More than 300 Expected in Minneapolis for Fifth Annual Women in Manufacturing SUMMIT

CLEVELAND

Hundreds of professional women representing a wide range of experience and expertise in the manufacturing sector are expected to gather for two days of intensive, industry-specific educational and networking sessions at the fifth annual Women in Manufacturing (WiM) SUMMIT in Minneapolis, MN on September 23-25, 2015. With prominent keynote speakers, relevant panel discussions, and valuable professional development seminars, the WiM SUMMIT is the premier event for women in the manufacturing field today.

Registration is now open on the WiM website.

“The SUMMIT is the highlight of the WiM calendar every year,” said WiM President Allison Grealis. “Over the past four years, we’ve seen attendees leave the SUMMIT armed with the latest information on emerging technologies and business practices as well as enhanced professional skills and new industry connections. But perhaps the best takeaway for SUMMIT attendees is a renewed energy for our industry and excitement about the women leading the way forward.”

Since the first SUMMIT in 2011, attendance numbers have continued a steady upward climb and SUMMIT 2015 is expected to attract over 300 professional women in manufacturing with titles ranging from production to CEO.

“The WiM SUMMIT is an event unlike any other in our industry,” said WiM board chairwoman Gretchen Zierick. “The SUMMIT is a unique opportunity for women in manufacturing to come together and collaborate on ways to overcome the challenges we face and also to recognize the opportunities available. This year’s event has a terrific lineup of speakers who will address a wide variety of important issues related to attracting, retaining and advancing women in manufacturing today.”

Some of the SUMMIT speakers will include:

• Meredith Walker, executive producer and co-creator of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
• Maureen Midgley, vice president for WW engineering, benchmarking and ACES at Amazon
• Cynthia Arnold, chief technology officer, The Valspar Company
• Sarah Krasley, senior sustainable manufacturing lead, Autodesk

Additional presentations will be delivered by representatives from Protolabs, North American Stainless, Catalyst, Medtronic, Ford Motor Company, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), NewNorth Center for Design in Business, Association for Manufacturing Excellence, Zurich North America, and Bridgeworks.

A full list of speakers is available on the WiM website.

As part of SUMMIT 2015, attendees will also have the option to participate in plant tours at top local manufacturing facilities including Medtronic, Pentair, Caterpillar and H.B. Fuller. In previous years, the plant tours have been among the most popular events during the SUMMIT and this year’s tours come shortly after a recent state survey of Minnesota manufacturers found a higher level of industry optimism than at any point since 2009. Plant tour selection is part of the SUMMIT registration on the WiM website.

WiM welcomes professionals from all levels and industries within manufacturing. WiM SUMMITs are inclusive and open to women, as well to the men who support them. Registration is open now.

The wide array of sponsors at this year’s event demonstrates the significance of the manufacturing sector across the American economy. This year’s sponsors include Precision Metalforming Association, Chicken of the Sea, BMO Harris Bank, Dayton Rogers, Zierick Manufacturing, Amazon Fulfillment, Manufacturing Institute, Zurich, The Alliance for American Manufacturing, Alcoa, Alom, MerrettDavies International, and others.

WiM has made it easy to keep up with the latest information on SUMMIT 2015. Check the WiM website for updates and follow WiM on Twitter – @WomeninMfg, #WiMSUMMIT.

For questions about SUMMIT 2015, contact Kristin Moore at 216-503-5700 or kmoore@womeninmfg.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150729006392/en/

Women in Manufacturing (WiM)
Kristin Moore, 216-503-5700
kmoore@womeninmfg.org