CWIMA

Training & Workforce Development

We develop training opportunities for new and incumbent employees looking for fostering creative training models while increasing employee attraction and retention for members.

Scholarships

We’ve created a scholarship fund awarding over $50,000 to area K-12 students used for continuing their career aspirations in manufacturing at either NTC or Mid-State Technical College.

Create a diverse and active membership and Board of Directors of Manufacturing Members, Affiliate Members, Associate Members, Workforce Development Agencies, and Educational Partnerships for achieving and maximizing our goals.

Summer Programs

Create free, innovative, short-term summer programs at our technical colleges, exposing students to advanced manufacturing careers, allowing for free college credits in 23 related manufacturing career paths.

Heavy Metal Tour

Create educational awareness opportunities area 8th grade students and teachers, bridging awareness of manufacturing-related career paths and their influence and importance to our economic sustainability.

Move to Manufacturing

Businesses are teaming up, offering free training as the manufacturing industry grows. Get skills and knowledge needed for a manufacturing job along with the support needed for success.

Meet Our Speakers

We're proud to have incredible keynotes lined up for our inaugural expo! Both have fascinating topics to share: their experiences, expertise, and enthusiasm.
Register today to experience all the 2022 CWIMA Manufacturing Expo offers.

April 25, 2022 Gala Keynote Speaker

Mark Perna

TFS Results

Education with Purpose

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development.

As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people. Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, founded the Education with Purpose & Employment with Passion movement to help communities connect the pipelines between education, business, and economic development.

His work has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to engage with the younger generations more effectively. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually at national and statewide events and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation.

Mark, a weekly contributor at Forbes.com and host of the 90-second micro-podcast The Perna Syndicate, wrote his award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

Mark is the father of two successful millennials and resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Find out more about Mark and his work at MarkCPerna.com Add to Calender

2022 Exposition Keynote Speakers

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Matt Kirchner

ATS/LAB Midwest

(sponsored by Greenheck Group)

Matt Kirchner (pronounced “Kirk-ner”) is an international speaker, author and podcast host on topics of interest to educators, public policy makers and private employers.

On a mission to secure the American Dream for the next generation of STEM and Workforce talent, Kirchner hosts the weekly TechEd PodcastTM, featuring leaders in industry and education and serves as President of ATS/LAB Midwest, the leading distributor of world-class curriculum, eLearning and training equipment.

Kirchner writes monthly leadership columns appearing in Products Finishing and Production Machining magazines and is the author of “Teaching the Industrial Internet of Things: Preparing Students and Learners for Industry 4.0.”

Previously Kirchner led three world class manufacturing companies during a 20+ career as an industrial CEO. He and his partners sold their last company, American Finishing Resources, to DuBois Chemicals in 2014.

Kirchner serves on the boards of directors of several American companies and among his many volunteer activities is currently the First-Past President of the Education Dealers Association and holds a seat on the board of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance. He is a graduate of the Marquette University School of Business.

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Training Opportunities for New and Current Employees