The Michigan manufacturing sector is at a turning point. Technology is advancing, expectations are shifting, and finding a well-trained, reliable workforce is more challenging than ever. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the L.V. Eberhard Center in Grand Rapids, the MMA Workforce Solutions Summit aims to address these challenges directly. As proud sponsors, we believe this summit is not only timely—it’s essential.
What the Summit Is All About
The Summit is a full-day event dedicated to strengthening Michigan’s manufacturing workforce. It brings together workforce experts, educators, industry leaders, and community partners. The goal is simple: to share real-world ideas and actionable strategies for recruiting, retaining, and developing the talent that manufacturing needs.
Throughout the day, attendees will explore how employers can:
- Build resilient talent pipelines
- Cultivate collaborative networks
- Support a thriving workforce ecosystem across the state
Key Details You Should Know
- Date & Venue: September 18, 2025, at L.V. Eberhard Center, Grand Valley State University, Pew Campus, Grand Rapids
- Time: Starting with registration and breakfast at 8:00 AM
- Pricing:
- $175/person for MMA Industry & Associate Members
- $275/person for MMA Insurance Members and Future Members
- Save $25 each when three or more register together
- Hotel: Special MMA rates at the Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown
What the Agenda Holds
One of the strongest parts of this summit is how the agenda is structured. You’ll get both keynote speeches and breakout sessions, with time built in for networking. These are not generic presentations—they focus on topics with practical relevance.
Morning Keynote
- Inside the Manufacturing Mind: Shifts Impacting Workforce Readiness by Ryan Pohl (Praeco Skills). This keynote will explore how perceptions of manufacturing, generational shifts, and hands-on experience shape workforce readiness.
Breakout Sessions 1:
- Reconnecting Students to the Trades: The Case for Shop Class
- Workforce Without Limits: How One Company Built a Talent Strategy that Works
- Talent 4.0: Building a Connected Worker Ecosystem
Breakout Sessions 2 & 3:
Covering topics such as:
- Customized apprenticeship programs to close skills gaps
- The role of childcare in workforce stability
- Connecting with veterans and returning citizens
- How communities and manufacturers can collaborate to power talent pipelines
- Turning supervisors into effective trainers
Breakout Session 4:
- Attracting, engaging, and retaining talent
- Global talent integration and legal pathways
- Mapping your workforce ecosystem
The day wraps up with closing remarks at 4:15 PM, after a full agenda of learning, sharing, and collaboration.
Why It Matters to You (and to Us)
We sponsor this event because we believe the workforce is the foundation of all manufacturing success. Technology and equipment matter—but they can’t run themselves. People do. And the more prepared, motivated, and supported the workforce is, the stronger the industry becomes.
Here are some reasons why this event is valuable:
- Practical Takeaways – Leave with tested programs, tools, and strategies.
- New Connections – Meet peers, educators, and experts to share ideas.
- Broadened Perspective – Learn how community partnerships, childcare support, and inclusivity build a stronger workforce.
- Strategic Insight – Gain clarity on workforce trends, untapped talent pools, and policy shifts affecting manufacturing.
Om Raj Tech: Driving Innovation in Workforce Development
Om Raj Tech believes in innovation, not just in technology but also in people. Our solutions help manufacturers become more efficient, but we know that true progress comes from investing in talent. By sponsoring the Workforce Solutions Summit, Om Raj Tech demonstrates its commitment to supporting Michigan’s injection molding manufacturing ecosystem.
Our mission goes beyond providing technology—we aim to create opportunities where skilled people and advanced systems work hand in hand. We are proud to support an event that promotes collaboration, develops leaders, and prepares businesses for the future of manufacturing.
Our Promise & the Discount We’re Offering
We want this summit to be accessible to as many people as possible, especially those who are doing the work on the ground: HR, operations, leadership, and training professionals. That’s why we are pleased to share a special discount code for our network: SPONSOR25. Use it when registering to receive $25 off your ticket. Share the code with your colleagues and team members who would benefit.
Registration is easy and can be done:
- Online at mimfg.org/workforcesummit
- By phone: 517-487-8542
- By email:- maciejewski@mimfg.org
Who Should Attend
This summit is ideal for:
- Manufacturing business owners and executives
- HR managers and talent acquisition professionals
- Educators, training institutes, and workforce program leaders
- Anyone involved in skill development, hiring, leadership, or employee retention
If you are shaping your company’s workforce strategy, this event offers something you can put into practice right away.
What You’ll Gain
By attending, you will come away with:
- A roadmap for designing apprenticeship and training programs
- Ideas for creating supportive workplaces that encourage retention
- Strategies to attract underutilized groups like veterans, returning citizens, and global talent
- Stronger community partnerships to grow talent pipelines
- Practical frameworks for mapping skills, identifying gaps, and building future-ready teams
Final Thoughts & Call to Action
At Om Raj Tech, we believe manufacturing is stronger when everyone works together—businesses, schools, communities, and workforce organizations. The MMA Workforce Solutions Summit 2025 is more than just another conference; it is a gathering of people committed to solving real workforce challenges.
We invite you to be part of this important event. Mark your calendar for September 18, 2025, in Grand Rapids. Bring your team, share your insights, and take away strategies that will shape Michigan manufacturing for years to come.
Don’t forget to use our code SPONSOR25 to save $25 on registration. Together, we can learn, build, and create the workforce of tomorrow.
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