About the Kentucky Industry Conference

We are excited to announce that GAME Change, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM), and Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) are coming together for the first-ever Kentucky Industry Conference! Mark your calendars for October 28-30, 2024 (opening reception for all who are in town on Oct. 28) as we converge at the Marriott Downtown in Louisville, KY.  

This collaborative effort aims to tackle the most pressing challenges and explore opportunities within the manufacturing innovation ecosystem. From workforce dynamics to sustainability initiatives, energy solutions, technological advancements, and beyond, the 2024 Kentucky Industry Conference promises to cover challenges we are all facing together.    

By bringing together the expertise and resources of GAME Change, KAM, and MI2, this conference goes beyond the boundaries of traditional industry events. It represents a unique convergence of minds, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovation on a new scale.

About the Conference Partners

GAME Change is the Generate Advanced Manufacturing Excellence for Change, created by the research, education, economic development, industrial, and manufacturing leaders of the Southeastern Commerce Corridor (SCC) of Kentucky and Tennessee, funded by a US National Science Foundation Engine Development Award to establish a diverse innovation and talent development hub that secures U.S. competitiveness in Next-Generation Manufacturing and supply chain logistics, support closed-cycle manufacturing to reduce waste, and increase efficiencies for self-sustaining economic growth. GAME Change leadership includes four R1 universities and a wide range of other partners across Kentucky and Tennessee. 

The Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) is Kentucky’s leading industry and business organization. Our mission is to make a better Kentucky by promoting and growing manufacturing in the Commonwealth. We are the voice for economic growth and opportunity in Kentucky. Learn more at kam.us.com.

Thank you to our KAM Partners!

The Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) is a Kentucky-based nonprofit that provides collaborative, industry-led executive leadership to attract and promote advanced research, sustainability, commercialization and talent development in Kentucky’s metals industry–and, ultimately, for Kentucky to be seen as the preeminent destination for metals innovation. The Commonwealth’s metals industry includes more than 250 facilities, employing more than 36,000 people statewide.

Thank you to our MI2 Platinum Members! 



Thank you to our Founding Partner! 


Conference Sponsors

Exhibitors

ALL4Amteck
BlackBox Energy Systems
Blue Chip Engineered Products, LLC
Building Management Partners
Built In The Bluegrass
Calhoun Construction
Chism Automation
GardaWorld Security Services
Henderson Electrical Services
 Keller Schroeder
Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY-MEP)
Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities
Manufacturer's Advisory Council of Kentucky
Pathfinder Sustainability Data
Payroll Solutions Inc.
Schneider Electric
SMS Group
Sublime Media Group
The Office of Employer & Apprenticeship Services
Toyota Tsusho America, Inc.
Trane U.S. Inc.
Transmission
TTA - Technical Training Aids
Vid Monster Productions
Warehouse on Wheels - WOW
Whitworth Tool Inc.
Win2uit Electronics


Agenda

Monday, October 28, 2024


5:30 - 7:00 pmFireside Chat - The Next American Arsenal of Democracy (Optional Session)

Salons 8-10
Featured Speakers:
Amy Wombwell, BlackBox Energy Systems
Gene Price, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys
Jameson Morgan, goTenna
Rob Givens, U.S. Senator Rand Paul
Frank Jemley, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
Bill Hamblet, U.S. Naval Institute


Tuesday, October 29, 2024


8:30 - 9:30 amGAME Change Registration & Networking

Marriott Foyer


9:30-10:00 a.m.GAME Change: Past, Present and Future

Salons 8-10
Featured Speaker:
Ian McClure, GAME Change/University of Kentucky


9:30 - 10:00 amGAME Change: Circular Economy

Salons 8-10


10:00 - 11:00 amRegistration, Exhibitors Open

Marriott Foyer


10:00 - 11:00 amGAME Change: We've Come a Long Way--The Opportunities and Challenges We Have Discovered in Designing the US Innovation Hub for Circular Economy

Salons 8-10
Panelists:
Fazleena Badurdeen, University of Kentucky
Landon Borders, GAME Change/University of Kentucky
Ian McClure, GAME Change/University of Kentucky
Kayla Meisner, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures
LeeSa Page, Workforce Working Group
Phillip A. Tencer, Eastman Chemical Company
Robert Turner, Tennessee State University


11:00 am - 12:30 pmOpening General Session & Welcome Luncheon

Salons 5 & 6
Featured Speakers:
Amy Lee, Owens Corning - Sustainability as a Competitive Differentiator for US Manufacturers and Our Economy.
Garry Cooper, Rheaply - Empowering Industry: Why Manufacturers Hold the Key to a Circular Economy


12:30 - 1:00 pmNetworking & Exhibitors

Marriott Foyer


1:00 - 2:00 pmTalent & Workforce Track - Talent Pathways into Manufacturing

Salon 1
Panelists:
Brian Becker, South Central Workforce Development Board
Dorian Moe, Kentucky Chamber Foundation
Luke Ramsay, Metals Innovation Initiative
Nicki Stewart, KY VALOR


1:00 - 2:00 pmEnergy & Sustainability Track - The Near-Term Future of Kentucky Energy

Salon 2
Panelists:
Amy Spiller, Duke Energy Corporation
Jay Richert, Marathon Petroleum Refinery
Andy Battjes, Brown-Forman
Brian Zoeller, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys


1:00 - 2:00 pmTech Innovation Track - Mi2 Innovation Competition

Salon 3
Finalists:
John Dahlberg and Andrew Dahlberg, Talknician
Léopold Dobelle, Mitico
Adil Khan and Michael Beaton, MaxPTS
Brandon Young, Pascal Tags


1:00 - 2:00 pmIndustry Sector Track - Defense & Aerospace

Salon 4
Panelists:
Amy Wombwell, Blackbox Energy Systems
Gene Price, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys
Andrea Garrity, goTenna
Karin Hoffman, Key Innovative Solutions


1:00 - 2:00 pmContemporary Industry Issues Track - State & Federal Policy

Salon 7
Panelists:
Sec. Michael Adams, Kentucky Secretary of State
Ryan Jackson, American Chemistry Council
Daniel Mudd, Frost Brown Todd
Brigitte Blom, The Prichard Committee of Academic Excellence
Kentucky Senator-Elect Craig Richardson


1:00 - 2:00 pmGAME Change Track - Advances in Resource Recovery Digital Platforms

Salons 8-10
Panelists:
Garry Cooper, Rheaply
Bob Hynes, Hitachi Industrial Holdings America/JR Automation
Amy Lee, Owens Corning
Caglar Oskay, Vanderbilt University
Connie Prostko-Bell, ALL4
Christian van Maaren, Excess Materials Exchange


2:00 - 2:30 pmNetworking & Exhibitors

Marriott Foyer


2:30 - 3:30 pmTalent & Workforce Track - Workforce R & D and Data

Salon 1
Panelists:
Shelley Goodwin, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
Stacy McCoy, Employbridge
Zach Morgan, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers


2:30 - 3:30 pmEnergy & Sustainability Track - Clean Energy & Energy Innovation

Salon 2
Panelists:
John Harnage, Kentucky Thermal Institute
Mark Pendley, Logan Aluminum
Connie Prostko-Bell, ALL4
Dr. Thad Druffel, University of Louisville


2:30 - 3:30 pmTech Innovation Track - Innovation in the Supply Chain

Salon 3
Presenter:
Gregory Head, University of Louisville Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Program


2:30 - 3:30 pmIndustry Sector Track - Metals

Salon 4
Panelists:
Dr. Michael W. Clark, University of Kentucky
Kent Guthrie, Trace Die Cast
Vijay Kamineni, Metals Innovation Initiative
Brent Wilson, Bilstein Cold Rolled Steel


2:30 - 3:30 pmGAME Change Track - GAME Change Alliance: Forming Alliances for Advancing Circular Economy

Salons 8-10
Moderators:
Landon Borders, GAME Change/University of Kentucky
Rob Coleman, GAME Change/University of Tennessee, Knoxville


3:30 - 4:00 pmNetworking & Exhibitors

Marriott Foyer


3:30 - 4:00 pmGAME Change Track - Wrap Up and Preparation for Workshop

Salons 8-10
Featured Speaker: Ian McClure, GAME Change/University of Kentucky


4:00 - 5:00 pmGeneral Session Keynote

Salons 5 & 6
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear


5:30 - 7:00 pmWelcome Reception

Marriott Foyer


Wednesday, October 30, 2024


7:30 - 8:30 amRegistration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibitors

Marriott Foyer


8:30 - 9:30 amGeneral Session & Morning Welcome

Manufacturing Executive Roundtable
Salons 5 & 6
Panelists:
Wells Bullard, Bullard
Kristen Byrd, PNC
Steve Clarke, Logan Aluminum
John Crockett, President and Chief Development Officer, LG&E and KU
Mark Erwin, Bardstown Bourbon
Sec. Jeff Noel, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development


