COMING UP! Government Relations Meet Up (7/16), Webinar: Family Business Succession Planning (7/23), and DRMA 101 (7/23)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

Manufacturers: Are you looking for entry-level manufacturing workers? We have a program where we recruit, screen, and train job seekers for these positions and there will be a new batch of candidates ready to hire starting 7/22! Contact Susan today!

It's your last chance to register for DRMA’s webinar on family business succession planning taking place on 7/23. Hear from expert panelists: Doug Meyer of Brixey & Meyer, Gary Wilkins of MLA Companies, Kate Vriner of Sunbelt Business Advisors of Southwest Ohio, and Matthew DiCicco of Eubel Brady & Suttman Wealth Management. The discussion will be moderated by Carol Butler from the Goering Center. The event is Members-Only, and viewers’ identities will not be seen. To submit advance questions, email Amy.



For the final article in our series on family business succession planning, Matthew DiCicco of Eubel Brady & Suttman Wealth Management delves into considerations of succession planning from the perspective of the owner. This article can be found with the entire catalog of articles on this topic.

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

• 8/21 - Value Stream Mapping: Understand how to effectively apply and implement tools to map and improve the flow of materials and information within an operation and develop a value stream plan for successful implementation. More information here.
• 10/16 - Set-Up Reduction: Learn the fundamentals of SMED and rapid-changeover and how to successfully implement these techniques on the shop floor, gain an understanding of internal vs. external changeover within an operation and how reducing non-value time positively impacts operations. More information here.
• 11/13 - Total Productive Maintenance (TPM): Understand how to effectively “mistake-proof” processes and operations to minimize and eliminate errors. More information here.

Select DRMA’s Workers’ Comp Group Program! Your company will save money AND support DRMA. Contact Paul Feck at Sedgwick at (614) 906-0535 to enroll today.

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

• IMPORTANT: All Ohio employers must file a true-up report with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation that reflects the actual payroll for that policy year. The deadline to submit the report is 8/31 and there have been updates! Read more here.
• In today’s fast-paced work environment, employees often find themselves in routines that can lead to complacency. It’s crucial to understand how complacency can lead to accidents and what can be done to mitigate these risks. Read more on how to identify and address complacency here.

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

Have you moved, updated your company name or information, had staffing changes in the last year? If so, please contact Shay with a quick update so we can update our records.

THANK YOU Lori Vance of Henny Penny! Lori is a longtime supporter of our workforce initiatives, including serving on the Dayton Region Workforce Partnership committee as well as two of its sub-committees that focus on student tours and career outreach efforts. Since joining the Board of Trustees in 2024, Lori rose to the board liaison role of these committees and has provided valuable leadership and support as we tackle our manufacturers’ #1 concern, growing the workforce pipeline. DRMA appreciates and thanks Lori for her commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole. 

Sponsored Content

Join our Workforce/HR Meet Up on 8/26, 11 – 12 p.m., virtual! At this meet up, you will hear from Joe Sciabica with the Employers’ Workforce Coalition on the critical workforce development challenges facing the Miami Valley region and more! Free and for members only. Register here.

The Manufacturing Institute – the non-profit workforce development arm of the National Association of Manufacturers – is closing out their MFG Day webinar series with a final session, “Getting the Word Out” on 7/17. This session will focus on strategies for manufacturers and partners to effectively promote your student tours, engage community groups and maximize visibility. Register now! And make sure to register your event! Registering your event puts it on the national MFG Day map, helping students, parents, and educators in your area find and attend. It also boosts your visibility and impact as part of the larger effort to grow the manufacturing workforce. 

We know that finding, hiring, and retaining quality employees is a huge task. Industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) can help employers validate the knowledge and skills of potential employees and save time in assessing applicants’ competencies. DRMA is playing an integral role to ensure that students are earning credentials that members need. Learn more here.

Member exclusive! WorkAdvance, a proven initiative to supplement your recruitment strategies, will bring you quality candidates to fill your manufacturing entry-level positions. The next cohort of candidates will complete training at the end of July and will then be ready to hire! Contact Susan to learn more.

Offset your training costs 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 is open through 7/31! Contact a DRMA education partner now – they can help you apply! Learn more here.

For those who couldn’t attend the US Navy’s previous sessions on the Talent Pipeline Program, they have scheduled a virtual info session on 7/29 at 1 p.m. If interested in attending, register here. 

