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CONNECTIONS Register early for Manufacturing First Expo & Conference BY LAUREL MCKENZIE W of the second annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference expect this year's event on Sept. 26 will be a major statewide attraction. The first event drew almost 400 attendees to the KI Center in Green Bay last fall. "We know that manufacturers executives, organizers a lunch presentation and all-star lineup of manufacturing ith two keynotes, keep incredibly busy schedules," says Ann Franz, strategic partnerships manager at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and coordinator of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, a title sponsor of the event. "We want to get the word out early so they can block the day as an important opportunity to hear the latest industry trends from leaders in manufacturing – and of course, to network with their peers in the region." Tickets for this year's event are available for a $25 discount if purchased before Sept. 1. At $50, they include access to the full day conference, expo, networking and lunch. Opportunities to book exhibit space will be available until Sept. 1 and are expected to sell out early. Two keynotes will kick off the day with insight on the workforce shortage in manufacturing. Jim Morgan, president of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Foundation and WMC vice president, will address, "How to Solve the Skills Shortage. Sullivan, former CEO of Bucyrus and special consultant for the state of Wisconsin, will discuss, "Wisconsin's 21st Century Workforce. " Tim " 20 | INSIGHT • Augus t 2012 Mark Maratik of Bassett Mechanical, left, chats with Bill Capelle of Val-Fab Inc. at last year's Manufacturing First Expo & Conference. ask questions of manufacturing leaders during the aſternoon CEO Roundtable. Panelists include Kim Bassett- Heitzmann, president and CEO of Bassett Mechanical; Mark Lasky, CEO of Sadoff-Rudoy Industries; and Trisha Dickinson Lemery, president and CEO of Winsert. Three concurrent morning breakout president of Global Manufacturing Operations at Plexus, will deliver the lunch presentation, "A Wisconsin Manufacturing Success Story – Innovation at Plexus." Attendees will have the chance to Mike Buseman, executive vice discussion leaders include Jonathan Darling, president of Romo Durable Graphics; Kristi Jankowski, senior vice president Innovation at Sargento; Ron Kadlubowski, project-advanced technology manager for Karl Schmidt Unisia, Inc.; and Paul Rauscher, president of EMT International. sessions will address current trends in manufacturing: » "Best Practices in Innovation" A CLOSER LOOK Manufacturing First Expo & Conference Sept. 26 at the KI Center, Green Bay Tickets: $50; after Sept. 1: $75 Website: www.manufacturingfirst.com Deadline for sponsorships/booths: Sept. 1 Contact Brian Rasmussen, at (920) 882-0491 » "Skills Shortage – Finding Today and Tomorrow's Talent," will be led by Mark Kaiser, president of Lindquist Machine and Steve Meyer, at Brillion High School. » "Wisconsin Manufacturing Competitiveness in a Global Society" will be led by Lora Klenke, vice president of international business development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; Erich Pfeiffer, president and chief operating officer of Marine Traveliſt; and Roxanne Baumann, director of partnerships and alliances at the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The Manufacturing First Expo & Conference is presented by First Business Bank in partnership with the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and Insight Publications. www.insightonbusiness .com