9:30 - 10:00 amNetworking & Exhibitors

Marriott Foyer


10:00 - 11:00 amTalent & Workforce Track - Educating the Workforce of the Future

Salon 1
Panelists:
Heather McClanahan, Fives Machining Systems
Ruth Moore, Bardstown Bourbon
Meredith Rozanski, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
Jessie Schook, Kentucky Community & Technical College System


10:00 - 11:00 amEnergy & Sustainability Track - KY-WORCS - Addressing Workforce Shifts Alongside Energy Policy Change

Salon 2
Panelists:
Steven Bailey, Prestonsburg Economic Development Foundation
Rusty Justice, AccelerateKY
Alyssa Manning, Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation
Paul Sandefur, Mayor of Beaver Dam, KY
Brad Slone, City of Pikeville


10:00 - 11:00 amIndustry Sector Track - Automotive: The EV Transition

Salon 4
Panelists:
Jeremy Ballard, Toyotetsu
Chris Lewis, AIAG
Donnie Slagle, Toyotetsu


10:00 - 11:00 amContemporary Industry Issues Track - Trade: Navigate the Future of Supply Chain

Salon 7
Panelists:
Alan Black, Valvoline Global Products
Seth Cutter, Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky International Airport
Parashar Joshi, World Trade Center Kentucky
Stephen Marks, Sr., Givaudan Sense Colour
Tim Wing, UPS


10:00 - 11:00 amGAME Change Track - NSF Engines Type 2 Proposal: What Does It Take to Be a Regional Innovation Engine?

Salons 8-10
Featured Speaker:
Andrew Maas, Louisiana State University/FUEL


11:00 am - 11:30 amNetworking & Exhibitors

Marriott Foyer


11:30 am - 12:30 pmTalent & Workforce Track - Work of the Future

Salon 1
Presenter:
Dr. Ben Armstrong, MIT Industrial Performance Center


11:30 am - 12:30 pmEnergy & Sustainability Track - The State of Metals Recycling

Salon 2
Panelists:
Jennifer Betts, Magnar Metals
Jennifer Bogs, Crown Holdings
Bob Eviston, Nucor/River Metals Recycling
Dr. Joshua Werner, Recyera


11:30 am - 12:30 pmTech Innovation Track - Factory of the Future

Salon 3
Presenters:
Jim Hall, CBT Company
Jeremy Jacobs, Transmission
Mike Stevens, CBT Company
Greg Tink, Schneider Electric


11:30 am - 12:30 pmIndustry Sector Track - Cross-Stakeholder Innovation Ecosystems

Salon 4
Panelists:
Sam Ford, Metals Innovation Initiative
Summer Goldman, Metals Innovation Initiative
Vijay Kamineni, Metals Innovation Initiative


11:30 am - 12:30 pmContemporary Industry Issues Track - Grants and Funding

Salon 7
Panelists:
Ruthie Caldwell, Metals Innovation Initiative
Art Samberg, US Department of Energy Southeast Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP)
Hunter Voegele, Ankura


11:30 am - 12:30 pmGAME Change Track - Overview, Vision, Rationale and Broader Impacts

Salons 8-10


12:30 - 2:00 pmIndustry Awards Luncheon

Salons 5 & 6
Featured Speaker:
Bill Good, Vice President of Supply Chain, GE Appliances


2:00 - 2:45 pmGAME Change Track - Identifying Research Projects

Salon 1
Research Advisory Council (RAC)


2:00 - 2:45 pmGAME ChangeTrack - Regional Coordination and Resource Commitments

Salon 3
Moderators:
Landon Borders, GAME Change/University of Kentucky
Rob Coleman, GAME Change/University of Tennessee, Knoxville


2:45 - 3:30 pmGAME Change Track - Validating the GAME Change Venture Studio Strategy

Salon 1
Featured Speaker:
Robert Turner, GAME Change/Tennessee State University


2:45 - 3:30 pmGAME Change Track - Validating the GAME Change Talent Development Strategy

Salon 3
Featured Speaker:
Jessie Schook, GAME Change/Kentucky Community & Technical College System


3:30 - 4:00 pmGAME Change Track - Closing

Salons 8-10
Featured Speaker:
Ian McClure, GAME Change/University of Kentucky




Conference Speakers


Government Leaders

Governor Andy Beshear

Governor Andy Beshear grew up in central Kentucky and graduated from Lexington’s Henry Clay High School before attending Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia School of Law. His family and community instilled in him the values of faith, family, and public service. He leaned on those values more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic and during two historic natural disasters: the tornadoes that struck Western Kentucky and the flooding that devastated Eastern Kentucky.

Now in his second term, Gov. Beshear continues to re-build and revitalize those communities, and Kentucky’s economy is booming like never before. Even as our state faced some of its toughest challenges, Gov. Beshear prioritized improving and expanding infrastructure and bringing good-paying jobs to every corner of the commonwealth.

The Governor and his wife, First Lady Britainy Beshear – along with their two children – live in Frankfort and are active in Louisville’s Beargrass Christian Church.


Secretary of State Michael G. Adams

Michael G. Adams is Kentucky's 86th Secretary of State.

Michael graduated from McCracken County public schools, was the first in his family to get a bachelor's degree, and attended Harvard Law School on low-income aid. Michael worked for Senator Mitch McConnell and Governor Ernie Fletcher before moving to Washington to serve as Counsel to the U.S. Deputy Attorney General in the second Bush Administration.

In 2007, Michael began private practice in election law, ultimately building a national practice in the field. He has represented several national political committees, numerous national political figures, and statewide campaign efforts in all 50 states. Because of this unique experience, in 2016 Michael was appointed to the Kentucky State Board of Elections.

Inaugurated as Secretary of State in 2020, just before the onset of coronavirus, Michael used emergency powers to conduct safe and secure elections that became a model for other states. Having expanded voter access while also tightening election integrity, in 2021 Adams presented the state legislature with the most ambitious election reform plan since 1891, and it passed both chambers with near-unanimous support.

Michael's work in making it easy to vote and hard to cheat has earned praise throughout America and across party lines. In 2023, Michael sought reelection and was the top vote getter of all candidates for constitutional office, carrying 118 of 120 counties. In 2024, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation presented Michael the JFK Profile in Courage Award, which recognizes public servants who have risked their careers by putting the public interest ahead of their own political standing.

Michael is happily married to Christina and is the proud father of Lucia.


Secretary Jeff Noel Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

Jeff Noel was appointed Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in June 2022.

He is responsible for the development and administration of executive policies designed to support and promote the attraction of new jobs and investment to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, maintenance of existing industries, and overall support of economic growth for the state.

Noel previously served as Whirlpool’s corporate Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, reporting to the Chairman and CEO, a position he held since 2004. He also served as the president of Whirlpool Foundation, which includes oversight of the company’s 20-year relationship with Habitat for Humanity that has touched over 200,000 families.


Industry Leaders

Alan Black Global Trade and Product Regulatory Team Leader, Valvoline Global Products

Alan currently leads the Valvoline Global Trade and Product Regulatory team. Alan oversees the export and import activities globally for Valvoline. Alan also manages Product Regulatory compliance for all Valvoline products worldwide. His organization works collectively with trade associations and government agencies in the development and implementation of regulatory requirements.

Prior to Valvoline Global Products, Alan with the with FedEx Express, serving in many roles over his 35+ years. He was most recently the Regulatory and Carrier Compliance Manger. Alan has also been an active representative on various Trade & Government Committees.


Amy Lee Senior Sustainability Leader, Owens Corning

Amy Lee is a Senior Sustainability Leader with Owens Corning, a Fortune500 manufacturer of roofing, insulation, doors, and composites. In this role, she is responsible for Circular Economy solutions, collaborating with customers and external partners to develop solutions for products throughout their lifecycles, from end-of-life and back again.

Amy brings extensive experience in sustainability, innovation, and strategy with companies including DuPont – where she was global business director of Second Life Materials, a business focused on circularity; Saint-Gobain; and GE. She has worked with NIST, under the US Department of Commerce, to develop a Business Continuity risk management program for small- to mid-sized manufacturers.


Amy Spiller State President OH and KY, Duke Energy

Amy Spiller is president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in Ohio and Kentucky, which serve approximately 900,000 electric customers and 557,000 natural gas customers. She is accountable for advancing the company’s rate and regulatory initiatives and managing the government relations, community affairs and stakeholder engagement functions throughout the region.


Amy Wombwell Co-Founder & COO, BlackBox Energy Systems

Amy Wombwell is the Co-Founder of BlackBox Energy, a company known for its TruVolt Motor, a BLDC Axial Flux motor that boasts exceptional efficiency, running at up to 98%. These motors maintain their efficiency even at extreme speeds, making them highly versatile. The TruVolt motor achieves its remarkable efficiency through innovative design, reducing the need for copper and iron by up to 500%, which translates to reduced weight and cost.


