M&D Insights: Challenges Facing the Industry in 2018

The innovative world of manufacturing is immersed in issues that are on the minds of leaders within the industry. Join us on Wednesday, March 7^th for a half-day session to hear about issues that are at the forefront of the manufacturing and distribution industry. You will hear case studies and real life experiences from local manufacturing companies including Festo Didactic, Mubea, ProMach, and Stober Drives. This event will be hosted by area advisory firms including, European American Chamber of Commerce, Frost Brown Todd, Oswald, and VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm.

Agenda

7:30 – 8:00       Breakfast and Signup

8:00 – 8:05       Welcome by Kai Bitter

8:05 – 8:15        Presentation of EACC Skills Initiative by Todd Schwartz

8:15 – 9:00       Topic 1: Workforce         

• Peter Feil- Vice President/GM Stober Drives
• Andrew Farris- Apprentice/Training Manager Mubea and current President of the local FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) chapter
• Andreas Brockmann- Head of Technical Training & Education Festo Didactic
• Debby Combs- Director, Industry Partnerships  at Partners for a Competitive Workforce
• Moderator: Amy Linkhous, HCC Consultant, VonLehman 

9:00 – 9:45       Topic 2: Labor & Employment

• Lacy Rex, Executive Risk Specialist, Oswald Companies 

9:45 – 10:15      Networking Break

10:15 – 11:00   Topic 3: Mergers & Acquisitions

• Kai Bitter – FBT
• Keith Carlson – VonLehman
• Michael Cason – 5/3 Fifth Third Private Bank
• Bill Schult – ProMach
• Moderator: Beth Vice OR Emir Hodzic, Shareholder, VonLehman

11:00 – 11:45   Topic 4: NAFTA 

• Joe Dehner

11:45 – 12:00   Closing Remarks

• Kai Bitter & Beth Vice