Metal Stamping Technology Conference

David Diaz-Infante
Servo Press Scientist, Nidec Press & Automation

David Diaz, PhD., servo press scientist for Nidec Press & Automation, specializes in optimizing servo press operations and best stamping practices, leading to increased production rates. With a doctorate in Advanced Manufacturing and industrial experience around the world in the sheet metal forming industry, David has been consulting and delivering numerous seminars and workshops for various audiences, always looking to get one more stroke per minute.

Jim Finnerty
Product Manager, Wintriss Controls Group LLC

Jim Finnerty has been with Wintriss Controls Group for 42 years and is responsible for new-product development and sensor applications. He has helped metal stampers implement sensors and prevent die crashes for more than 40 years, and has published numerous articles pertinent to the metalforming industry. He also is an active member of the Precision Metalforming Association, serving on multiple committees and presenting at countless PMA technical seminars, FABTECH and conferences around the world.

Robert Gunst
President, Jacar Systems LLC

Bob Gunst has been helping the sheet metal-stamping industry make money with progressive and transfer dies for the past 40 years. He serves as a subject matter expert for in-die transfer technologies. Bob has held principal roles in several sheet metal automation companies, metal stamping companies and tool and die shops.

Laurie Harbour
Partner, Wipfli LLC

Laurie Harbour is a partner at Wipfli with more than 35 years of manufacturing and consulting experience. Prior to joining Wipfli, she was the co-owner of Harbour Results, Inc., and has spent her career helping clients develop strategies, improve operations, reduce risk and optimize business performance. Clients benefit from Laurie's ability to work with leadership teams to assess the current state of their business and provide strategic and operation recommendations for improvement.

Laurie’s specializations include business strategy, leadership development, operational improvement, benchmarking, sales strategy and talent management.

Will Healy III
Global Industry Segment Leader, Welding, Teradyne - Universal Robots

Will Healy III is enthusiastic about manufacturing, technology and workforce development. A Purdue University mechanical engineer who loves to share his passion for automation, Will is a global leader at Universal Robots and with the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP) in Cincinnati, OH. He speaks from personal experience about people-centric technology investments, managing culture change in organizations, bridging the manufacturing skills gap and creating value through automation. With more than 20 years of experience in a variety of industries including automotive, packaging, food and beverage, metal fabrication, welding and more; Will is widely published, is a regular podcast guest, is an in-demand panelist and presents internationally at a variety of industry conferences. Follow Will on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn with the handle WillAutomate.

Art Hedrick
Owner, Dieology LLC

Art Hedrick is the owner of the training and consulting firm Dieology LLC. He is a journeyman tool and die maker and stamping process engineer with more than 43 years of metalworking/die building and processing experience. For the last 22 years, Art authored the “Die Science” column published in the Stamping Journal. He now is the author of “The Science of Forming” column published in MetalForming magazine. He also has written numerous technical articles on stamping die design and build for a number of trade publications.

Art has conducted training and consulting for hundreds of sheet metal stamping plants and die builders worldwide. His more than 200 clients serve numerous industries including the automotive, appliance, military, hardware, ATV, recreational, space exploration, aircraft and medical fields. Art also has received numerous training awards and held chair positions of stamping councils for industry trade associations.

John Panozzo
Senior Advanced Engineer, GE Appliances, a Haier company

John Panozzo is the senior advanced engineer at GE Appliances with more than 30 years of experience in tooling, stamping and manufacturing processes in the home appliances, HVAC and Class 5 truck industries. For seven of the past eight years, John has used Autoform and CAD to help the team create the internal “zero distance” formability/feasibility process across GE Appliances.. 

Dean Phillips
Director of Technical Training, Precision Metalforming Association

Dean Phillips joined the PMA staff as director of technical training in May 2024. Prior to this, he was heavily involved with PMA Tennessee District, served on the PMA safety committee, and was a contributor to MetalForming magazine.

Dean has been an active member of the forming and fabricating community for the past 35 years. He started his career at Niagara (later Clearing Niagara Bliss, CNB), serving as service tech, regional sales manager and fabrication product director. Later, he was the fabrication product director for Piranha / Allsteel and designed the Titan press brake with Tennsmith as its director of fabrication products. Dean also was national sales manager for SEYI Presses.

Dean is an expert in IIoT and strategy for AI-based systems, as well as an expert on safety and controls, working to make manufacturers as productive and safe as possible. Dean spent 20 years with Link Systems and is designing VR/AR as president of Longevity Industries’ “Reality Safe.” You can hear Dean, the host/producer of PMA's “Destiny of Manufacturing” podcast, with industry leaders and technical experts.

Manuel Resendes
Engineering/Toolroom Manager, Larson Tool & Stamping Company

Manny started his manufacturing journey at the age of 14 and now has more than 30 years of hands-on manufacturing experience. Manny graduated from a four-year vocational trade school (Machine Shop), advancing his career as a Certified Massachusetts Toolmaker, CNC programmer, stamping and deep draw design engineer, systems and special project engineer and NPI manufacturing engineer. He’s held a certification as a Black Belt in Six Sigma since 2008. Now in his 40s, Manny’s journey in the industry has included working for manufacturers such GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Clearmotion, Inc (Boston MIT Graduate Startup), and Larson Tool and Stamping Co. This depth of hands-on exposure to different company cultures across different continents, operations, value streams, automation and project management allows an in-depth understanding into best practices within design for manufacturing, whether you need one part or millions in volume.