Description

2025 Evansville Region Manufacturing Summit

Theme: The State of Manufacturing in Indiana

Join us for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and innovation at the Evansville Region Manufacturing Summit, hosted by the Tri-State Manufacturers’ Alliance (TSMA). This one-day event brings together industry experts, manufacturing leaders, and regional partners for an immersive experience focused on the state of manufacturing in Indiana- and what lies ahead for the Tri-State.

The summit will feature dynamic keynote speakers, interactive breakout sessions, and leadership development opportunities designed to equip attendees with the tools, insights, and connections they need to lead and grow in today’s evolving manufacturing landscape.

In addition to the educational sessions, the summit will include a local vendor fair featuring support organizations that serve the manufacturing sector, providing opportunities for networking and collaboration, as well as an interactive power hour to engage with peers and industry experts.

🔑 Keynote Presentations

Keynote #1

The State of Manufacturing: Insights from the Indiana Manufacturers Association
Speaker: Andrew Berger, President & CEO, Indiana Manufacturers Association
Andrew will address the most pressing issues affecting Indiana’s manufacturers — from tax policy and healthcare costs to workforce availability, energy access, and government regulation. His presentation will also highlight key data trends and upcoming legislation shaping the future of Indiana’s largest economic sector.

Keynote #2

Becoming THE Sought-After Employer of Choice
Speakers: Mack & Ria Story, Leadership Speakers, Trainers & Authors, Blue Collar Leadership®
Discover the five core components of building a high-performance culture that attracts and retains great people. Mack & Ria will guide you through practical strategies for becoming an employer of choice -  the kind of company people want to work for and never want to leave.

Power Hour (Interactive Session)

Facilitating a High Impact Book Study
Facilitators: Mack & Ria Story, Leadership Speakers, Trainers & Authors
In this interactive session, Mack & Ria will walk attendees through a proven, scalable process for leadership and culture development using high-impact book studies. Learn how to use short, focused lessons to engage your workforce, strengthen communication, break down silos, and develop leaders at every level. This session is designed to help manufacturers implement an easy, effective way to grow their people and build stronger teams from the inside out.

Keynote #3

Workforce Development in Indiana
Speaker: Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education
Dr. Jenner will provide a forward-looking view of Indiana’s evolving workforce landscape. Her keynote will highlight changes to high school diploma requirements, the rise of work-and-learn initiatives, emerging workforce dynamics, and the critical role of employer-education collaboration in building a skilled, future-ready talent pipeline.

🧠Breakout Sessions

Attendees will choose two breakout sessions to attend — one in each time slot. With 10 sessions to choose from, topics cover a wide range of focus areas including leadership, workforce development, technology, safety, quality, lean practices, and sustainability.

Leadership & Culture

• Leadership Challenge: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
  Presented by Jasper Engines & Transmissions
• Treating Team Members Like Family: A Leadership Perspective
  Presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana

Safety & HR

• Reducing Workers' Comp Claims Through Physical Demand Assessments
  Presented by Anchor Industries

Workforce Development

• Revitalizing Manufacturing: Apprenticeships for the Next Generation
  Presented by Vincennes University

Technology & Digital Transformation

• From Chaos to Clarity: How CRM Systems Drive Business Success
  Presented by Nix Industrial
• Custom Software, Real Results: IT Innovation in Manufacturing
  Presented by Jasper Engines & Transmissions
• Empowering People, Digitizing Processes: Using Power Platforms to Transform Manufacturing
  Presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana

Lean & Continuous Improvement

• Sustaining the Lean Journey: Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing
  Presented by Continuous Improvement Consulting Group

Quality

• Building a Quality Culture: What It Takes and Where to Start
  Presented by AstraZeneca

Sustainability

• Midwest Sustainability in Action: Practical Strategies for Regional Manufacturers
  Presented by AstraZeneca

💼 Vendor Fair

Connect with regional support organizations dedicated to serving manufacturers. The vendor fair will provide built-in time throughout the day for attendees to explore new resources, meet potential partners, and discover tools that can strengthen their operations and workforce strategies.

🍽️ Food & Networking

Enjoy a light breakfast during registration, buffet lunch at mid-day, and plenty of time to connect with fellow attendees during breaks, transitions, and vendor fair windows — all included in your registration.

👥 Who Should Attend

Manufacturing executives, HR professionals, operations managers, engineers, educators, and business leaders committed to driving the future of manufacturing in the Evansville Region and beyond.

👤 Our Speakers 

Andrew Berger
President & CEO, Indiana Manufacturers Association
Andrew leads Indiana’s premier manufacturing advocacy organization and brings over a decade of legislative and economic development experience focused on business policy, tax reform, and workforce advancement.

Mack & Ria Story
Leadership Speakers, Trainers & Authors, Blue Collar Leadership®
Mack and Ria are nationally recognized experts in workforce and culture development. Together, they’ve authored 35+ books and deliver high-impact leadership training focused on frontline engagement and organizational growth.

Dr. Katie Jenner
Indiana Secretary of Education
As Indiana’s top education official, Dr. Jenner drives statewide talent strategies across K-12, higher education, and workforce development, championing career readiness, diploma flexibility, and employer collaboration.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with the people and ideas shaping our industry.

Join us at the 2025 Evansville Region Manufacturing Summit and be inspired to lead, innovate, and thrive.