More than 260 exhibitors filled Green Bay’s Resch Expo during the 14th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference Oct. 30, showcasing everything from robotic arms and virtual reality headsets to arcade games, an ice cream truck and military vehicles.
“It’s just amazing that companies keep on upping their game with what they bring to this event,” said Ann Franz, executive director of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, which partners with Insight Publications and presenting sponsor First Business Bank to host the conference annually. “I just love having a fire truck in the building.”
More than 1,200 event attendees and 241 students from seven different high schools were on hand to learn about the industry, share successes and build career pathways in manufacturing.
After 14 years of the event, Franz said manufacturers are seeing the benefits of repeat attendance.
“I’m hearing more of our companies say that they realize you can’t just attend once and think you’re going to get a million leads. But they’ve done the show three times, and now have a ton of leads,” she said. “We’re a very relational community. We want to do business with who we know, and one way you can do that is by being at Manufacturing First.”
Culture game plan
Football coaching legend and leadership expert Steve Jones provided a morning keynote address titled “Developing leaders who grow a winning culture.”
“Steve Jones doesn’t just say it; he lives it,” Franz said. “His passion instills that in others.”
Culture either happens by design or default, said Jones, who discussed how to intentionally create and grow a positive culture by developing leaders within an organization. Breaking down the power of connection, mindset and servant leadership, Jones outlined actionable steps that manufacturers can take to immediately improve their workplace culture.
The secret ingredient to it all, he said, is building trust.
“Trust is multi-directional. Leaders must sustainably build trust with their teams, current clients and potential customers,” said the co-founder of Jadin Jones Coaching and Consulting. “When adversity comes, it’s too late to build trust. But without it, you won’t get innovation.”
Jones provided examples from his 20-year career in elementary and high school education, during which time he coached Kimberly High School football and led the team to 70 consecutive wins and five consecutive state championships.
Whether coaching a high school football team or leading a team on the factory floor, Jones said the formula for success is focused on four elements: people, culture, preparation and execution. Jones emphasized that when leaders prioritize these elements, they not only create a resilient culture but also empower teams to embrace growth, even amid constant change.
“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional,” he said.
Coming together
A lunch and learn session presented by Acuity Insurance took place during the noon hour. Acuity’s Gwen Luscavage and Aaron Stamm presented on how to build a successful safety program through active employee participation.
In addition to the day’s keynote and lunch and learn speakers, attendees also had the opportunity to choose from 12 breakout sessions led by industry experts covering a wide range of topics such as implementing automation and artificial intelligence, sustainability, talent recruitment and workforce training.
Franz and IOM Editor Kate Bruns recorded insights from attendees for a future episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, a collaborative podcast between NEWMA and Insight that focuses on issues, challenges and opportunities for manufacturers in the region.
The day concluded with networking and prize giveaways during the cocktail reception on the expo floor.
Franz said the all-encompassing event offers a rare opportunity for manufacturers statewide to connect with future customers and build relationships with other industry players.
“We’re a community here and you feel that community at Manufacturing First. You feel that we’re all in this together, and damn it all, we’re gonna win,” she said. “By coming together, we can do amazing things.”
Save the date >> Manufacturing First returns to Resch Expo Oct. 29, 2025 manufacturingfirst.com
