COMING UP! Shoptalk (2/10), Breakfast with DRMA (2/25), and Happy Hour with DRMA (3/12)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.


Looking to invest in your employees in 2026? Presented by Brixey & Meyer, you don’t miss these workshops, exclusively for DRMA member companies. 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 (now starting in April). 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 (now starting in April). More information here.

Did you miss any of our workshops with Sinclair's Workforce Development Division? You're in luck! Details for our Lean Manufacturing, Problem-Solving Skills, GD&T and Blueprint Reading workshops are being finalized now. Contact Shay if you're interested so you can be the first to know!

Tap into the DRMA “brain trust” by joining the DRMA private LinkedIn Group, exclusively for people at DRMA member companies. The group provides an on-line venue to ask questions, learn from each other, and collaborate on a private platform dedicated to our members. Click here to request to join the group!

Calling all golf enthusiasts! Want to increase your brand exposure and support the DRMA? Get your name in front of attendees by sponsoring one of this year’s outings! Don’t forget that both outings sold out last year; locking in a sponsorship secures your place to play in the outing before registration opens! Contact Susan for more details.

• Summer Golf Outing - Join 100+ attendees for play-your-own-ball golf and happy hour fun on 6/1 at Troy Country Club.
• Fall Golf Outing - Join 200+ attendees for scramble-format golf and dinner on 9/28 at Miami Valley Golf Club.

Don’t miss out on the 2026 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, a free event for employers interested in occupational safety and health, wellness, rehabilitation, and medical treatment of injured workers, 3/11-13 in Columbus. Learn more and register today!



Last chance! Join us for the 2/10 Shoptalk: Building Tomorrow’s Workforce hosted by Dayton-Phoenix Group. Register here.

THANK YOU Sam Young of RAM Precision! Sam is an avid supporter of our career outreach efforts. Whether it's volunteering, hosting student tours, or serving on our Speakers Bureau, Sam's efforts have made a big impact on promoting careers in manufacturing. DRMA appreciates and thanks Sam for her commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole. 

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 2/24, 11 – 12 p.m., virtual! At this this Meet Up, we will have industry partner Rick Kremer with Crown Equipment share details on what it takes to plan and host an effective student tour. Whether it’s your first time hosting or you’ve hosted many tours, you will be sure to takeaway helpful tips and tricks when it comes to planning your next student tour. Register here.

Are you a manufacturing member, looking for pre-apprenticeship candidates? DRMA often gets inquiries from schools seeking local manufacturers who are willing to hire pre-apprentices. If you would like to be added to our list we share with schools when we receive inquiries, please email workforce@daytonrma.org.

Member exclusive! WorkAdvance, a proven initiative to supplement your recruitment strategies, will bring you quality candidates to fill your manufacturing entry-level positions. A cohort of candidates has just completed training and are ready to hire! Contact Amy to learn more.

Offering students part-time paid internships provides you a risk-free way to evaluate potential employees. In fact, 70% of interns convert to permanent employees! DRMA collaborates with SOCHE who will do the heavy lifting and help you get off the starting line. NOW is the time to get started so that you have first dibs on students for summer jobs. AND there might be $$ to offset the cost! Contact us to learn more.



DRMA is looking for volunteers for a ‘Speed Networking Event’ to provide local educators with real-world insight into Dayton’s manufacturing careers. The event will be held 3/4 from 10:15 - 11:30 at Aileron, with lunch to follow. Volunteers will participate in five, 10-minute conversations with educators where you’ll share the skills, education, and tasks needed to help train students for future success. If interested in volunteering, email Amy.

The Greene County Career Center will be hosting a panel discussion on 2/12 featuring leaders from regional organizations involved in workforce development – including DRMA. The session will help companies learn more about local resources and strategies to strengthen talent pipelines and improve employee retention. Click here for program details.

2/10, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk: Building Tomorrow’s Workforce, Dayton. Presented by Dayton-Phoenix Group. Before facility tours, hear from Terry Wilson from Clark Schaefer Strategic HR on strategies to build robust talent pipelines, invest in training and upskilling, and enhance retention through competitive benefits and workplace culture. Enjoy the casual atmosphere while learning something new and networking with your DRMA peers! Register here.

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.

3/12, 4 - 6 p.m., DRMA Happy Hour, Dayton. Come have a drink and meet with other members at the DRMA Happy Hour hosted by Mechanical Services & Design. 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.

6/1, 12:30 - 7 p.m., DRMA Summer Golf Outing, Troy Country Club, Troy. Presented by Greenpoint Metals, the format is play your own ball with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds go to the DRMA Foundation and its efforts to develop and retain a skilled workforce for the region’s manufacturing industry. Registration opens soon, but you can lock in your spot now by purchasing a sponsorship! Watch your email for registration forms coming on 3/31! More details here.

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

• 2/24, 11 - 12 p.m., Workforce/HR, virtual. Register here.

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

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

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

Community Events

• 2/12, 8 - 10 a.m., Greene County Career Center’s Panel Discussion “Building Bridges: Solving the employment gap together.” More information/registration here.
• 2/19, 7:30 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here. 
• 3/4, 7:30 - 10 a.m., Sinclair Work-based Learning Apprenticeship Team: Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Info session, Dayton. More information/registration here.

One cool aspect of my job at DRMA is getting to meet so many manufacturers and represent DRMA at community events. Just last week I had the opportunity to represent DRMA at the Lt Governor’s WorkOhio Dayton region kickoff, and then yesterday I attended Miami University’s Grand Opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce & Innovation Hub. Meeting with manufacturers and those who support our industry always energizes me. I’ll try to post highlights of my activities on my LinkedIn page and on DRMA’s page. If you aren’t already connected with me or with DRMA on social media, please engage with us so you can see what we’re doing in the community to support manufacturing. 

Thanks so much for supporting the association that supports your industry and for trusting DRMA to bring you value, as evidenced by your renewing your membership for 2026. And thank you to members who adjusted up the amount of dues you paid this year based on your current number of employees. The honor system works!

As the voice of manufacturing in the Dayton Region, DRMA identifies issues that have the greatest impact on Manufacturer member companies. Last fall we conducted a two-question survey to better understand the “hot button” issues affecting members across the region. Thanks to all of the participants, we are able to accurately communicate your concerns to the media, elected officials, and other community leaders; and have better direction on the types of programs and services that will help you strengthen your company. Based on responses, it’s clear that the shortage of skilled workers and tariffs are the primary concerns of members. To read what else is keeping members awake at night, click here. 

DRMA members consistently report that their No. 1 concern is workforce. One way that DRMA addresses this is by working with educators across the region to incorporate manufacturing industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) into their curriculum and encouraging members to ask for certifications for candidates. Don’t know what that means? Using IRCs takes the guesswork out of hiring and confirms that the applicants are qualified to do the job. Learn more here. 



Looking for an affordable, easy way to upskill your employees? Take advantage of DRMA’s partnership with Tooling U-SME, which gives DRMA members a 15% discount off hundreds of manufacturing online training courses. AND, the cost is likely covered by the state’s TechCred program. Haven’t heard of Tooling U? They are experts in manufacturing on-line curriculum, way before everyone else got into the game during COVID. Learn more here.

Attention Manufacturer members: Click here to see manufacturing-pertinent resumes I have received.

Welcome new DRMA members:

• Abby Ellender, Independent Consultant
• AMG, Inc.
• Electro Polish Company
• ElectroShield, Inc.
• EOS Worldwide - Kutter Coaching Services
• GMD Industries dba Production Screw Machine
• Purdy Company
• Starwin
• Sweet Material Handling