Andrea Garrity Chief Growth Office, goTenna

Andrea Garrity is the Chief Growth Officer (CGO) at goTenna. In this key leadership role, she drives goTenna’s strategic growth and develops the business strategy across goTenna's public sector markets, business partnerships, and commercial markets. She also leads marketing and sales operations for goTenna.

Garrity has spent two decades in the private sector collaborating with government partners to align technology capabilities with mission priorities. In her previous role, she served as the Vice President of Intelligence Community Support at In-Q-Tel. Garrity helped partners address strategic technology challenges by adopting innovative technologies like AI, field communications, autonomous vehicles, and commercial space. Prior to joining In-Q-Tel, she served as a Client Executive at IBM and helped develop business relationships with federal agencies.


Andy Battjes Director of Global Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability, Brown-Forman

Andy Battjes is Director, Global Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability for Brown-Forman Corporation, responsible for leading EHS regulatory compliance, the development and implementation of environmental sustainability policies, partnerships, and programs and collaborating across the company’s global value chain. Andy is also a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary for DendriFund, an independent but connected non-profit organization with the objective of renewing wood, water, and grain ecosystems for generations to come using a triple bottom line approach.


Art Samberg Assistant Director, Southeast Onsite Energy TAP

Art Samberg is the Assistant Director of the Southeast Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership located at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University. In this role, Art conducts and manages technical assistance services to help energy users identify and evaluate the appropriate onsite energy technology based on their site’s particular energy needs and long-term strategies. Art also has approximately 35 years of private-sector environmental consulting experience providing energy project siting and licensing services as well as air quality permitting support to a wide range of industrial sectors. Art has a Master’s Degree in Meteorology.


Ben Armstrong Executive Director, MIT Industrial Performance Center

Ben Armstrong is Executive Director and a research scientist at MIT’s Industrial Performance Center, where he co-leads the Work of the Future initiative. His research and teaching examine how workers, firms, and regions adapt to technological change. His current projects include a working group on generative AI and its impact on jobs, as well as a book on American manufacturing competitiveness. His work has been published or featured in academic and popular outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg, Forbes, Sloan Management Review, Fast Company, Boston Review, and Economic Development Quarterly. Ben received his PhD from MIT. He previously led an open-source hardware non-profit and worked for Google Inc.


Bill Good Vice President of Supply Chain, GE Appliances

As Vice President of Supply Chain at GE Appliances, a Haier company, Bill Good is responsible for managing all GE Appliance factories and leading the company’s entire Supply Chain network through its Lean transformation. Under Bill’s leadership, his team has developed GE Appliance factories into world class industry leaders in operational excellence, product quality, advanced manufacturing automation/ digitization, and technical and operational talent development.

Prior to his promotion to VP, Bill led the company’s Decatur Plant through a revitalization of its product lines, including a $120 million investment in equipment and machinery that significantly increased capacity operational performance.

Bill joined GE Appliances from Whirlpool where, over the course of eight years, he held positions of increasing scope and responsibility, including: Director of Operations at both the Findlay and Clyde Divisions; Director of PMO North America Manufacturing; and Plant Manager at the KitchenAid Plant.

Bill’s career began with Diversified Products in 1988 before moving to Tri-Glas in 1994 as the Division Manager responsible for the manufacture of automotive components for Ford, Chrysler, GM, Kenworth, and Peterbilt. After moving to Char-Broil, he served multiple roles over the next 10 years to include serving as the Vice President of Operations.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Management from Auburn University, and an MBA and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Troy State University.

Bill and his wife have two grown children and reside in Louisville, Kentucky.


Bill Hamblet Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings Magazine, U.S. Naval Institute

Bill Hamblet is the Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings magazine and the executive vice president for periodicals, membership, and marketing at the U.S. Naval Institute. First published in 1874, Proceedings is one of the oldest continuously published magazines in the United States, and it is recognized as the home for independent debate for issues impacting the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard and national and global security.

Bill retired from the U.S. Navy in 2016 as a captain after 29 years as a naval intelligence officer. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (1987), Naval War College, Joint Forces Staff College, and the National Defense University. During his career, he served at sea as the intelligence officer for an FA-18 squadron, a Navy SEAL Team, a Carrier Air Wing, and a Carrier Strike Group. On September 11th, 2001, he was in the Pentagon and helped organize the Joint Staff’s (J2) immediate reaction to the terrorist attack. From 2004-2006, he served as the U.S. naval attaché to Russia. He led the China Division at the U.S. Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Operations Center from 2009 to 2012. His team analyzed the rapid growth, modernization, doctrine, training, exercises, and deployments of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. For his final tour, Bill worked in the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) where he focused on whole-of-government counterterrorism planning for the Middle East. Much of his work at NCTC centered on U.S. and coalition efforts to counter ISIS, foreign fighters, and online extremism.

During his Navy career, Bill wrote often for Proceedings and served on the editorial board and board of directors of the U.S. Naval Institute from 1993 to 1997.


Bob Eviston Vice President & General Manager, River Metals Recycling

Bob joined The David J. Joseph Company in 1992 as a Brokerage Representative in the Pittsburgh trading office. In 2000, Bob was promoted to District Manager of the Cincinnati trading office and in 2006 became River Metal Recycling VP of Commercial. Bob moved to Trademark Metals Recycling as the General Manager of the Rockledge and Orlando regions in 2008 and promoted to President of River Metal Recycling in 2013.  In 2021, Bob accepted the position of General Manager over River Metals Recycling and Metals Recycling Services. He was elected VP in 2022. Bob graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 1991 with a BA in Economics and a certificate in Business Studies.


Brad Slone Deputy City Manager of Operations, City of Pikeville

Brad Slone, Deputy City Manager of Operations for the City of Pikeville, has over 25 years of experience in engineering and local government administration. He oversees infrastructure development and community projects, with a focus on sustainable growth and regional economic expansion. Brad is also actively involved in local organizations that contribute to making Pikeville a vibrant and highly livable community.


Brent Wilson Chief Executive Officer, Bilstein Cold Rolled Steel LP

Brent Wilson is a global business executive with Dual Citizenship of United States and of Germany, recognized for establishing industry leading operational and supply chain teams in the Metals Industry, delivering commercial value, and driving strategy. Well versed as a business founder and shareholder, as a managing executive in the metals industry and as a creator and implementor of transformational change programs. A competitor by nature, rooted by his collegiate and professional success on the basketball court, proficient in adapting to environments and frameworks while maintaining composure in high stress situations. Experienced in aligning North American industrial manufacturing operations with European headquarters. Adept in capturing technological advancements while maintaining a grounded approach when things need to get done.

Brent is an Executive Officer of the Advisory Board for School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Kentucky University, and he is the Co-Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Roundtable for local executives and plant managers. Additionally, he serves the Bluegrass Blazers as a Head Coach for Varsity Basketball.


Brian Becker Vice President of Operations and Programs, South Central Workforce Development Board

Brian Becker is the VP of Operations and Programs for the South Central Workforce Development Board where he helps oversee and implement workforce development programs that create opportunities and remove barriers to employment for strategic “focus populations” including “New Americans.” He has led and overseen the explosive growth in services and outreach to New Americans which has resulted in an increase from less than 90 individuals served a year to over 1,300 served each year. Brian works closely with social services, workforce development and nonprofit community partners to strengthen collaboration and implement an inclusive one system approach for employers and job seekers that increases regional workforce participation. His background includes directing and overseeing Adult Education as well as youth development and fundraising programs. He has over 20 years of leadership in operational and program effectiveness and has cultivated and stewarded corporate and community stakeholders to provide positive outcomes for Kentucky residents.


Brian Zoeller Partner, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys

Brian leads the firm’s Renewable Energy Industry Team and primarily focuses on advising clients on project development, including utility scale-solar projects, landfill gas to energy projects and anaerobic digester facilities.

He and his colleagues are currently involved in the development of over 20 different solar facilities in KY with an aggregate capacity of over 2 GW. This work includes advising clients on all aspects of the development of utility-scale solar projects, including the following:

• Real Estate – drafting and negotiating leases, easements, purchase and sale agreements, resolving zoning and land use issues and addressing surface and mineral rights, and title insurance

• Incentives – structuring local and state tax incentives such as KEIA and Industrial Revenue Bonds

• Tax – advising on federal tax credits, ad valorem property taxes, sales and use tax liability and related exemptions and franchise tax of public service companies

• Regulatory – filing and processing applications for construction certificates from the Electric Generation and Transmission Siting Board

• Financing – negotiating and closing tax equity and debt facilities for the construction of projects

In addition to his solar development practice, Brian has negotiated landfill gas rights agreements, gas purchase agreements on the NAESB form, interconnect agreements for injection of renewable natural gas, and marketing agreements for the sale of environmental attributes from renewable natural gas. He has advised clients on all phases of renewable energy project development, including site identification and acquisition, obtaining zoning approvals, financing, community engagement, tax credit and incentive procurement, and carbon accounting under the GHG protocol.


