The DRMA office will be closed 12/24 - 1/1. We will respond to emails, voicemails, and other communications upon our return to the office on 1/2.

COMING UP! WorkAdvance Info Session (1/23), Workforce/HR Meet Up (1/28), and Shoptalk (2/12)! 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 Thursday, we presented highlights from 2024 and presented the 2025 budget and board candidates for approval. Read more about the meeting and see photos here. Read about 2024 accomplishments here.

Time is running out to renew your membership for 2025! Stay a part of the DRMA community and access programs and services that help strengthen your company. Contact Shay to renew today.

If you want to super-charge your brand exposure at multiple DRMA events all year long, take advantage of our new Premier Sponsor program, which includes your membership, brand exposure, and event participation throughout all of 2025! This opportunity will elevate your organization's brand presence and allow you to leverage DRMA's membership base. This exclusive opportunity is available to only 10 members on a first-come basis. Contact Amy Schrimpf today to learn more!

Don’t miss these upcoming workshops, exclusively for DRMA member companies. Contact Shay for more information and to register.

• NEW for 2025! The HR Leadership Circle - Designed to grow your HR leaders to be indispensable business partners. Presented by Brixey & Meyer. $3,000 for 12 in-person sessions and a talent summit.
• The Emerging Leaders Circle - Designed to nurture visionary leaders of tomorrow. Presented by Brixey & Meyer. $3,000 for 10 in-person sessions and a talent summit.
• Supervisory Excellence -Starting in May; details coming soon!
• Lean Manufacturing - Designed to teach participants how to implement lean concepts and techniques to make systematic, lasting improvements within their operations. Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. $225 per session. More information here.
• NEW for 2025! Problem-Solving Skills - Focuses on tools and techniques applicable for implementation on the production floor by operating-level personnel. Participants will gain skills and knowledge to effectively solve problems by systematically identifying root causes and applying corrective actions (think “Six Sigma lite”). Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. Starting in April; details coming soon.
• Blueprint Reading and GD&T - Starting in the Spring; details coming soon.

DRMA’s Wage and Benefit Survey Report will help you adjust your compensation program in order to attract and retain employees. Contact Shay to purchase the 2024 report.

Legally Speaking: On 12/3, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas entered a nationwide injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Read more 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. Click here for details.

Safety Alert! Check out this month's tips from our workers comp program administrator, Sedgwick:

• Keep your employees safe during recreational activities in the workplace with a C-159 waiver. Read more here.
• Employee engagement in workplace safety is critical for maintaining a safe and productive environment. When employees actively engage in safety efforts, they're more likely to follow protocols, identify hazards and contribute to a culture prioritizing well-being. See some strategies to encourage engagement here.

Connect with potential customers looking for manufacturing suppliers by tapping into DRMA Business Leads Service. Learn more here.

Members receive a 20% discount on OSHA training courses! Contact Shay for the discount code. Learn more here.

THANK YOU Shannon Olyer of Yaskawa Motoman! Shannon joined our Career Outreach Committee this year and has been an excellent addition, always thinking of ways to connect with schools to expand our reach. She has also been instrumental in planning all the student tours that come through Yaskawa! DRMA appreciates and thanks Shannon for her commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole.

Calling all WorkAdvance employers! The Dayton Equity Center is hosting a Meet and Greet on 1/16, 1:30-3:30 p.m. with candidates ready to interview! If you are participating in WorkAdvance contact Susan to attend. Learn more about WorkAdvance here!

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 1/28, 11 – 12 p.m., virtual! At this Meet Up, we will be discussing the key components of an internship program and how SOCHE can help! Register here.

Want to improve your company’s productivity while reducing turnover? Or make sure your workers are competent BEFORE you hire them? Consider workers who’ve earned an industry recognized credential. Learn more here.

Want $$ to offset your training cost for tech credentials? Funding is available thru TechCred, a program that reimburses employers for employee training up to $2,000 per industry-recognized credential and up to $30,000 per company each application round! The next application round opens 1/2! Contact a DRMA education partner now – they can help you apply! Learn more here.

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

Help grow your future workforce by purchasing a sponsorship of our student giveaways! We are preparing for our winter and spring career outreach events, and we need your help. Your sponsorship of $500 will help us cover the costs of things like lanyards, stickers, dog tags, and wood gliders (all items that students love to get!) and will include your organization’s name. Contact Kara for more info.

Want to support local students who are learning skills like programming, electronics, and metalworking? Miami University needs volunteers for the First Tech Challenge – a national robotics competition – on 2/15. This is an excellent opportunity to see STEM programming in action and learn more about what your future workers can do. To volunteer, click here.

Supplement your recruiting strategy by attending the following career fairs and events:

• Dayton Public Schools Career Fairs: Belmont High School (1/9), Stivers High School (1/24), Thurgood Marshall High School (2/26), and Dunbar High School (2/28). Contact David Andrews for details.
• Manufacturing and Engineering Job Fair at Clark State, 2/17. Contact careers@clarkstate.edu for details.
• Junior Achievement Inspire to Hire event at Dayton Convention Center, 3/18. Register here.
• Job Fair at Kettering Fairmont High School, 4/3. Register here.

2/12, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk, Gray America Corporation, Dayton. Hear a short presentation from members Thompson Hine and Taft Law on the current status of the non-compete agreement regulation, followed by peer-to-peer networking and drinks at this impressive manufacturing facility! Click here for more information/registration.

WorkAdvance Info Sessions, 1 - 1:30 p.m., Virtual. This grant program is designed to bring you quality candidates to fill your entry-level positions. Attend a FREE info session to learn more.

• 1/23 - Register here.
• 2/19 - Register here.

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

• 1/28, 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!

• 1/22, 12 - 1 p.m., at MLA Companies, Springboro (lunch provided).
• 2/27, 4 - 5 p.m., at Back to Business I.T., Beavercreek (drinks/snacks provided).

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

As we wind down a busy and successful 2024, take a minute to look back on all that DRMA has accomplished this year here. The volunteers and staff work hard to bring you value and we appreciate you continuing to support your local industry association. We look forward to an exciting and prosperous 2025!

Congratulations to DRMA Members:

• Superior Aluminum Products for being the finalist for the Dayton Business Journal’s Family Business of the Year in 2024.
• Buckeye Metal Finishing for their NADCAP certification in PAINT.

DRMA extends our deepest sympathies to the family and employees of Stillwater Technologies on the passing of Bill Lukens, who was the former owner of Stillwater and a former DRMA board member.

Welcome new DRMA members:

• All Ohio Welding, Inc.
• ERA Group
• Express Cut Metals
• First Commonwealth Bank
• QuickPro Staffing
• Stolle Machinery (Dayton)