industry to continue to work together to pursue innovation.
1:30 p.m.
Uncovering the Impact of AI in Manufacturing
1:30 p.m. | Northwest Lounge
Join this session to hear from technology experts how AI is shaping the future of manufacturing and from your peers, how they got started to realize the benefits. They’ll share lessons on employee training, data security and integration challenges that will help you set an AI strategy for your organization.
Speakers:
Mason Glidden, Chief Product and Engineering Officer, Tulip
Nasir Mannan, Principal Engineer, Advanced Design, Automation & Metrology Lab, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
Suzie Rawden, Supply Chain Digital Strategy & Deployment Director, Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Finding Your Next Hire Across the Talent Pipeline
1:30 p.m. | Southwest Red Landing
Hear from manufacturers who have successfully bridged the gap between their hiring needs and local talent pools and explore strategies for building strong collaborations with education and workforce training programs.
Moderator:
Jennifer James Price, Assistant VP for Strategic Employer Relations, North Shore Community College
Speakers:
- Annemarie Abdo, Vice President of Human Resources, Catania Oils
- Mark Joyce, Sr. Principal Engineer, NyproMold, Inc.
- Philip Magee, Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer, Straumann
Finding Success Outside of Boston and Cambridge
1:30 p.m. | Suite R71
It's no secret that as your business grows, finding room to expand in Boston or Cambridge is often out of reach. Hear from other leaders who have found success growing their companies outside of the 95-belt and how much more there is to Massachusetts.
Moderator:
Stacy Swider, Vice President, Investments, MassVentures
Speakers:
- Marcie Black, CEO, Advanced Silicon Group (ASG)
- Joe Hastry, Co-Founder, Director of Finance & Operations, florrent
- Peter Milano, Director of Strategy and Business Development, MOBD (Massachusetts Office of Business Development)
- Julie Mullen, CEO, Aclarity
3:15 p.m.
Optimizing Production: Navigating Automation and Employee Impact
3:15 p.m. | Northwest Lounge
Join an open discussion with your peers who will share their best practices and lessons learned in implementing automation to optimize and drive efficiencies on your production lines.
Moderator:
Nathan Desrochers, Business Development Manager, Universal Robots
Speakers:
- John Cianciolo, Director of Process Improvement and Technology, Straumann Manufacturing
- Patrick Helfrich, Manufacturing Engineer, Helfrich Brothers Boiler Works
- Mike Tamasi, President and CEO, AccuRounds
Accelerate Growth by Leveraging the Latest Marketing, Sales and AI Best Practices
3:15 p.m. | Southwest Red Landing
Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to accelerate your growth and take your manufacturing business to the next level. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to drive sustainable growth and outpace the competition.
Moderator:
Chris Ciunci, Founder and Lead Trainer, Skayle 360
Speakers:
G. Alexander Korentis, Ph.D., Owner/Engineering Manager, QCI Engineering