Brigitte Blom President & CEO, Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence

Brigitte Blom is President & CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. She has been an education leader for over 20 years, spending time in both public service and professional public policy, maintaining a steadfast commitment to improving the quality of life for Kentuckians through increased education outcomes and opportunities. Before joining the Prichard Committee, Brigitte was director of public policy for United Way of Greater Cincinnati with a specific focus on early childhood policy. Ms. Blom spent a decade as an elected member of the Board of Education in rural Pendleton County and is the former vice-chair of the Kentucky Board of Education where she served from 2008-2014.


Chris Lewis Vice President Corporate Development & Engagement, Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)

Chris Lewis currently serves as Vice President, Corporate Development & Engagement for the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), after spending 7 years in higher education administration. Chris is responsible for developing strategic relationships with a primary focus on Southeast, Southwest USA, and Mexico.

Prior to AIAG, Chris served for 3 community college systems including the Alabama Community College System, Rock Valley College (IL) and Aims Community College in (CO). His leadership rolls included Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of Workforce Development, VP Workforce Development, Assistant to the Chancellor, and interim President.


Connie Prostko-Bell ESG and Sustainability Practice Director, All4, Inc.

Connie Prostko-Bell is the ESG and Sustainability Practice Director at ALL4, Inc. Connie believes that prosperity and sustainability are both possible and necessary and has spent the last 15 years weaving sustainability performance into the corporate fabric to maximize resource productivity and build resilience, delivering tangible business results. Connie is focused on advising global companies, challenging old economy thinking and transforming risks and impacts into better ways of doing business. Profound changes are happening in our shared ecosystem, in societies and in the global economy. Businesses must transform or be left behind.


Craig Richardson Senator-Elect, Kentucky State Senate

Craig Richardson is running unopposed for the State Senate this fall, representing District 3. Craig is a partner at the law firm, Richardson and Craig, located in Hopkinsville Kentucky focusing primarily on real estate and estate planning. Before law school, Craig was involved in several Health Care start-ups and had the opportunity to help build sales teams for various health-related companies. He also spent time in South Florida managing a real estate portfolio for a boutique investment firm. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of Kentucky and a 2017 Graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law. He is active in his community serving on several boards and is a graduate of Leadership Hopkinsville. He is Fluent in Portuguese having lived in Brazil for two years on a church mission after High School. He is married to Dr. Katie Richardson, a Clinical Oncology Pharmacist, and they have a daughter, Collins who is 5.


Daniel Mudd Partner, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys

Daniel’s practice focuses on state and local tax planning, controversy and incentives matters, including property tax, sales tax, excise tax, income tax, employment tax and local business tax, particularly for manufacturers. He also advises clients in the alcohol industry on various matters, including federal and state tax, incentive, licensing and regulatory issues.

Daniel is a leader in the firm’s Manufacturing Industry Team, including heading up its Consumable & Regulated Goods subteam which oversees all alcohol, tobacco, hemp, cannabis, food and beverage clients. He is also a member of the firm’s Technology and Innovation Committee and its Blockchain subteam due to his experience with e-commerce, digital products, cryptomining and other technology-based products and businesses.


Donnie Slagle Vice President of Administration, Toyotetsu North America

Donnie Slagle is the Vice President of Administration for Toyotetsu’s North American operations. He is responsible for all administrative aspects of the company including Accounting, Human Resources, General Affairs, Environmental Health & Safety, Sales, Purchasing, Project Management, and Information Technologies. Since joining Toyotetsu in 1997, Mr. Slagle has served in a number of managerial positions at the plant as well as the corporate headquarters in Somerset, KY. He began his career with Toyotetsu in Purchasing and has been assigned management roles in all areas of his current responsibility.


Dorian Moe Talent Pipeline Project Manager, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

Dorian Moe is one of the KY Chamber Foundations Talent Pipeline Project Managers who covers the Construction, IT/Business, and Metals Manufacturing industries across the state. Dorian currently serves on the Bluegrass SHRM Board of Directors as the Workforce Readiness Director. She has experience in Workforce Development, Education, Behavioral Health, and Healthcare. Dorian is a TPM®️ Fellow and Faculty member for the US Chamber Talent Pipeline Management program. She has extensive experience working with grants and has directed successful multi-million-dollar grant projects. Dorian currently leads the Educators Guide to Industry and Bus to Business® programs for the KY Chamber Foundation which engaged over 1700 students, 242 Educators, and 277 employers during the 2023-2024 school year. Dorian is very passionate about her work and enjoys working with students and adult learners to make meaningful connections, help them reach their career goals, and build workforce throughout the state of Kentucky.


Frank Jemley President & CEO, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers

Frank Jemley joined the KAM team in December 2021 after holding leadership roles in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Frank was an advisor to a transportation safety technology start-up in Louisville before joining KAM. He previously served three years as an appointee of Governor Matt Bevin and Governor Andy Beshear as the chief of staff of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, where he helped manage a dozen Kentucky state government agencies with some 1,800 team members and a $280 million annual budget. During his state government service, Frank served a year in an additional role as the acting commissioner of Kentucky’s wildlife management and conservation agency, leading a team of 400 scientists, law enforcement officers, and other public servants and managing an $80 million annual budget.

For more than a decade, Frank advised companies and prominent institutions on public affairs issues in Washington, D.C., and state capitols across the country as a principal of Atticus Ventures, where his work included leading the public affairs initiatives here in the U.S. of the Property Council of Australia. Among Atticus’s other clients were the Smithsonian Institution’s Wilson Center, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Churchill Downs Inc., other Fortune 500 companies, and a number of small businesses.


Garry Cooper CEO and Co-Founder, Rheaply

Dr. Garry Cooper is the Co-founder and CEO of Rheaply, a Chicago-based climate tech, which scales reuse programs for large organizations, by helping them better utilize physical resources. He also serves as vice chair on P33 Chicago’s board as well as a board member of 1871 and Northwestern's Master of Product Design and Management program. He is a founding partner at LongJump Ventures. Previously, Dr. Cooper served on the faculty of Northwestern University and facilitated supply chain improvements for enterprise businesses at Ernst & Young. He holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Northwestern University, a certificate in management from the Kellogg School of Management, and a BS & BA in mathematics and chemistry from Indiana University. He also has a 7 year old rescue dog named Sasha that takes up most of his free time, in the best way possible.


Gene Price Partner, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys

Gene Price has substantial real-world experience in cybersecurity and data management. As leader of Frost Brown Todd’s Data Security and Privacy team, his practice includes helping clients cope with their cyber risks. This includes incident response planning and management, supply-chain concerns, and assessments of strategic data governance, privacy-focused frameworks, and business continuity development. He also works with clients on cybersecurity audits and certifications.

Gene also represents clients regarding a variety of maritime matters, recently retired from the U.S. Navy as a Rear Admiral after 36 years of service, Gene served as Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Commander of Naval Information Forces Reserve, and Director of the National Maritime Intelligence Integration Office. He also served as Deputy Commander of Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet, where he supported U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and U.S. global cyber interests. He returned to full-time work as a civilian in October 2022.


Gregory Head Deputy Director, Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Gregory Head has 40 years of manufacturing experience in roles from machine operations, Plant Manager, Corporate Officer, and Director. Areas of expertise and influence include Safety, Quality, HR, Organization Development, LEAN, Maintenance/TPM, Distribution, and Production - culminating in Plant and Business Turnaround.

Greg has served on Chamber and Workforce Boards in various roles, was the first President of the South-Central KY FAME chapter, and led Kobe Aluminum to two consecutive Industry of the Year awards. He served as Presenter for the World Forum on Foreign Direct Investment in China, Japan, and numerous U.S. cities.


Gregory Tink Industrial Digital Transformation Director, Schneider Electric

Gregory Tink is the Industrial Digital Transformation Director at Schneider Electric where he is responsible for operating Schneider’s digital transformation business focused on providing transformation services to our clients in North America. Greg is an Operations Transformation and Technology specialist with more 25 years of industry and leadership experience focused on various process and manufacturing industries.

Over his career, Gregory was the founder of businesses focused on operational excellence, technology enablement and organizational transformation. Leading these companies, he worked with a variety of clients in supporting their operational transformation enabled by technology. This included standing up operations and control centers, the implementation of operations/asset optimization and maintenance platforms, the rollout of cyber security and risk management strategies, the integration of OT / IT and the integration of business functions supporting value chain alignment and the digital thread across the asset lifecycle.


Heather McClanahan Human Resources Director, Fives Machining Systems, Inc.

