COMING UP! DRMA Night with the Dayton Dragons (6/25), Gov't Relations Meet Up (7/7), and DRMA 101 (7/14)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

This month Governor DeWine announced over $5 million in funding to support workforce partnerships connecting Ohioans with in-demand careers across the state. We are proud to share that DRMA was one of the awardees and we plan to use these funds to support our career outreach initiatives, WorkAdvance programming, and more! Learn more about the initiative here.

The 2026 Wage and Benefit Survey is now open! Use the data to help your company attract and retain employees and get the report for free (a savings of $500 for members). Deadline is 7/3. Contact Shay with questions or to participate.



MANUFACTURERS: We are evaluating two potential training opportunities Root Cause Problem Solving & Process Improvement (20 hours total, ~$2k/person, covers process mapping, 5 whys, fishbone diagrams, and more) and IPC J-STD-001 Soldering Certification (40 hours total, ~$3k/person, hands on training covering wire and terminal assembly, surface mount technology, testing and inspection methods, and IPC certification testing). Let Shay know if your company would be interested in either program.

Thank you to the 100+ participants for another great Summer Golf Outing, presented by Greenpoint Metals. Congratulations to our winners, Scott Smith (KeyBank), Austin Sipe (McGohan Brabender), and Mark Faulkner (Silver Tool), and a special thanks to event sponsors: AMPM Employment, Komline Custom Machining, Day Air Credit Union, Rieck Services, Detailed Machining, Schupan, Hohman Plating, Komline-FluidQuip, Knox Manufacturing Solutions, and FC Industries.

Registration is NOW OPEN for The Fall Golf Outing on Monday, 9/28. This outing sells out quickly; submit your registration form ASAP to reserve your spot! Registration forms can be downloaded from the event page here. We also have sponsorship opportunities to get your company name in front of our 200+ attendees! Contact Susan.

Are you maximizing your Ohio BWC discounts? Through DRMA’s partnership with Sedgwick, members can receive a free, no-obligation workers’ compensation savings analysis to identify potential cost-saving opportunities. Contact Julia Bowling at julia.bowling@sedgwick.com to learn more.

Safety Alert! Check out this month's tip from our workers comp program administrator, Sedgwick, and other partners:

• BWC true-up reporting and payment are due 8/31. Failure to complete the true-up process may result in the loss of workers' compensation discounts and rebates. Read more on what’s required to true up here.
• As heat-related illnesses continue to rise across the U.S., OSHA has taken a significant step to help reduce that trend by updating and extending its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards. The updated program reshapes how OSHA will conduct inspections, target industries, and evaluate employer prevention efforts. Read more on the revised program 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.

If you’re intrigued about implementing AI into your manufacturing processes, plan to attend ‘Forging the Future: AI in Manufacturing Collider,’ a free half-day seminar to explore how AI is transforming manufacturing. The agenda features an opening keynote by Dr. Mark Benedict (AFRL); real-world AI manufacturing use cases and applications; expert panels on AI deployment and scaling strategies; and industry demos. You'll leave with practical insights, valuable connections, and new ideas. The event will be held on 7/9, from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton in Fairborn, followed by networking at Wandering Griffin. Agenda, event details and registration, available here.  

Lost and Found: A Strata Ultimate sand wedge was left behind at the Summer Golf Outing in Troy on 6/1. To claim it, email Amy.

THANK YOU Kaitlin Hagan from Business Furniture & Co.! Kaitlin is a member of the Associate Board, where she serves as Secretary and supports the Ambassador Club. She is also a dedicated volunteer at both the Summer and Fall golf outings, helping wherever needed - from selling raffle tickets and driving the beverage cart to running on-course games. DRMA appreciates and thanks Kaitlin for her commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole.

Started thinking about planning for MFG Month but have yet to make headway? MakingOhio has a ready-to-use resource to help get you started! The MakingOhio Manufacturing Month Planning Guide walks you through key steps for planning outreach events – whether it’s a plant tour, classroom visit, or hands-on demo. If you already have a tour scheduled, let us know your plans! Contact Amy or complete this form.

