One of several breakout sessions at the NTMA Southwestern Conference.
NIMS National Skills Standards breakout session speaker, Dave Morgan, Director of Business Development, National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).
NTMA Southwestern Conference keynote speaker, John Duca, Vice President and Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, gave an overview of the general economy and the outlook for manufacturing.
Opening Session of the inaugural in Phoenix, Arizona.
Roundtable discussion where a wide subject area covered ideas and solutions with conference attendee participation.
The Southwestern chapters of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) recently held its inaugural conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The event began with an overview of the general economy and the outlook for manufacturing by keynote speaker John Duca, Vice President and Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Obamacare Regulations was the topic for another keynote speaker LeeAnn Gassway, Regional Vice President, State Advocacy, AHIP.
Breakout sessions were in three categories: Technology, Management and Education Panel. Conference attendees were able to choose which breakout sessions to attend.
Technology topics:
- Why Automate with Robots
- Installing High Tech Into the Cost Conscious Shop
- Additive Manufacturing
- Optimizing Machining in Aerospace Frame Materials
Management topics:
- Social Security Realities
- Multiple Employer Trusts and Retirement Options
- Exiting Your Business, Protecting Your Wealth
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Employment Law
Education Panel topics:
- Entry Level Training Programs
- Apprenticeship Training Panel Discussion
- NTMA-U Online Precision Machinist Training
- NIMS National Skills Standards
Industry Roundtables also provided an exchange of ideas and solutions over a wide subject area with all attendees participating in the discussion.
Planning is already underway for a second Southwestern Conference to be held in Dallas in August 2014.
"Our inaugural exceeded all of our highest plans and expectations. The attendance was outstanding and the reviews were very positive. Our focus on providing the most benefit to our members and interested attendees at a reasonable price in the shortest amount of time was fully achieved. We are excited in anticipation of our next event in the beautiful Dallas, Texas area," said Dante Fierros, President of the Arizona Tooling and Machining Association (ATMA). Dante Fierros is President of Nichols Precision LLC.
"It was great to attend an event that was not only heavy on content and presentations, both locally and regionally, but with an emphasis on being economically feasible for companies to send multiple attendees. We are looking forward to hosting next year's event in the Dallas area," said Todd Ellard, President of the North Texas Chapter of the NTMA. Todd Ellard is Owner and Vice President Sales and Engineering of Manda Machine Co., Inc.