Heather McClanahan is the HR Director at Fives Machining Systems, Inc., where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s workforce initiatives. Prior to her current position, she served as an Apprenticeship Project Manager for KCTCS, focusing on developing custom work-based learning and apprenticeship solutions tailored for employers.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Communications from Northern Kentucky University and Morehead State University, respectively. In addition to her corporate roles, she has served as an adjunct instructor at GCTC Workforce Solutions, where she taught the SHRM prep course, sharing her expertise and passion for human resources with the next generation of leaders. She has also fulfilled the role of Coach Mentor for NAVIGO Scholars program, enabling career exploration for high school students in the construction technologies.

A dedicated mother of four, Heather balances her professional commitments with family life, embodying the spirit of resilience and dedication that she encourages in her children and colleagues.


Hunter Voegele Senior Director at Ankura Consulting Group

Hunter Voegele is a Senior Director at Ankura Consulting Group. He specializes in federal and state incentives, project finance, strategic communications, and strategic advisory services, helping clients navigate complex investment landscapes both domestically and internationally. Mr. Voegele has advised on more than $2 billion in capital investment projects. His work spans the entire lifecycle of projects—from site selection and project financing to day one operations and ramping production—with a focus on leveraging federal and state programs, developing commercial and community partnerships, and positioning capital investment projects to maximize their strategic and community impact. Recently, Mr. Voegele has helped clients:

• Secure $370+ million in federal grants and tax credits through multiple federal programs. Mr. Voegele has also advised clients through award negotiations and compliance with federal and state regulations.

• Negotiate $350+ million in state economic incentives across the U.S. with a focus on the Southeast and Midwest regions. Mr. Voegele has helped clients negotiate favorable incentives for large-scale projects and capital investments in a variety of industries. An Alabama native, Mr. Voegele received his B.A. from Amherst College. He currently resides in Washington, DC. In his spare time, he enjoys Alabama football, boxing, and spending time with his golden retriever, Tucker.


Jameson Morgan Director of Partnerships, goTenna

Jameson currently works as the Senior Director of Partnerships at goTenna, a company that provides mission-critical supplies to government and non-government organizations and ensures they can communicate in any environment. Jameson has more than 15 years of professional experience in the public and private sectors.

Prior to entering the private sector, Jameson worked for the US Government serving as a trusted advisor to the leaders of federal government agencies for issues such as national security, counterterrorism, and intelligence. During his federal service, Jameson was a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security and to the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection. Jameson also served at the White House as the Director for Screening, Vetting and Watchlisting at the National Security Council. Before these assignments Jameson held several roles at the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense. Jameson is an Adjunct Professor at American University’s Graduate Program for Justice, Law & Criminology.


Jay Richert General Manager, Marathon Petroleum Refinery

Jay Richert is the General Manager at the Marathon Petroleum Refinery in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. The Catlettsburg Refinery has a crude oil processing capacity of 300,000 barrels per day and approximately 750 employees. Over the course of his 26-year career with Marathon, Jay has worked at four refineries and the corporate office in Findlay, OH in roles of increasing responsibility. Jay holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University and he completed his executive education at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. Jay is on the boards of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and the Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.


Jennifer Betts CEO, Magnar Metals

Jennifer Betts is the CEO of Magnar Metals. With two decades of experience in the circular economy—specifically in metals recycling and manufacturing—Jennifer has become a recognized leader in the industry.

While Magnar Metals is her primary focus, offering consulting and brokerage services for sustainable metal solutions, Magnar Metals is a proud member of MI2, one of the key organizations behind the Kentucky Industry Conference. Jennifer's work spans the globe, collaborating with steel mills, metal recycling facilities, and trading companies like Nucor Steel and Cleveland Cliffs. She also launched the Betts on the Future podcast, spotlighting career opportunities as told by women leading innovation in metals and recycling. She holds a Finance degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Xavier University, providing a solid foundation for her work in sustainability and business development.


Jennifer Bogs Global Director of Sustainability, Crown Holdings, Inc.

Jennifer Bogs is the Global Director of Sustainability at Crown Holdings, Inc., a Fortune 500 company with approximately $12.5 billion in revenue. There, she oversees the strategy and implementation of the company's sustainability program at approximately 400 locations in 40 countries while leading a global team of sustainability professionals. Working alongside the global executive team, Jennifer is client-facing with some of the worlds' largest household-name brands. She has experience working in the food and beverage industry, packaging, and steel industry, with 20+ years' experience in the environmental field and 10+ years of experience in sustainability. Jennifer is a licensed attorney and holds a M.B.A.


Jeremy Ballard General Manager of Production, Toyotetsu North America

Jeremy Ballard works as General Manager of Production at Toyotetsu North America, a Tier 1 supplier for Toyota, Subaru and Nissan. It was founded in 1995 and has an estimated 1100 employees. Toyotetsu specializes in stamping and welding components as well as functional parts. Jeremy has 24 years of service and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Technology Management from Berea College and a Master of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University.


Jeremy Jacobs Founder, Transmission

As a lifelong pioneer and entrepreneur, Jeremy has created multiple technologies, products and patents across a variety of industries including finance, energy, and technology, where he is well-known and respected for deciphering and inventing innovative solutions to real life problems. Jeremy’s thought leadership pieces have been featured in premium publications including: Forbes, Business Insider, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, Benzinga, Digital Signage Today, Boston Globe, PC Mag and many more.

In the early 2000s, Jeremy launched EYECONIC.TV, which today stands as the leaders in point-of-sale media. During this time, Jeremy and his team invented an entire suite of fully managed digital signage, menu and touch screen kiosk applications and solutions that today are used across multiple industries including retail, industrial, visitor management, restaurants, cannabis, and more. Inclusively, EYECONIC.TV’s products have been distributed globally by companies such as Sysco Foods, Alcatel Lucent, Signarama, and more.

The most recent spin off of EYECONIC.TV, Transmission, serves the manufacturing industry with a configurable workflow solution that can be used to do nearly any workflow in a facility and includes digital signage, text messaging and kiosk applications. In addition to currently serving at Transmission, Jeremy also serves as the COO of RealTIme Safety Solutions and designs its patented technology that serve the ride-share and package delivery businesses.


Jessie Schook Vice President of Workforce & Economic Development, KCTCS

Jessie Schook serves as Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development at KCTCS. In this role, she is tasked with building strong relationships with business and industry stakeholders and state partners to develop and improve innovative workforce initiatives. She is also focused on improving the employment success of graduates and current students. Prior to this position, Jessie Schook was the AVP of Workforce and Economic Development and the Executive Director of Workforce Solutions where she supported the 16 KCTCS colleges in their delivery of customized training and rapid response program development. Before joining KCTCS, Jessie held a position at Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce, as the Director of Education and Workforce Connectivity. Over the past 15 years, she has held positions touching many facets of education and workforce development including classroom instruction, curriculum design, and work readiness program development. Jessie has earned bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in Hispanic Studies from New York University. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Louisville and her research is focused on demonstrating the return on investment in public-private partnerships for a variety of stakeholders including employers, learners, and institutions. An education advocate, Jessie believes that when employers and educators work in lockstep, students find their passions and build experience more easily, creating a more competitive workforce.


Jim Hall Regional Sales Manager, CBT Company

Jim is the Regional Sales Manager for the Southern Region of CBT which includes branches in Louisville and Lexington. Two of his greatest sources of enjoyment are helping people and resolving technical challenges. What he finds most rewarding about his job is it affords him the opportunity to do both. Jim has spent his career of over 33 years helping customers identify issues and develop solutions to increase uptime, increase productivity, and improve time to market and profitability. Outside of work, Jim enjoys camping with his wife, exercising with his daughters, running sound for his son, and spending time with his grandsons.


John Crockett President & Chief Development Officer, LG&E and KU

John R. Crockett III is president and chief development officer of LG&E and KU, which serves nearly 1.3 million customers in Kentucky and Virginia. Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities provide electricity and natural gas service and operate about 7,500 megawatts of power generation.

Crockett was named to his position in October 2021. As president and chief development officer, he is responsible for all matters of LG&E and KU Energy and is focused on state and federal government affairs, rates and regulatory strategy, local communications, stakeholder engagement and driving economic development and growth in our communities. He serves as a key leader in the PPL organization.

Crockett joined LG&E and KU in January 2018, serving as the company’s general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary. In addition to his responsibilities for the company’s Legal and Corporate Compliance departments, he also oversaw local, state and federal External Affairs, and Federal Regulatory and Policy.


John Harnage Founder and President, Kentucky Thermal Institute

Founder and President of the Kentucky Thermal Institute, bringing over 17 years of experience in the thermal imaging technology industry. Under his leadership, the Kentucky Thermal Institute has developed key partnerships with academic institutions like Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville, offering specialized thermal imaging education and training programs, including Tactical Fire Fighter Thermology. As a Bronze member of Mi2 and a Bowling Green Chamber partner, Kentucky Thermal Institute is committed to innovation, with its offices inside the WKU Innovation Campus. Through these efforts, Kentucky Thermal Institute continues to be a driving force in advancing thermal imaging technology and education.


