More than 15 years ago, Insight on Manufacturing magazine and the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance proved to be good ideas whose moments had arrived. Bolstering the reputation of Northeast Wisconsin’s most critical industry, and doing it as a united front, was key to its ongoing vitality.
So why not take the people to whom this issue is significant and bring them together in one room? Such was the idea behind the 2010 creation of Manufacturing First, a partnership between Insight Publications and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance that today has grown into the state’s largest and most important annual manufacturing event.
In 2024, Manufacturing First featured 260 exhibitors and was attended by more than 1,200 professionals and 241 high-school students. Its move to Green Bay’s Resch Expo has allowed it to flourish, with attendance and activity consistently on the rise. For high-quality networking, says NEWMA Executive Director Ann Franz, it’s the place to be during October’s Manufacturing Month.
“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,” Franz said.
Publisher Emeritus Brian Rasmussen counts Manufacturing First among his favorite and most successful projects since founding Insight Publications, and the fact that Manufacturing First is stronger than ever after 15 years proves the investment in celebrating and connecting the manufacturing industry has benefits that spread across the New North region.
“It’s hard to find an event with this much learning and networking all packed into a single day,” Rasmussen said. “It’s worthwhile not just for the manufacturers themselves, but everyone in our region who is affected by this vital business sector.”
The 15th annual Manufacturing First Expo and Conference will be held Oct. 29 at Resch Expo. Learn more at manufacturingfirst.com.
