Forming Our Future
Schedule
Day 1 - Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Registration Opens
First Timers FOF 101
- By Invitation Only
- All first-time attendees are invited to sit down the PMA’s President, David Klotz, and current officers to review the conference agenda, discuss what can be expected over the next few days and most importantly, discuss tips on how to get the most value out of your investment to attend Forming Our Future!
First Timers Reception
- By Invitation Only
- All first-time attendees and their spouses and guests are invited to this welcome reception to connect with other first timers as well as members of PMA’s Executive Board of Directors and their spouses.
Early Arrivals Reception
All Forming Our Future participants, including spouses and guests, are invited to this reception to get together with old friends and meet new connections. Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and great conversation in a relaxed and informal setting before the conference officially begins the following day.Executive Board Dinner
- Executive Board Members Only
Day 2 - Thursday, March 6, 2025
Registration Open
2024/2025 PMA Executive Board & Board of Advisors Breakfast & Meeting
Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m.Past Chairs and First Ladies/Gent Luncheon
- By Invitation Only
Forming Our Future General Session to Commence
Opening RemarksOpening Keynote – The Tip Jar Culture: Re-Engage Your Workforce and Reignite Your Passion for the Profession
Gregory Offner
Author, Workforce Strategist and Award-Winning Keynote Speaker
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Opening Keynote – The Tip Jar Culture: Re-Engage Your Workforce and Reignite Your Passion for the Profession
These days it seems like employee entitlement is at an all-time high, while engagement is at an all-time low. But what most leaders see as problems with workforce culture are actually just symptoms of the real problem.
In this unforgettable keynote, former dueling pianist and award-winning speaker Gregory Offner will demonstrate three principles of engagement—found in a piano bar—then discuss the strategies and stories of organizations that have applied these principles to business with phenomenal results. Attendees will leave inspired, entertained and equipped to put these principles into action, and create a Tip Jar Culture™ of their own.
Key takeaways from this presentation include:
- A framework to create a sustainable engagement strategy that appeals to broad and diverse employee groups
- Three tools to implement simple, but effective, shifts in the experience of work that eliminate the three major frustrations causing employees to leave
- Insight into the question that most leaders don’t ask, but all employees wish they would.
REFRESHMENT BREAK
Align Resources for the Rise Ahead
Connor Lokar
Economist
ITR Economics
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Align Resources for the Rise Ahead
2025 looks to be a year of recovery for some markets and real growth for others, while still others can expect a measure of cyclical decline. Attendees will be able to see the future before it is here so that the scarce resources can be properly allocated. Tracking the leading indicators and being nimble as plans are drawn for beyond 2025 is imperative.
The winds of growth, inflation and interest rates are likely to shift as we go beyond 2025. Connor will present his forecasts for inflation and interest rates as well as an outlook for the forces that drive your markets. This outlook will require a change in perspective so that you can successfully plan and change to maximize your profits in both the near and longer term.
REFRESHMENT BREAK
Keynote – New Congress, New President: Your Government and Manufacturing
Omar Nashashibi
FounderInside Beltway
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Paul Nathanson
PartnerPolicy Resolution Group at Bracewell, LLP
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Caitlin Sickles
Partner & Senior PrincipalPolicy Resolution Group at Bracewell, LLP
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Keynote – New Congress, New President:
Your Government and Manufacturing
Manufacturers will face a new administration and Congress in 2025 as Washington tackles tax increases, tariff rates and an increasingly active regulatory state. PMA’s lobbying and communications teams in Washington, D.C., will provide attendees with the information they need to adapt and thrive in this uncertain political environment. With more than $4.6 trillion in tax increases slated for January 1, 2026, PMA’s advocacy agenda is full with the most important priorities for your company on the table. This presentation will provide insiders’ analysis of the politics and policy decisions affecting the industry in 2025 and beyond, and which strategies precision manufacturers can use to navigate today’s politics.