Joshua Werner CEO, Recyera

Joshua is a professional engineer and entrepreneur with 19+ years of deep expertise, who has worked across the spectrum of metallurgical engineering as both an academic, and as an industrial engineer.  Dr. Werner’s experience spans all levels of technology development from theory, to lab scale and plant design, to commissioning.  He holds a B.Sc.  Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. Metallurgical Engineering and has been a Co-PI for over $16M in research being responsible for the design of 2 rare earth pilot plants for the DOE and over $1.25 M in research as PI. In Joshua's current role in Recyera he working to revolutionize non-ferrous metals recovery and purification.


Karin Hoffman Founder & CEO, Key Innovative Solutions

Karin Hoffman is the founder and CEO of Key Innovative Solutions, a firm that is committed to expanding workforce development by connecting industry and education together in dynamic sector strategies to develop robust talent for a variety of industries including aerospace and aviation, construction, manufacturing, cybersecurity, IT, logistics, semiconductors, etc.

As a veteran in education and workforce education policy, her expertise is guiding employers to identify the specific talent and skills needed for their exponential growth and expansion. With this critical data, training providers, then, develop the necessary programs to generate these essential skills for individuals, students and adults, to be equipped in high-wage, high-demand careers.

Of her many roles of voluntary service, Karin has been honored to serve as a gubernatorial appointee for five years to the Southern Region Education Board, a federal compact of over 70 years of the southern 16 states. She, also, has served as Commissioner to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, appointed by to this office by Florida's Attorney General. As Chair, she led FCSW in the effort to bridge the gender gap in STEM studies for students in the K20 space of education. Karin, as well, was appointed as Board Member and served as Secretary to the Florida Virtual School Foundation Board.

She meets, regularly, with state and national leaders in the effort of workforce development.

Key Innovative Solutions serves several industries from aerospace to construction, including Associated Builders and Contractors, as well local education agencies. She heads up the workforce integration efforts for Space Florida and Florida Semiconductor Institute.


Kimberly O'Donnell Managing Partner, Dentons

Kimberly J. O'Donnell is Managing Partner of the Lexington office and a member of the Firm's Employment and Labor practice group. She advises and represents clients in matters involving a broad range of employment issues. She focuses her practice in employment litigation, where she represents employers in litigation before state and federal courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and the Kentucky Division of Unemployment Insurance involving claims of employment discrimination, retaliation, retaliatory discharge, harassment, state and federal wage and hour laws, and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Kim also advises employers on various employment issues, including employee handbooks, employee agreements, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, personnel policies and separation agreements.

Kim earned her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law and her undergraduate degrees from the University of Kentucky. She is also a volunteer mediator for the Small Claims Division of the Fayette District Court.


Kristen Byrd Regional President, PNC Bank

Kristen Byrd is the Regional President of PNC Bank, Kentucky. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of PNC's operations in Kentucky and southern Indiana markets including Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, and Private Banking. Byrd is also responsible for sponsorship and philanthropic efforts important to PNC in the region. Prior to being named to her current role in March 2022, Byrd served as senior vice president and regional banking director of PNC Private Bank

A PNC Certified women’s business advocate, Byrd was integral to establishing the Louisville chapter of Women Connect, an Employee Business Resource Group designed to support the professional development of female PNC employees.


Mark Erwin President and CEO, Bardstown Bourbon Company

Mark W. Erwin became the President and CEO of the Bardstown Bourbon Company in September 2019, having previously served on the board. Prior to that, Erwin served as President of the Karakoram Group International, a risk advisory firm, which provides strategic consulting to Fortune 500 companies. He also served as a Non-Executive Board Director of Heritage Oil Plc, an independent upstream exploration and production company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Mr. Erwin served for 26 years in the United States Army, culminating his career as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army Special Operations Command, with a budget in excess of $1.5 billion while coordinating a headquarters staff of more than 1,000 employees. He commanded at every level of the United States Army’s most elite Special Mission Unit from Captain to Colonel and was deployed numerous times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries throughout the Middle East and Africa. Erwin holds a degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University and conducted his War College Fellowship at the Central Intelligence Agency.


Mark Pendley Environmental and Sustainability Leader, Logan Aluminum

Mark Pendley is a seasoned leader in Environmental Performance Assurance and Sustainability, with over 25 years of experience driving clean energy initiatives and fostering innovation in environmental technologies in energy-intensive industries. As the Environmental and Sustainability Leader and Advisor to the Board of Directors at Logan Aluminum, Mark has been instrumental in shaping the company's clean energy strategy, leading efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. Under his leadership, Logan Aluminum achieved the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standard Certification, marking a significant milestone in sustainable aluminum production.

Throughout his career, Mark has played a pivotal role in advancing clean energy technologies and sustainable practices across a wide range of industries, including power generation, oil and gas production, metals manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, consumer chemical commodities, and electronics. His strategic approach has focused on implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management systems, developing carbon disclosure reporting frameworks, and supporting large-scale industrial projects that prioritize minimizing environmental impact through innovative solutions.


Meredith Rozanski Executive Vice President of Operations, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Meredith Rozanski, CPA is the Executive Vice President of Operations of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, a combined five-star accredited chamber of commerce and regional economic development entity. In her current role, Meredith is responsible for the operational and financial activities of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; the Bowling Green Area Chamber Foundation, Inc.; the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority, Inc.; the Inter-Modal Transportation Authority, Inc.; the South Central Kentucky Regional Development Authority, Inc.; the South Central Kentucky Business PAC; and the South Central Kentucky Training Consortium, Inc.


Michael Beaton Managing Principal, MaxPTS LLC

In 2023, Michael Beaton formed MaxPTS, LLC to become the global distributor of Maximum Power Transfer Solutions (MPTS), a unique power management and control system perfectly adapted for today’s modern electrical/electronic energy networks. MPTS global clients include NORAD, US Air Force, Hospitals, Factories, Properties, Schools, and Colleges.


Michael W. Clark Director, Center for Business and Economic Research and Associate Professor of Economics, University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics

Michael W. Clark is the Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics. He earned a B.A. in Management and an M.S. and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Kentucky. Prior to coming to UK, Dr. Clark was the Chief Economist for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. His research focuses on labor, health, and economic development policies. He has conducted research for various Kentucky state agencies including the Department of Public Health, the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, and the Department of Income Support.


Mike Stevens Digital Solutions Director, CBT Company

With over 23 years of comprehensive IT expertise, Mike Stevens is the Digital Solutions Director at CBT Company. Before joining CBT in 2017, he served as the Director of BI and Innovations at General Cable Corporation (now Prysmian Group), a global leader in wire and cable manufacturing, where he made significant contributions

Mike’s expertise encompasses a broad range of areas, including global business consulting, compliance, and risk management, vendor relations, SDLC management, and both DevOps and ITIL practices. Additionally, his technical skills cover web development, service development, Azure cloud, and identity management, along with a strong background in databases, data strategy, and integration.

Mike’s solid foundation in network infrastructure and application development is complemented by a deep understanding of project management and agile methodologies. Outside of his professional commitments, Mike enjoys cooking for his wife and two daughters, as well as sharing his passion for martial arts through teaching.


Nicki Stewart Workforce Development Manager, KY VALOR

Coming from a career of recruiting, marketing, and relationship building, Nicki Stewart has worked to solidify business and workforce needs in Kentucky. She’s integral in supporting those transitioning out of the military, and working directly with employers to place military members, and spouses in jobs across the bluegrass. Nicki has been hands on from the beginning of KY VALOR and continues to catch the pulse of workforce needs in Kentucky, as well as connect with individuals seeking a new career.


Omar Ayyash President & CEO, World Trade Center Kentucky

Dr. Omar N. Ayyash is a seasoned executive with a deep understanding of the entire startup lifecycle, from market research and validation to successful launch and scaling. He leverages his extensive experience guiding innovative ideas from conception to realization. Dr. Ayyash has a unique background straddling research excellence and innovation management. He has worked on local, national, and international levels, fostering entrepreneurship initiatives in his most recent role at a UAE educational institution. Previously, he served as the Director of the Mayor's Office for International Affairs in Louisville, Kentucky, contributing to a historic government merger.


Paul Sandefur Mayor, Beaver Dam, KY

Mayor Sandefur assumed office of Beaver Dam Mayor on January 1, 2011 and currently serving a 4th term. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Green River Area Development District and currently serves as 1st Vice President of Kentucky League of Cities. He is also the General Manager for Ritatsu Manufacturing, Inc. A stamped metal automotive manufacturer with approximately 100 employees located in Beaver Dam.


