Happy Holidays! The DRMA office will be closed 12/24, 12/25, and 1/1, with intermittent availability 12/26-12/31. We will respond to emails, voicemails, and other communications as available. If you need something immediate, please contact Amy.

COMING UP! Operations Meet Up (1/20), Workforce/HR Meet Up (1/27), and Breakfast with DRMA (2/25)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

You have a lot of choices when it comes to which organizations to support with both your time and money. We sincerely thank you for choosing to be a part of DRMA. At our annual meeting last Wednesday, we presented highlights from 2025 and presented the 2026 budget and board candidates for approval. Read more about the meeting and see photos here. Read about 2025 accomplishments here.

If you have yet to renew your membership for 2026, time is running out! Stay a part of the DRMA community and access programs and services that help strengthen your company. Contact Shay to renew today.

Stay competitive and protect your bottom line. The DRMA Wage & Benefit Report delivers up-to-date wage and benefit data and workforce trends to help you stay competitive without overspending. Contact Shay to purchase the 2025 report.

Looking to invest in your employees in 2026? Presented by Brixey & Meyer, you don’t miss these workshops, exclusively for DRMA member companies. Don't miss out - workshops start in mid-February! Contact Shay with questions or to register.

• Supervisory Excellence - Unlock your employees’ leadership potential with practical insights that are vital for excelling in a supervisory role. $1,500 for 6 in-person sessions and a talent summit. More information here.
• Emerging Leaders Circle - Nurture visionary leaders of tomorrow. $3,200 for 10 in-person sessions and a talent summit. More information here.
• HR Leadership Circle - Grow your HR leaders to be indispensable business partners. $3,200 for 10 in-person sessions and a talent summit. More information here.

Do you need legal help on anything from labor and employment, OSHA, real estate and more? Take advantage of your legal services plan offered by Bob Dunlevey of Taft Law. Members get one FREE consultation per month. Learn more here.

Looking for a supplier or need to outsource work? DRMA connects members with potential business leads from companies who reach out to us seeking a supplier. Learn more about the service here and contact Shay with questions.

THANK YOU Jon Schmiedebusch of Acuren! Jon joined our Board of Trustees in 2022 after years of dedicated volunteer service with the Dayton Region Manufacturers Workforce Partnership. His outstanding leadership as Board Chair this year—including his service as the Board liaison to the Bourbon Event Committee—has strengthened our organization as a whole and we are so grateful for his service. DRMA appreciates and thanks Jon for his unwavering commitment to the organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole.

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 1/27, 11 - 12 p.m., virtual! At this this Meet Up, we will highlight an untapped employee resource for employers – Veterans! Come learn more about the Department of Defense SkillBridge program and how employers can use this program to build their next generation of workforce. Register here.



We rely on our volunteers to keep our career events running! Click here to see who helped us out recently!

2/25, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Breakfast with DRMA: Exploring the 2026 Economy with the Fed, Springboro. Presented by MLA Companies, join us as the Fed pinpoints the facts and provides insights into the dynamics that may affect you, your employees, and your business in 2026! Register here.

4/9, 5 - 7 p.m., Business and Bourbon, Moraine Country Club, Dayton. Presented by Lincoln Electric, this classy networking event benefits the DRMA Foundation. Register here.

Meet-Ups - FREE and for members only. Join the conversation!

• 1/20, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Manufacturing Operations, Clopay Corporation, Troy. Register here.
• 1/27, 11 - 12 p.m., Workforce/HR, virtual. Register here.

DRMA 101 - Whether you are a new member or a seasoned member, kickstart your membership ROI and learn what DRMA does to help you strengthen your business. Contact Shay to sign up!

• 1/27, 8 - 9 a.m., Messer Construction, Dayton (breakfast provided).

For more information on any of our events, visit our website.

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

6/1/2026 Summer Golf Outing - Troy Country Club

8/20/2026 Economic Update - Sinclair Conference Center

9/28/2026 Fall Golf Outing - Miami Valley Golf Club

10/15/2026 Trap Shoot - Wright-Patt Rod and Gun Club

12/2/2026 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Hello DRMA Members. It’s an honor to write my first President’s Message for News Bits and to serve as your president. Stepping into this role after Angelia Erbaugh’s long and dedicated tenure here is both inspiring and humbling, but I am energized for this new chapter and hope you’re ready for an exciting 2026.

Even before taking this position, I knew that DRMA is recognized as the trusted voice of our region’s manufacturing industry. The DRMA staff and I hope to continue the legacy of excellence that DRMA has fostered over the past 90+ years by delivering excellent programs and services and serving as your advocate.

I’ve had the pleasure to meet many of you over the past year, but if we haven’t connected yet, please drop a line if you’d like to set up time for a conversation or a tour. I’d love to connect and learn more about your company and operations.

Now, for some official DRMA business:

If you haven’t reviewed DRMA’s 2025 accomplishments, please take 5 minutes to do so. We’ve posted the list on our website. I hope you will read how YOUR dues dollars were used this past year.

We have new resumes: Electrical Design Engineer and Office & Administrative Management. Click here to see manufacturing-pertinent resumes I have received.

Welcome new DRMA members:

• AMPM Employment
• DixiTech CNC
• Focal Point Business Coaching of Dayton
• Peerless Steel
• Schooley Mitchell

As we wrap up 2025, I am looking forward to 2026 and wish you all Happy Holidays!