WorkAdvance is here to stay! DRMA received funding to continue 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 will completing training at the end of July and will then be ready to hire! Contact Amy to learn more, including our expanded reach to northern Dayton regional counties!

DRMA members considering an apprenticeship program are invited to attend Edison State’s info session, “Building the Workforce Pipeline: Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships” on 6/24, from 9 – 10:30 a.m. at the Piqua Campus. The session will explore how registered apprenticeship programs support skills development and career advancement; attendees will also learn about advanced manufacturing apprenticeship pathways and opportunities for both learners and employers. Register here. 

Edison State is seeking employer input on two new software engineering programs they are considering: an Associate degree and a Bachelor degree of Applied Science; both will emphasize modern tools, cloud-native development, security, and deployment practices. The survey will only take about 5 minutes to complete and focuses on hiring needs, credential preferences, and the kinds of technical skills and tools that employers are looking for in candidates. Survey is open through 7/17.

UD’s School of Engineering is seeking industry partners for upcoming senior capstone projects to begin in August. Projects will have real-world engineering challenges performed by a team of 3-5 senior engineering students over the course of 1-2 semesters. The capstone class is multidisciplinary, with mechanical, electrical, computer, aerospace, biomedical, and industrial engineering students working on projects – everything from research, modeling and simulation to design, prototyping, and testing. For more info, contact Scott Huelskamp or click here. 

DRMA Government Relations Meet Ups give you the unique opportunity to discuss important policy issues with government officials in a small, focused setting. The next Meet Up is with State Representative Phil Plummer on 7/7 at 8 a.m. at BasTech. Free and for members only! Register here.

6/25, 7 - 11 p.m., DRMA Night with the Dayton Dragons, Dayton. Come join other DRMA members and have a great time as the Dayton Dragons take on the West Michigan Whitecaps – and support the DRMA Foundation as well. For each ticket sold, a contribution is made to the DRMA Foundation. More details here – but act fast – the last day to purchase is 6/22! 

8/11, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Breakfast with DRMA: From Top Performer to Effective Leader: Rethinking Frontline Promotions, Miamisburg. Enjoy breakfast, chat with your peers, and listen to a long-form panel discussion on a timely, relevant topic that directly impacts your business operations presented by Clark Schaefer Hackett. Register here.

8/20, 2:15 - 6 p.m., Economic Update, Sinclair College, Dayton. Register now to take advantage of the early bird discount – you don’t want to miss our largest event of the year! Presented by KeyBank, listen to an engaging update from one of the country's premier economists, Connor Lokar of ITR Economics. Register here. Contact Susan for sponsorship opportunities.

9/28, 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Fall Golf Outing at Miami Valley Golf Club, Dayton. Registration is open and a handful of spots remain! Join us for this AM and PM shotgun scramble play! You can also sponsor the event and get your company name in front of our 200+ attendees! More details and registration form here.

10/15, 2:30 - 4 p.m., Trap Shoot; & 4 - 5:30 p.m., Happy Hour, Wright-Patt Rod and Gun Club, Fairborn. Presented by Bruns General Contracting and Back to Business I.T., save the date to join your DRMA peers for an afternoon of fun! Registration opens on 8/24 - no experience required! Sponsorships are also available. Contact Susan! Not a trap shooter but want to attend happy hour? Register here.

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

• 7/7, 8 - 9 a.m., Government Relations, BasTech. Register here.
• 8/4, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Manufacturing Operations, Tark Thermal Solutions. 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!

• 7/14, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Waibel Energy Systems, Vandalia (lunch provided).

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

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

12/2/2026 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Community Events

• 6/18, 7:30 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here. 
• 6/24, 9 a.m., Building the Workforce Pipeline: A Discussion on Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships, Edison State Community College. More information here. 
• 9/25, 8 - 9 a.m., Ferguson Manufacturing Day, Beavercreek. More information/registration email Chad Mason.