Manufacturing Conference

Agenda

• 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Registration, Breakfast, Networking, Expo Booths

• 9:00 AM - Welcome & Opening Remarks

  Opening remarks by Corridor Media Group CEO & President, John Lohman, and sponsor welcome by Dr. Kristie Fisher, President of Kirkwood Community College

• 9:10 AM - Morning Presentation

  Topic: Smart Manufacturing Report

  Speakers:

  • Dr. Suj Chandrasekhar, Founder & Principal, Strategic Insights, Inc.
  • Stacey Weismiller, Director, U.S. Center for Advanced Manufacturing

• 9:40 AM - Morning Panel: Workplace Culture Implementation & Success

  Panel Moderator: Rue Patel

  Panelists:

  • Tom Pientok, President & CEO, Folience
  • John Ooms, Director of Manufacturing – Cedar Rapids, SubZero Group
  • Amber Urek, HR Director, George Evans Corp
  • Karl Swanson, President, PCT Ebeam and Integration

• 10:25 AM - Networking Break & Expo Booths

  Please visit our vendor booths, make a new connection, and grab a beverage during the breaks!

• 10:45 AM - Morning Breakout Sessions

  Choose one session:

  Rethinking Global Cash Flows: How International Payments Shape Your Business

  Presented by:

  • Rohini Potluri, Vice President | FX & Derivatives Assoc. Director, U.S. Bank
  • John Forgione, Head of the CBB Foreign Exchange Sales, U.S. Bank

   

  All in on AI: Use Cases You Can Apply Right Now

  Presented by:

  • Josh Reitz, Business Consultant, Industrial Solutions, Van Meter
  • Karl Schmidt, Solution Architect, Industrial Solutions, Van Meter

• 11:30 AM - Lunch, Networking Break & Expo Booths

  Lunch is served!

  Please visit our vendor booths, make a new connection, and grab a beverage during the breaks!

• 12:15 PM - Presentation: Future Workforce Panel & Live Podcast Recording

  Panel Moderator: Leisa Fox, Host, Iowa Manufacturing Podcast; Founder, Fox Growth Strategies

  Panelists:

  • Steve Coleman, Founding Partner & Director of Sales & Technology, Colewell Automation
  • Dawn Ealy, Workforce Services Director, CIRAS
  • Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold, President & CEO, Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG)

• 1:00 PM - Networking Break

  Please visit our vendor booths, make a new connection, and grab a beverage during the breaks!

• 1:20 PM - Afternoon Breakout Sessions

  Choose one session:

  Protect Your Largest Assets – Your People & Your Property

  Presented by:

  • Katie Ehlers, Benefits Consultant, Employee Benefits, Cottingham & Butler
  • Katie Hensley, Risk Consultant, Cottingham & Butler

   

  Navigating the AI Era: The Leadership Imperative for Competitive Survival

  Presented by:

  • Kacy Webster, CEO/Founder, Profit Quiver

• 2:10 PM - Closing Panel: Responding to Tariffs

  Panel Moderator: Jen Neumann, Owner/CEO, de Novo

  Panelists:

  • Nicole Crain, President, Iowa Association of Business & Industry
  • Carl Kirpes, President, KT Pacer
  • Loras Schaul, Owner, Douglas Machine & Engineering LLC
  • Todd Shores, Virtual CFO, Creative Planning

• 3:00-4:00 PM - Networking Reception

  Please visit our vendor booths, make a new connection, and grab a beverage during this post-event reception!

FAQs

• What does the Manufacturing Conference include?

  Access to all in-person event programming, featuring speakers and panelists, and tradeshow booths; networking with speakers and attendees, breakfast, lunch, and beverages at the reception following the program.

• When does registration end?

  Ticket sales close exactly one week prior to the event on Aug. 21.
  *All dietary restrictions must be submitted a week prior to the event. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

• What is your refund & cancellation policy?

  If you are unable to attend the event you have purchased a ticket for, refunds can be processed, less the transaction fee, up to one week before the event on Aug. 20. Event attendees are locked in on Aug. 21, and refunds cannot be given after that date. Please reach out to Jean Suckow to request a refund at [email protected] or by calling the CBJ Office at 319-665-6397.

  In cases of inclement weather, Corridor Media Group (CBJ & QCBJ) will assess the situation and will alert all attendees if the event will be postponed or canceled. Refunds will not be offered if the postponed event is held. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, they may be exchanged for a different event of the same value, free of charge, subject to availability.

• I’ve purchased a ticket(s), do I receive a physical one?

  No. There are no physical tickets. Attendees are asked to check-in at the registration table prior to the event.

• What companies/organizations can I expect to connect with at the conference?

  Accel Group
  Aerotek
  Baker Group
  Bankers Trust
  Capitol Data Analytics
  CIRAS
  City of Cedar Rapids
  Colewell Automation
  Corridor Business Journal
  Corridor Media Group
  Cottingham & Butler
  Creative Planning
  de Novo Marketing
  Derby Supply Chain Solutions
  Don Hummer Trucking
  dphilms
  Douglas Machine and Engineering LLC
  Eagle Point Solar
  Eide Bailly
  Empeople Credit Union
  EOS Worldwide
  Esco Group
  Factor Technology Solutions
  Farmers State Bank
  Federal Credit Advisors
  Folience Inc.
  Fox Growth Strategies
  Fusion Inc
  George Evans Corp
  Grace Technologies
  Greater Iowa City, Inc.
  Greg’s Lawn & Landscaping
  Hawkeye Fire and Safety
  Honkamp
  IFP Motion Solutions Inc
  Information Technology Solutions
  Iowa Association of Business and Industry
  Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG)
  Iowa Manufacturing Podcast
  J-TEC Associates
  Kirkwood Community College
  Koch CFO Services LLC
  KT Pacer
  Kuder
  Life Line Emergency Vehicles
  Lomont Molding LLC
  MercyCare
  Mindset Innovations Consulting
  Miron Construction
  Mount Mercy University
  NIS
  Palmer Group
  PCT Ebeam and Integration
  Point Builders
  Profit Quiver
  PTS LLC
  QC Kinetix
  Quad Cities Regional Business Journal
  River Cities Engineering
  Rue Works
  Russell
  Service Master
  Storop
  Strategic Insights, Inc.
  SubZero Group
  Timberline Manufacturing Company
  U.S. Center for Advanced Manufacturing
  UMB Bank
  University of Iowa Center for Advancement
  University of Iowa Health Care
  US Bank
  Van Meter
  Woodruff Construction
  World Class Industries
  Worthington Partnership LLC

  **This is a working list and may not reflect the full list of attendees

• How can I get my business in front of attendees through sponsorships?

  For sponsorship and vendor booth information, contact Lauren Grask at [email protected].

• What is the CBJ?

  The Corridor Business Journal covers news that is of interest, use and importance for anyone who does business in the growing Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Corridor. CBJ is not part of a chain. The newspaper is owned and operated independently by John and Aspen Lohman.

  A portion of each issue is dedicated to one sector of the business community. Among many other focus issues, these topics range from diversity to small business, to politics & elections and banking. We also publish a host of supplemental materials.

• Where can I get more information?

  For editorial information, contact the newsroom ([email protected])
  For subscription information, contact Jean Suckow ([email protected])
  For advertising information, contact Kelly Meyer ([email protected]) or Meribeth Schmidt ([email protected])