Last Chance! With the state budget bill recently passed, now is a great time to attend our Government Relations Meet Up for a conversation with State Senator Willis Blackshear on 7/16 at 4 p.m. at Tark Thermal Solutions. Senator Blackshear represents Ohio Senate District 6, which includes most of Montgomery County’s south suburbs. Register here. Free and for members only! 

7/23, 12 – 1 p.m., Webinar: Family Business Succession Planning, Virtual. Members can privately register and view this webinar featuring the following experts on family business succession planning: Doug Meyer from Brixey & Meyer, Gary Wilkins of MLA Companies, Kate Vriner of Sunbelt Business Advisors of Southwest Ohio, and Matthew DiCicco of Eubel Brady & Suttman Wealth Management. Conversation will be moderated by Carol Butler from the Goering Center. Register here! 

8/6, 12 - 12:30 p.m., Lunch & Learn Webinar: Reshoring 101 - PCB Hardware, Software, & AI, Virtual. Presented by Gateway Now, join us to see how to bring home your PCB production & software/firmware creation/maintenance in today's turbulent tariff environment. Register here. 



8/20, 3 - 6 p.m., Economic Update, Sinclair College, Dayton. The early bird discount ends this Friday, 7/25, so don’t miss out! Presented by KeyBank, listen to an engaging update from one of the country's premier economists, Connor Lokar of ITR Economics. His presentation will provide the information you need to guide your business moving forward in 2026. And after gaining insights from Connor, he’ll join us for cocktails and networking – a great opportunity to ask 1 on 1 questions! Register here. Contact Susan for sponsorship opportunities.

9/29, 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Fall Golf Outing at Miami Valley Golf Club, Dayton. Spots are running low for both sessions! Complete your form ASAP to reserve your spot to play at our new location! 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.

9/29, 5:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour and 7:30 p.m. Dinner, Miami Valley Golf Club, Dayton. Not able to golf in the outing or just want to have fun networking? Hang out with your DRMA peers and congratulate the winners of the Fall Golf outing held earlier in the day. Contact Susan or click here to learn more. 

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

• 7/16, 4 - 4:45 p.m., Government Relations, Miamisburg. Register here. 
• 8/26, 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!

• 7/23, 4 - 5 p.m., Bruns General Contracting, Tipp City (snack provided).
• 8/19, 4 - 5 p.m., FASTLANE, Dayton (snack provided).

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

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

10/16 Trap Shoot - Wright Patt Rod and Gun Club

10/29 Shoptalk - Lincoln Electric Automation

12/3 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Community Events

• 7/17, 8 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here. 
• 7/17, 3 - 5 p.m., FASTLANE, Affordable Innovation: 3D Printing for Real-World Manufacturing, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 7/29, 1 p.m., US Navy’s Talent Pipeline Program Info Session, virtual. More info/register here. 
• 7/31, 2 - 3 p.m., Manufacturing Institute and Envoy, The Second Chance Advantage: A Smarter Workforce Strategy for Manufacturing, virtual. More information/registration here.
• 10/23, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Thompson Hine, Government Contracting Symposium, Dayton. Contact Ellen Geron for more information.

A great source for “insider” business information is Connor Lokar, one of the country’s most informed economists. Connor, who is returning to speak to DRMA members on 8/20, will give manufacturers and other businesses insight on how to forecast, plan, and increase their profits based on business cycle trend analyses. With an accuracy rate of 94.7%, ITR Economics provides the best economic intelligence to reduce risk and drive practical and profitable business decisions. Even if you have heard an ITR speaker at another event this year, you don’t want to miss Connor’s speech to DRMA. He applies their trend analysis to Ohio and the Dayton Region. Connor is a dynamic, interesting, and entertaining speaker. You will not be disappointed! Register here.

Manufacturer Members: An Ambassador may soon reach out to you to set up a SHORT meeting to ensure you are getting value out of your DRMA membership. Please take the call!

Make it easier on yourself to find skilled workers in a couple of years. If your facility shows well, host a student tour, whether on national MFG Day (the first Friday in October), during Ohio’s Manufacturing Month (October), and on any other day that works for you and your school partners to show students, educators, and parents the great occupations and careers your company offers. Interested? Let Amy know.



Volunteering... promotes personal growth and self-esteem; strengthens the community; teaches you a lot; gives you a chance to give back; encourages civic responsibility; and provides you a way to make a difference. Want to find out more about volunteering at DRMA? Contact me.

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

Welcome new DRMA members:

• Accelevation, LLC
• Hammerman Graf Hughes
• RoviSys
• United Alloy