Chairman’s Reception & Dinner: Miami Vice
Step into the night of stylish sophistication, excitement, and the iconic style of Miami Vice. Relive the iconic 80s glam and action that made Miami Vice legendary. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable celebration!Day 3 - Friday, March 7, 2025
Registration Open
Attendee Breakfast
From Mine to Mill – Understanding Supply Chain Management and How it Impacts Your Company
John Bell
Department Head Supply Chain ManagementUniversity of Tennessee
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From Mine to Mill – Understanding Supply Chain Management and How it Impacts Your Company
Modern firms compete as part of larger supply chain networks, and they often underestimate or lack an understanding of the actual risks associated with the global and volatile nature of such networks. This is especially true for those in metalworking and manufacturing industries that depend on numerous upstream suppliers to discover, mine, smelt and form key metals inventories destined to become critical inputs for their manufactured products. This presentation highlights the types of supply chain risks in the sourcing of metals, presents models used for analyzing such risks, and discusses management techniques for mitigating sourcing risk for metals used as raw materials. Highlights include different perspectives on measuring risk across local and international supply chains and the often hidden and illicit nature of remote mining and sourcing operations where social and environmental violations take place in our metals supply chains.
Unlock Your Competitive Edge: Utilizing PMA Metalforming Insights Benchmarking Data
Laurie Harbour
PartnerWipfli
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Unlock Your Competitive Edge: Utilizing PMA Metalforming Insights Benchmarking Data
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, manufacturers face unprecedented challenges that demand strategic agility and data-driven decision-making. In this presentation, Laurie Harbour delves into the latest results from the 2024 PMA Metalforming Insights study, offering manufacturers a comprehensive understanding of current industry trends, performance metrics and best practices. By analyzing key benchmarks, attendees will be better equipped to identify operational inefficiencies while optimizing productivity. The information shared will help participants navigate the complexities of the modern manufacturing environment with confidence and foresight
Spouse/Guest Breakfast & Activity –
Let’s Bomba!
Activity InformationBomba is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of musical styles and associated dances originating in Puerto Rico. It was developed by enslaved Africans and their descendants in sugar plantations along coastal towns during the 17th century and is the island’s oldest musical tradition. Drummers “follow” the dancer’s steps as they both start creating an extraordinary vocabulary together with music and dance. Attendees will get to join in during this once in a lifetime authentic musical experience.
Breakfast will be served from 9:00-10:00 a.m. followed by the Bomba experience.
Refreshment Break
Educational Sessions – Session 1
Track 1— Metals Update Fireside Chat
Charlie Bernard
PresidentEagle Metals
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Bill Hickey
ChairmanLapham-Hickey Steel Corp
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Chris Ulbrich
CEOUlbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals Inc.
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Metals Update Fireside Chat
Come chat with PMA’s own metal experts to hear the latest on hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, stainless, copper and brass. This update on the metals marketplace will cover 2025 and 2026 business conditions and the outlook for the next six to 12 months for metals service centers, mills and the global marketplace.
Track 2— Leveraging AI & ChatGPT: Transforming Industrial Relationships for Future Growth
Donna Peterson
CEO
World Innovators
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Leveraging AI & ChatGPT: Transforming Industrial Relationships for Future Growth
In an era where building relationships is essential, transitioning from broad correspondence to tailored messaging can significantly enhance engagement and outcomes. This session will delve into the power of AI and ChatGPT for industrial marketing and sales teams. Discover how these AI tools can help you better understand your audience and leverage that knowledge to create personalized messages that speak directly to them. By exploring innovative applications of ChatGPT, you will see how it can boost your marketing efforts and achieve a better ROI, while also providing sales teams with deeper insights and more qualified leads.
The session also will highlight the critical role of video content, featuring a review of the Descript platform and the latest AI capabilities in Canva. Evaluating and integrating AI tools now can empower lean marketing and sales teams to make a substantial impact by increasing the number of qualified leads and improving conversion rates.
Join us to learn how to leverage the power of AI and foster relationships that will grow your company.
Track 3— From Good to Great: Transform Your Marketing with These Best Practices
Teresa Schell
President/Owner
Vive Marketing
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From Good to Great: Transform Your Marketing with These Best Practices
Track 4— Behind the Breach: Insights from a Tier-One Auto Suppliers Cyber Attack
Mike Brattain
Account ExecutiveSystems X
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Janice D’Amico
Executive Business Systems & ITThai Summit America
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Karen Kiewski
Director of Client ServicesSystems X
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Behind the Breach: Insights from a Tier-One Auto Suppliers Cyber Attack
Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear directly from a Tier-One auto supplier as they recount their recent cyber-attack experience. Gain valuable insights into how the breach was first discovered, the enduring repercussions, and the ongoing efforts to restore security and rebuild trust.