Parashar Joshi Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer, Aymium

Parashar has over 26 years of experience with 15 years in the specialty materials sector (Ashland Inc.) and 10 years in the automotive & consumer sector (Valvoline Inc.) Mr. Joshi served as corporate Vice President in both corporations (Ashland & Valvoline) leading the supply chain, operations & commercial business groups. He is a certified six sigma black belt and has managed over billion dollars of capital to build several facilities from ground up globally. He earned four President Award honors during this corporate tenure. Born in Gujarat, India his educational background includes a B.S., in Chemical Engineering from University of Cincinnati (summa cum laude), an MBA in Operations Management and International Business, from Cleveland State University (with honors). In addition, he has a graduate certificate in Executive Finance from Indiana University. He currently serves on the University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences Advisory Board. In addition, he serves or has served on several for profit and non-profit boards; [American Foundry Society (Chairman), Lexington Habitat for Humanity (Chairman), World Trade Center Kentucky (Chairman) and Valvoline Cummins Private Limited (Director).


Rusty Justice Founding Member, AccelerateKY

Rusty Justice is an entrepreneur from Eastern Kentucky. His business investments provide services in engineering, mining, land development, telecom, software, and broadcasting. He holds degrees from the University of Kentucky in Mining and Civil Engineering and is a Fellow in the UK Engineering Hall of Distinction. He is also a graduate of MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program and a founding member of Accelerate Kentucky, a nonprofit focused on supporting Kentucky’s entrepreneurs and innovators. Rusty combines his love for business and engineering with a deep appreciation for Appalachia’s rich heritage. He works to leverage his capabilities to grow the local economy through diverse projects with cultural value that celebrate the Appalachian identity and promote its future.


Rob Givens State Director, U.S. Senator Rand Paul

Louisville native, Rob Givens, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986 and achieved the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in 2013 after serving his country for 27 years in the United States Air Force. During his military career he became a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in the F-16 and A/O A-10. Rob is a combat veteran with more than 100 career combat sorties in Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and was twice decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in action against Iraq. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and flew as the Right Wing for the USAF Thunderbirds. His commands included the 35th Fighter Squadron, the 56th Operations Group and the historic 8th Fighter Wing - the Wolfpack.

In January 2015 Rob served as the national security advisor to the Rand Paul for Senate Campaign and as an independent advisor on defense issues with both the public and private sector. In 2017 Rob assumed the role of Executive Director of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship helping develop leaders of the future for our Republic. In July of 2019 Rob was selected to become State Director for U.S. Senator Rand Paul. In this role Rob is responsible for the official operations of the Senator’s office within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.


Ruth Moore Senior VP of Human Resources, Bardstown Bourbon

Ruth is the Senior Vice President for The Bardstown Bourbon Company and has more than 30 years of experience in Human Resources, most recently serving as HR Director, Global Manufacturing and Engineering and North America Regional Lead for Trinseo LLC, covering 1700 employees across North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. She is passionate about workforce development at all levels and enterprise-wide talent growth.


Ryan Jackson VP of Federal Affairs, American Chemistry Council

Previously, Jackson led the National Mining Association’s (NMA) government and political affairs shop for nearly four years. Prior to NMA, Jackson spent three years as chief of staff for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during which he successfully negotiated the U.S. Senate confirmation votes of two EPA administrators, nine assistant administrators, and regularly assisted the EPA administrator with finalizing regulatory proposals and implementing domestic and international initiatives.

Before serving at EPA, Jackson was staff director for the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. In this role, Jackson oversaw passage of principal chemical regulation, national transportation, and water infrastructure legislation, plus the enactment of over 60 other bipartisan bills. He worked in the U.S. Senate for 18 years including as chief of staff to former Senator Inhofe (R-Okla.).

Jackson began his career in Oklahoma as an assistant district attorney. He earned his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and J.D. from Oklahoma City University.


Sam Ford Director of Strategic Communications, Metals Innovation Initiative

Sam Ford is Director of Strategic Communications for the Metals Innovation Initiative. In this role, he oversees the communications strategy and execution for MI2 across all channels. Throughout his career, Sam has worked with various organizations on innovation approaches, audience engagement, cultural intelligence, and media/storytelling strategies, including in-house roles at Paramount, Univision, Peppercomm, and MIT. Currently, Sam also serves as Executive Director of the nonprofit AccelerateKY, which launched in 2021 as a result of Kentucky becoming the first U.S. state to go through the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program and which took on as one of its first major projects supporting the concept, formation, and launch of MI2. Sam is co-founder of the company Innovation Engine and organizes workshops and pilot projects through his company Suspenders of Disbelief, formed in partnership with two researchers from the University of Southern California. Sam is also a research affiliate with MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing and serves on the boards of Kentucky-based nonprofits Kentucky to the World, Canopy, and Employward.


Sarah Davasher-Wisdom President and CEO, Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI)

Sarah Davasher-Wisdom has served as President & CEO of Greater Louisville Inc. since January 2020. Ms. Davasher-Wisdom has been Greater Louisville Inc. since 2014, rising from leading GLI's government affairs activities as vice president of government affairs to now President & Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Ms. Davasher-Wisdom provides strategic leadership of the organization, which consists of 36 professionals who develop and implement the strategies, objectives, and policies of GLI. Greater Louisville Inc. was named National Chamber of the Year in 2019.


Seth Cutter Vice President Public Affairs, Cincinnati/Northern KY International Airport

Seth Cutter is vice president of public affairs for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), the 6th largest cargo airport in North America and the 2022 Best Airport in North America for Staff Service, according to London-based Skytrax.

In this role, Seth develops and executes CVG’s local, state, and federal policy priorities. He and airport leadership remain focused on advocacy related to transportation and infrastructure funding that will grow the airport’s $9.3 billion annual economic impact to the community. He also coordinates the activities of the Kentucky SAF Coalition, which is an industry partnership focused on developing an aviation biofuels ecosystem in the mid-South and Midwest. Seth represents CVG to local stakeholders and leads the team responsible for airport public relations, communications, marketing, and community affairs.

Seth joined CVG in 2017, previously having worked in the Campbell County, Kentucky, Judge/Executive’s office. He remains active in the community, serving on a variety of committees and working groups for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, BE NKY, Northern Kentucky Area Development District, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and the Ohio Aviation Association.

He is a member of the 2021 Cincinnati “40 Under 40” Class and is on the board of KBT, Kentuckians for Better Transportation. He previously served on the board of Foreign Trade Zones 46 and 47 in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Seth completed undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, DC, and earned an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


Shelley Goodwin Senior Vice President, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers

Shelley Goodwin serves as Senior Vice President for the KY Association of Manufacturers utilizing her experiences from a diverse employment and volunteer history. After graduating from Lindsey Wilson College with a degree in business management, Shelley worked in education, finance, hospitality, and marketing before combining these experiences and settling into the world of economic and workforce development for the past 25 years. A self-described “numbers, policies and procedures geek”, she also has a passion for helping young people discover their talents and find their vocational calling.


Stacy McCoy Vice President of Research & Insights, Employbridge.

Stacy McCoy is the Vice President of Research & Insights at Employbridge. She started at Employbridge in 2021 to design and launch the research & insights function including building out their primary market research and market intelligence abilities. She focuses on monitoring labor and market trends across the industrial sector. Prior to Employbridge, she spent nearly a decade working at a boutique market research firm, Murphy Research, answering the most pressing business questions for Fortune 500 companies across a wide variety of industries.


Stephen Marks Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, Givaudan Sense Colour

Steve Marks has over 35 years developing and managing Supply Chains globally, for numerous international companies. In his current role, Steve serves as Sr. Vice President of Supply Chain for Givaudan Sense Colour. An operating division of Switzerland based, global manufacturer of Taste and Fragrance ingredients, Givaudan’s Sense Colour business unit creates and produces natural color ingredients used in food and beverage manufacturing. Overseeing the Supply Chain function for Sense Colour, Steve manages a team delivering all areas of supply chain support, including raw material sourcing, procurement, logistics, import / export and warehousing. His responsibilities ensure supply to (9) manufacturing facilities in (7) countries around the world.


Steve Bailey Prestonsburg Economic Development

Steve Bailey is currently working for the Prestonsburg Economic Development Foundation in Eastern Kentucky, where he focuses on fostering local growth and economic initiatives. Prior to this, Steve spent 20 years in the real estate industry in Iowa, where he developed extensive experience in property management, sales, and investment. His recent move to Eastern Kentucky marks a new chapter in his career as he applies his expertise to support the region's economic development.


Steve Clarke President & CEO, Logan Aluminum

Steve is an accomplished leader in manufacturing and is the current President of Logan Aluminum, the largest single can sheet facility in North America. With over 30 years of global experience with Novelis, he has held multiple leadership roles including VP Operations for Europe and VP of Value Stream GM for Specialties Europe. In his most recent role as Vice President of Operations Excellence, Steve was instrumental in driving the implementation of world-class operational systems and defining a robust digital strategy for manufacturing. He has led 11 manufacturing sites across diverse geographies, focusing on safety, sustainability, and optimizing manufacturing networks for growth.

