Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The FireWorks Conference is presented by the MEP National Network and brings together education and workforce development (EWD) professionals to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturing. The conference will feature sessions selected by EWD professionals for EWD professionals to support both the MEPNN and Manufacturing USA network.
At FireWorks, EWD professionals will focus on advancing American manufacturing through collaborations, supporting workforce development programs, and upskilling existing workers to adapt to the rapid change of technology in manufacturing.
FireWorks’ goals are to:
- Share best practices in workforce development directly from the practitioners
- Explore how the networks are helping fill open manufacturing jobs and retain workers
- Build a sense of community among education and workforce practitioners across the MEP Centers and Manufacturing USA institutes
Who Should Attend
This conference is designed by and for practitioners in the MEP National Network and Manufacturing USA Institutes. Staff from the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies are also welcome. All other interested attendees from private companies, academic institutions, and nonprofits, please contact Matt Fieldman at mfieldman [at] manufacturingsuccess.org (mfieldman[at]manufacturingsuccess[dot]org) for more information about the event.
Agenda Overview*
- Monday, September 16th (starts at 1 pm ET for MEP Centers and NIST MEP)
- Tuesday, September 17th (starts at 9 am ET for ALL attendees)
- Wednesday, September 18th (starts at 9 am ET for ALL attendees)
*Please note the agenda is subject to change.
View and download a PDF of the agenda
Monday, September 16
| 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Manufacturing USA Education and Workforce Development Network Meeting (Invitation only) |
| 12:00 p.m. | Registration opens and lunch for all attendees |
| 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Registration open |
| 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Group activity: Oregon MEP Manufacturing Simulation Game – Ready or Not |
| 5:00 p.m. | Meet and Greet and Tours of MAGNET (Optional) Meet the MAGNET refreshment robot, take tours of the facility, and network with your colleagues from around the country! |
Tuesday, September 17
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration opens |
| 8:15 a.m. | Tours of MAGNET’s Manufacturing Innovation, Technology, and Jobs Center (Optional) Guide: Jennie Becker, Manufacturing Experience Designer, MAGNET If you could build a manufacturing workforce and technology hub from the ground up, what would you include? Find out how MAGNET answered this question with interactive Industry 4.0 training technologies, worker training stations, youth engagement activities, and more. Experience some of the technologies used in MAGNET’s training programs firsthand. |
| 9:00 a.m. | Opening Session – Welcome and Hot Topics in Workforce Development Welcome from MEP Hot Topics in Workforce Development During this interactive session, facilitated table discussions will allow attendees to meet colleagues, identify opportunities, build new relationships, and share information about education and workforce development. Attendees from MEP centers and the Manufacturing USA network will discuss the current status of our efforts, debate issues, identify pathways forward, and provide input to NIST. Moderators: Matt Fieldman, Senior Advisor for Workforce, NIST-MEP Brad Conrad, Education Workforce Development Manager, NIST-OAM |
| 10:00 a.m. | Welcome Remarks by Cleveland City Councilwoman Jenny Spencer |
| 10:15 a.m. | Keynote Panel: Workforce – Where We Are and Where We’re Going A panel discussion with workforce development leaders focused on the current state of education and workforce development. The panelists will include Ethan Karp, Annette Parker, Miguel Lugo with Mojdeh Bahar as panel moderator. |
| 11:15 a.m. | Speed Networking: MEP Centers and Manufacturing USA Network |
| 12:00 p.m. | Networking Lunch: Manufacturing USA and MEP Centers |
| 1:00 p.m. | Parallel Sessions: That Could Work Here! MEP Centers and Manufacturing USA Institutes will share successful best practices that can be replicated in communities around the country. Come with an open mind, and you’ll leave with the realization, “that could work here!” |