Educational Sessions – Session 2
Track 1— The LEAN Progression…Building a Lean Culture
Bill Greider
Principal
P4Lean Strategy
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The LEAN Progression…Building a Lean Culture
Lean is one of the most powerful growth strategies you can imagine, and it also can be thought of as life insurance for your business. Most companies give up because it is hard to get started. Lean tools are fairly easy to understand and seem to make sense. The real trick is how to methodically build a lean growth strategy that impacts the bottom line, involves every stakeholder and is sustainable. In this presentation, Bill Greider will offer a 45-minute overview of this proven step-by-step process that worked for his 75-employee manufacturing business.Track 2— Leveraging AI & ChatGPT: Transforming Industrial Relationships for Future Growth
Donna Peterson
CEO
World Innovators
View Biography
Leveraging AI & ChatGPT: Transforming Industrial Relationships for Future Growth
In an era where building relationships is essential, transitioning from broad correspondence to tailored messaging can significantly enhance engagement and outcomes. This session will delve into the power of AI and ChatGPT for industrial marketing and sales teams. Discover how these AI tools can help you better understand your audience and leverage that knowledge to create personalized messages that speak directly to them. By exploring innovative applications of ChatGPT, you will see how it can boost your marketing efforts and achieve a better ROI, while also providing sales teams with deeper insights and more qualified leads.
The session also will highlight the critical role of video content, featuring a review of the Descript platform and the latest AI capabilities in Canva. Evaluating and integrating AI tools now can empower lean marketing and sales teams to make a substantial impact by increasing the number of qualified leads and improving conversion rates.
Join us to learn how to leverage the power of AI and foster relationships that will grow your company.
Track 3— Global Manufacturing Insights: Mexico & Asia – Trends in Nearshoring, Reshoring, Trade and Tariffs
Alejandro Rodriguez
Partner, Global Services
Plante Moran
View Biography
Global Manufacturing Insights: Mexico & Asia – Trends in Nearshoring, Reshoring, Trade and Tariffs
During this session, the evolving landscape of global manufacturing will be discussed, focusing on the strategic shifts toward nearshoring and reshoring in Mexico and Asia. Attendees will gain insights into the latest trade policies, tariff impacts and emerging trends shaping the future of global manufacturing. The session also will feature real-world examples, such as the successful nearshoring of automotive manufacturing to Mexico and the impact of reshoring production in Asia.Track 4— Nothing Lasts Forever: Understanding the Exit Options Landscape
Craig Doescher
President
Doescher Group
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Nothing Lasts Forever: Understanding the Exit Options Landscape
You may not want to think about it, but it's a mathematical certainty that you will one day walk away from your business. In too many cases this separation takes place in a non-voluntary manner via the 5 Ds (Death, Disability, Divorce, Disagreement or Distress). Join us to learn about the many flavors of exit options for your business and what you can do to be well prepared to cement your legacy, on your terms.Optional Afternoon Activities
Activity 1: Golf ScrambleActivity Information
Activity 2: Catamaran Sail & Snorkel Tour
Activity Information
Activity 3: El Yunque Rainforest Tour
Activity Information
Activity 4: ATV Four Track Rainforest Adventure
Activity Information
DINNER ON OWN
Day 4 - Saturday, March 8, 2025
REGISTRATION Open
PMA/PMAEF Annual Meeting Business Sessions
This meeting will provide an overview of key issues impacting the industry and the association.Morning Break: Spouses/Guests to Join Delegates
Breakfast and Officer Recognition Ceremony
Celebrate PMA’s current officers and welcome our 2025 officers to the leadership team. Breakfast will feature a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar.Closing Keynote: Leading No Fail Teams
Admiral Scott Moore
Retired SEAL Leader
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Leading No Fail Teams
Rear Admiral Scott Moore offers audiences a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the mind of the man whose uncanny operational skill and invaluable leadership experience make him one of the few who knows what it takes to both create and lead the world’s most high-performing teams. He shares stories of teamwork when quick decisions mean life or death and insights on how to recruit, train and equip teams that exceed expectations. He focuses on how to transform individuals into a cohesive team, how to select talent that complements each other’s strengths and compensates for their weaknesses, and the qualities to look for in team members and leaders. Larger than life, he knows how to get things done and how to build a team that achieves objectives when failure is not an option, and he shares stories about the three most important factors affecting teams—leadership, trust and peak performance. His insights and nail-biting stories are from some of the marquee moments of our nation’s geopolitical history, and they make his adrenaline-pumping, edge-of-your-seat presentation an instant audience favorite.Reception, Dinner & Dancing
Enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing as you say farewell to your PMA friends and family at this celebration. Cocktail attire is recommended.