Smartforce Student Summit 2024
In addition to an estimated 1,800 exhibitors, the 2024 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS 2024) will once again feature the Smartforce Student Summit designed to inspire students to seek an education in STEM that leads to a career in manufacturing. The Student Summit will be in the East Building on the second floor. Drop by to witness the exciting things this industry is doing to build our workforce.
Manufacturing Ally Rally
In particular, look for a series of one hour panel discussions that will take place throughout the week at the Student Summit Amphitheatre (Booth 121140). Dubbed the “Manufacturing Ally Rally,” the panel discussions will begin at 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday and will be moderated by the top-notch leaders capable of inspiring all those in attendance.
Here’s a peek at the topics to be covered during the panel discussions:
Inspiring the Next Generation: Early Talent Pipeline — led by Toni Neary, director of community engagement and workforce innovation for SME, on Monday, Sept. 9.
Beyond Gender and Ethnicity: Understanding Diversity in Manufacturing — led by Drew Crowe, founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance, on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Empowering Talent: New Approaches to Job Roles in Manufacturing — led by Meaghan Ziemba, host of the Mavens of Manufacturing podcast, on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Collaboration: What does support look like? — led by Chris Luecke, host of the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast, on Thursday, Sept. 12.
A final panel discussion with all of the panel moderators will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at the IMTS+ Main Stage located in the Grand Concourse.
CHAMPIONNow!
Also featured at the summit this year will be CHAMPIONNow! Located at Booth 121002, CHAMPIONNow! A nonprofit organization whose mission is to change how American manufacturing is perceived in our nation. The group will provide more information about its Camp CHAMP outreach program and demonstrate three CNC tabletop machines at the center of the Camp CHAMP program. The machines will be in use making pens to be handed out to future young members of the skilled workforce.
Camp CHAMP is for rent, lease and sale with cobranded offerings that will allow anyone interested to make every day a manufacturing day in their region. CHAMPIONNow is intended to provide industry members a ready plan to address the workforce shortage in their local communities. Camp CHAMP can be a turnkey solution for a Manufacturing Day event or part of year-round recruitment efforts.
In addition, CHAMPIONNow! will discuss how the group enlists the help of high schoolers to mentor middle school students in the art of CNC through its Camp CHAMP program. What’s more, the group supplies young attendees with information on why their parents should encourage their newfound interest in a manufacturing career. CHAMPIONNow! provides 300-plus pages of facts, figures and storylines for the students to take home and share with Mom and Dad. (Technical Education Post – American Technical Publishers at Booth 121008 will be selling both CHAMPIONNow! Books — Finding America’s Greatest Champion and Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing.)
According to SME, about 12,000 students and educators from 46 states participated in the 2022 Smartforce Student Summit, and about 20,000 are expected at this year’s event. About 70% of the audience comes from secondary education institutions. The summit is a perfect opportunity for more industry members and leaders to learn how to get involved and be part of the workforce solution. Cutting Tool Engineering, for its part, has provided CHAMPIONNow! with financial support and ample coverage to help the organization make a difference regionally and nationally.
Source: Smartforce Student Summit 2024