schedule

event agenda

Opening Remarks

8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Opening remarks

Petra Mitchell, President and CEO, Catalyst Connection

Keith Alves, Market Manager Commercial Banking, Bank of America

Who is the Human Capital Team and Why this conference?

David Rea, Managing Director of Human Capital Team, Catalyst Connection

Welcome to Techworks

Debbie Reynolds, Director of Techworks, Commonwealth Charter Academy

Morning Keynote Speaker

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Sabrina Saunders Mosby, President & Chief Executive Officer, Vibrant Pittsburgh

Session 1 – Expanding the Stream of Manufacturing Talent

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Traditionally we think of developing a “talent pipeline”. This session will expand the thinking of a larger “talent stream”. Instead of a talent pipeline strategy closed off to the outside world, with only two access points, and limited capacity, think about a stream with endless entry points, possibilities for widening, and total transparency for all to see the beauty of the entire flow as an inspiration for others to want to take a swim.

Scott Dietz, Director of Workforce Education Initiatives, Catalyst Connection

Machinist training for job seekers and employees

Neil Ashbaugh, President & CEO, New Century Careers

Middle and high school robotics/manufacturing programs

Michel Conklin, Executive Director, BotsIQ

Only museum in Pennsylvania to focus exclusively on space exploration

Sam Moore, Executive Director, Moonshot Museum

Successful implementation of Middle and High School experiential learning programs for manufacturing

Shaun Reddick, Teacher, Burrell High School

Future Jobs video series and workforce program

Gina Masciola, Managing Director of Education, WQED

Sharon Steele, Managing Director of Corporate Support, WQED

Changing Dynamics of Recruiting and Retaining Gen Y and Gen Z

Emily Siegel, Workforce Consultant, Catalyst Connection

Break Networking

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Session 2 – Expanding the Stream of Manufacturing Talent (cont.)

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

We know one of the big challenges facing manufacturers today is the availability of an engaged, trained and diverse workforce. There are a lot of resource partners that can assist with these challenges which is why we are doubling up on this topic!

Moderator

Nate Broadus, Workforce Specialist, Catalyst Connection

Additive Manufacturing Workforce programs

Josh Cramer, Education & Workforce Development Manager, America Makes

Regional hub for innovation, creative thinking, problem solving, learning, and collaboration.

Stephen Leonard, Operations/Program Manager, Digital Foundry

Advanced Manufacturing and the impacts on workforce

Govardhan Singh, Site Head, Bayer US LLC

RoboticsCareer.org and Robotics Certifications/training

John Zappa, Senior Product Manager, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute

Recruiting Veterans

John Skelley, Vice President – Human Resources, JWF Industries

Recruiting and Retaining Individuals with Barriers to Employment

Matt Bittner, Babs Sefiane, Jillian Jensen, Life’sWork of Western Pennsylvania

Lunch

12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Hear from a panel of five manufacturing professionals early in their careers from a diverse mix of companies and backgrounds about their perceptions of manufacturing, what their generation expects from employers, and suggestions on how to better attract and retain a Gen Y and Gen Z workforce.

Joseph Doerfler, Product Management Associate, FS-Elliott

Jonathan Donath, Mine Safety Appliance

Kristen Goodell, Manager of Workforce Partnerships, Catalyst Connection

Genna Mucci, Executive Assistant, JV Manufacturing

Toni Porter, Emergency Room Tech, UPMC

Kendra Slis, Sales Engineer, MECCO

Jonathan Title, Quality Engineer

She’Cholle Winmon, Manufacturing Technician, RE2 Robotics