Steve’s broad expertise encompasses supply chain management, quality assurance, capital expenditure project management, and health and safety compliance, making him a pivotal figure in advancing operational excellence and fostering a culture of innovation within the industry. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Wolverhampton (UK) and a post graduate diploma in Engineering Business Management from University of Warwick (UK).


Summer Goldman COO, Metals Innovation Initiative & Founder, Dixon Strategies

Summer Dixon Goldman is the COO of the Metals Innovation Initiative and the founder of Dixon Strategies. Summer is passionate about supporting people finding success and support from leadership, structure, processes, and systems in the workplace. She has created a career by setting high standards for herself and those around her, valuing personal development, intentionally seeking new challenges and never being afraid to go first. Dixon Strategies is a vehicle to support small and mid-sized businesses in aligning operational strategy with big goals and, of course, supporting people. Summer has supported a wide range of businesses, from healthcare startups to mid-size manufacturers, since founding the firm. Prior to Dixon Strategies, Summer enjoyed a 20-year corporate career. After time in the chemical industry, she worked for Farm Credit Mid-America (FCMA), a $36B lending cooperative, for 18 years. Most of her roles with FCMA were in leadership with increasing responsibility. Summer has served as Regional Vice President leading all sales and operations, Vice President of Business Systems and Processes and, eventually, Managing Director Rural 1st Operations. These roles are indicative of her ability to successfully create new multi-functional teams, lead through the creation of processes, implement systems, and exceed organizational goals. Summer is originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and has earned a BS in Agriculture, an MS in Crop and Soil Science and an MBA from Western Kentucky University. After 15 years in the Midwest, she now happily lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her teenage sons.


Thad Druffel the Theme Leader for Solar Manufacturing R&D, Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville

Dr. Thad Druffel is currently the Theme Leader for Solar Manufacturing R&D and Endowed Chair for Renewable Energy Research in the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the University of Louisville. His current research is focused on developing materials and processes for high throughput manufacturing of devices for renewable energy. He is the founder of Bert Thin Films, Inc., and a technical adviser to SoFab Inks, companies pursuing commercialization of research originating at the Conn Center. He is experienced as the principal investigator in grants from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and State of Kentucky as well as industry-sponsored research. His background includes research and development topics in both Mechanical and Chemical Engineering and he has been involved in projects ranging from solar and water facilities in Africa to corporate research and development of cutting edge technologies.


Tim Wing Managing Director of Global Customs Brokerage Growth, UPS

Tim has been in transportation and logistics for nearly 40 years. After working in New York and Chicago, he relocated to Buffalo, NY where he has spent the last 30 years focused on transportation, customs clearance and logistics issues specific to North American trade. Tim joined UPS Supply Chain Solutions three years ago and is currently the Managing Director of Global Customs Brokerage Growth where he and his global team are responsible for providing customs brokerage support and subject matter expertise to UPS Global Freight Forwarding customers.


Vijay Kamineni CEO, Metals Innovation Initiative & Chief Innovation & Technology Leader, Logan Aluminum

Vijay Kamineni is Chief Executive Officer of the Metals Innovation Initiative (Mi2), a Kentucky-focused nonprofit focused on strengthening the region’s metals industry innovation ecosystem. He also leads organization-wide transformation activities through process innovation & digital initiatives at Logan Aluminum Inc as Chief Innovation & Technology Leader with the company’s Strategic Business Management Unit. Vijay started working in Kentucky’s metals industry when he joined Logan Aluminum in February 2009. Prior to his current role at Logan, he held various positions as Business Transformation Leader and Development Team Leader. He played visionary and change management roles in many successful continuous improvement programs at Logan, leveraging his lean six sigma, agile project management, and advanced analytics skills. His most recent work at Logan has involved leading the company’s Smart Industry/I4.0 initiative, bridging Operations and Information Technology. Vijay brings more than 30 years of international experience in various management and information technology experiences to his work with MI2. He previously worked in India, Malaysia, Philippines, and the United States, with business activities in many other countries as well.


Wells Bullard President and CEO, Bullard

Wells Bullard is the President and CEO of Bullard, a 126-year-old, fifth-generation, family-owned company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) that helps save lives around the world.

Founded in 1898, and the inventor of the hard hat in 1919, Bullard protects construction, transportation, utilities, energy, firefighting, first responder, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and healthcare customers with innovative, purpose-built solutions. Bullard takes a long-term view on protecting workers in hazardous environments across the globe, so they can work productively and go home safely. Bullard’s product lines include hard hats, safety helmets, thermal imagers, firefighter and rescue helmets, supplied air respirators, powered air-purifying respirators, and air quality equipment. All of these products are customizable to customers’ unique needs.

For 52 years, Bullard has proudly called Central Kentucky home, with manufacturing in Cynthiana and an office in Lexington. Bullard subsidiaries are located in Germany and Singapore to support global customers.


Zach Morgan Director of Workforce Development, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers

Zach Morgan is the Director of Workforce Development at the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. Prior to this role, he was a workforce project manager at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, where he created the Military Hiring Academy and convened several employer-led initiatives in manufacturing and the distilling industry. Before joining the Kentucky Chamber, he was involved in workforce matters at the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs, in the Governor’s office. At KCMA he helped streamline employment processes for service members, military spouses, and veterans – through consultation with government agencies, non-profits, and legislators. Zach was an Army reservist and military spouse for eight years during the Global War on Terrorism. He is a Kentucky Colonel, has a background in public relations and public history, and an MA in Military History.


Tuesday, October 29 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm

  • Talent and Workforce Track - Talent Pathways into Manufacturing

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Dorian Moe, Kentucky Chamber Foundation
    Brian Becker, South Central Workforce Development Board
    Nikki Stewart, KY VALOR


  • Energy & Sustainability Track - The Near-Term Future of Kentucky Energy

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Amy Spiller, Duke Energy Corporation
    Jay Richert, Marathon Petroleum Refinery


  • Tech Innovation Track - MI2 Innovation Competition


  • Industry Sector Track - Defense & Aerospace

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Amy Wombwell, Blackbox Energy Systems


  • Contemporary Issues Track - State and Federal Policy

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Ryan Jackson, American Chemistry Council
    Daniel Mudd, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys


Tuesday, October 29 from 2:30 - 3:30 pm

  • Talent and Workforce Track - Workforce R & D and Data

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Shelley Goodwin & Zach Morgan, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
    Stacy McCoy, Employbridge


  • Energy & Sustainability Track - Clean Energy & Energy Innovation

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Connie Prostko-Bell, All4
    Mark Pendley, Logan Aluminum
    Dr. Mahendra Sunkara, University of Louisville
    John Harnage, Kentucky Thermal Institute


  • Tech Innovation Track - Innovation in the Supply Chain


  • Industry Sector Track - Metals

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Vijay Kamineni, Metals Innovation Initiative
    Brent Wilson, Bilstein Cold Rolled Steel
    Kent Guthrie, Trace Die Cast


  • Contemporary Issues Track - Kentucky Legislative Update


Wednesday, October 30th from 10:00 - 11:00 am

  • Talent and Workforce Track - Educating the Workforce of the Future

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Ruth Moore, Bardstown Bourbon
    Jessie Schook, KCTCS
    Meredith Rozanski, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
    Heather McClanahan, Fives Machining Systems, Inc.


  • Energy & Sustainability Track - KY WORCS - Addressing Workforce Shifts Alongside Energy Policy

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Rusty Justice, AccelerateKY
    Steven Bailey, Prestonsburg Economic Development Foundation
    Paul Sandefur, City of Beaver Dam KY
    Mack McGehee, Muhlenberg County KY


  • Tech Innovation Track - Tech Innovation Roundtable


  • Industry Sector Track - Automotive: The EV Transistion

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Jeremy Ballard and Donnie Slagle, Toyotetsu
    Justice Dingle, AESC
    Chris Lewis, AIAG


  • Contemporary Issues Track - Trade: Navigate the Future of Supply Chain

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Parashar Joshi, World Trade Center of Kentucky
    Stephen Marks, Givaudan Sense Colour
    Tim Wing, UPS
    Alan Black, Valvoline Global Products
    Seth Cutter,
    Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport


Wednesday, October 30th from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

  • Talent and Workforce Track - Work of the Future

    Ben Armstrong, MIT Industrial Performance Center and MIT Work of the Future Initiative


  • Energy & Sustainability Track - The State of Metals Recycling

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Jennifer Betts, Recycled Media
    Jennifer Bogs, Crown Holdings
    Bob Eviston, River Metals Recycling


  • Tech Innovation Track - Factory of the Future

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Jeremy Jacbos, Transmission
    Greg Tink, Schneider Electric


  • Industry Sector Track - Cross-Stakeholder Innovation Ecosystems

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Vijay Kamineni, Sam Ford and Summer Goldman, Metals Innovation Initiative


  • Contemporary Issues Track - Grants and Funding

    Panel Discussion Featuring
    Ruthie Caldwell, Metals Innovation Initiative


RegFox Event Registration Software