| 1:45 p.m. | Break |
| 2:00 p.m. | Deep Dive Sessions #1: 25-minute Panel Discussions |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 p.m. | Deep Dive Sessions #2 - Panel Discussions |
| 4:00 p.m. | Break |
| 4:10 p.m. | Parallel Sessions: That Could Work Here! Each session will be held twice, so you can pick two! |
| 5:00 p.m. | Sessions End |
Wednesday, September 18
| 8:15 a.m. | Meet with Blue Forge Community Leaders (Optional) |
| 9:00 a.m. | Peer Learning Tables Last Name A-K: Start where you want to learn, then switch to where you want to share. Discussion topics are: Apprenticeships, Developing better local partnerships, Employer of choice consulting, Peer roundtables, Pipeline programs for adults; Pipeline programs for youth, Sector Partnership, Training focused on Industry 4.0; Training focused on lean and quality; Training for Frontline Workers, HR, and Supervisors; Training programs for re-entry/second chance |
| 10:00 a.m. | Parallel sessions: That Could Work Here! |
| 11:00 a.m. | Create the Playbook Activity One thing the Network could really use are step-by-step guides to how to successfully implement outstanding programs. You’ll get into groups with your colleagues to brainstorm and develop those guides, which we can then share nationally. |
| 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Final Casual Lunch Feel free to grab food and bring it to the airport with you! |
Sessions will include:
- “Maximizing Institute Partnerships: How One MEP Center is Doing It” with Evelyn Brown, NCMEP
- “Engaging New Audiences in Manufacturing through Flex Factor” with Lauren Friedman and Courtney Tenhover, Next Flex
- “What is What’s So Cool About Manufacturing - and How to Bring it To Your Community” with Karen Buck, MRC
- “Speed Up the Adoption of Smart Manufacturing” with CESMII
- “Build Better Industry-Academic Partnerships” with John Balchunas, NIIMBL
- “Best Practices in Second Chance Training” with Aarin Clemons, Polaris (Rhode Island) MEP; Tim Waldo, Tennessee MEP; Monica Cortez, Texas MEP; and Gretchen Schultz of Tooling U-SME
- “Filling Critical Open Positions through Second Chance Hiring” with Tom McGraw, MAGNET, and Sean Cwynar, Diamond Metals
- “The ROI of Apprenticeship” with Mara Peduto, Catalyst Connection (PA MEP); Marcelo Dossantos, Florida Makes; and Brent Weil, JFF
- “Growing the Talent Pipeline for the Defense Industrial Base” with Chris Scafario, DVIRC (PA MEP), and Katherine Dames, Blue Forge
- 160: “From Interest to Job: How MassMEP is Ensuring a Quality Experience for Partners and Participants” with Matthew Berard, PhD, MassMEP
- “Using Vessel to Nail Your Client Assessments!” with Marcelo Dossantos, Florida Makes
- “Improving Your Workforce Ecosystem” with Bryan Wortmann, MAGNET
- “What is ITA? And how can it help MEP Clients?” with ____
- “Partnering with TPP to Engage More Defense Industrial Workers” with Amy Erickson, Long Island MEP (Part of NY MEP)
- “Recruiting Veterans Into the Talent Pipeline” with Marcelo Dossantos, Florida Makes and Laura Schmiegel, Orion Talent
- “Building Strong Re-Entry Partnerships” with Aarin Clemons, Polaris (Rhode Island) MEP; Chris Scafario, DVIRC (PA MEP), and Reagan Brewer, JARC
- “Creating a Whole Ecosystem Devoted to Manufacturing Recruitment” with Stewart Harrison, Oklahoma MEP
- “What Makes a Successful Emerging Leaders Program” with Steve Black, Utah MEP
- “Connecting College Students to Real-world Projects” with Catherine Cantley, Idaho MEP
- Training for Frontline Workers - Led by Danica Rome, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions
- Training Programs for Re-Entry - Led by Tom McGraw, MAGNET
Developing Better Local Partnerships - Led by Lissy Rand, MAGNET - Employer of Choice Consulting - Led by Dave Rea, Catalyst Connection
How to make reservations at the Tru by Hilton Cleveland Midtown at the Funders Network Group
Nightly rate: $150 (+$25/night incidental fee)
Available dates: September 13-19, 2024
Code: NIST
Book by Phone: Please call Tru by Hilton Cleveland Midtown at (216) 361-1004 and ask to make a reservation for the "National institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)”. Their Front Desk Agents will assist in making the reservation.
Cutoff Date: Please make sure to reserve your hotel room prior to Friday, August 30.