With more than 1,000 business professionals, exhibitors and students in attendance on a sunny October day, Insight Publications’ 15th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference delivered on manufacturing insights, leadership inspiration and industry connections Wednesday at the Resch Expo in Green Bay.
The morning kicked off with a highly anticipated keynote address by author and motivational speaker Betsy Allen-Manning, founder of Destination Workplace, who began her remarks by telling business leaders in attendance that “every single one of you here is either contributing to your culture or contaminating it.”
Allen-Manning went on to outline three focus areas for making an immediate impact on shifting culture from that of a “resignation workplace” to a “destination workplace.” She outlined strategies for assessing and developing leader character, establishing purpose-driven culture and ensuring employee growth opportunities.
“You do need the skills to be an effective leader,” she said. “But it’s your character that makes people truly want to follow you. A leader’s character is contagious. What are people catching from you?”
Purpose-driven culture is sought after, Allen-Manning said, but can be confusing or elusive to leaders.
“The thing I hear from most executives, actually 94% of executives that we’ve interviewed, [is] ‘I know I need a distinct culture for business success. I know that it gives me a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining the best talent. But I don’t know what it is or how to build it.’”
Allen-Manning concluded her remarks by explaining that 80% of people leave their companies because they feel there are no growth opportunities. She challenged employers to focus on cultivating talent and fostering leadership growth even in environments where they may not be specific job opportunities for advancement.
The keynote address, which featured audience participation, received rave reviews, and Allen-Manning was likewise impressed by the attendees and programming at Manufacturing First.
“The best of the best in manufacturing are here,” she said of her first-ever trip to Wisconsin. “That says a lot about this conference: If you want to be the best in manufacturing, this is definitely the conference to attend.”
Following the morning keynotes, 12 educational breakout sessions were offered on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to multicultural workplaces. More than 200 exhibitors showcased products and careers to high school students in the morning, and then to their fellow manufacturers and business leaders in the afternoon. The event concluded with “Power Hour” prize giveaways.
Manufacturing First also marked the first opportunity for readers to see the redesigned Insight on Business magazine, the November issue of which now incorporates the content formerly published in Insight on Manufacturing on a bimonthly basis.
“Manufacturing stories will now sit alongside coverage of technology, health care, finance, real estate and all the other sectors that intersect with manufacturing,” Editor Amelia Compton Wolff shared during the lunch session. “Because we know that collaboration across industries is where the magic happens.”
The Manufacturing First tradition continues in year 16: Manufacturing First 2026 will be held Oct. 28, again at Resch Expo in Green Bay.
