COMING UP! DRMA 101 (3/10), Happy Hour with DRMA (3/12), Workforce/HR Meet Up (3/24), and Operations Meet Up (3/31)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

Mark your calendars! The Summer Golf Outing, presented by Greenpoint Metals, is happening on 6/1 at Troy Country Club; registration forms will be emailed on 3/30. Reminder that this outing sells out within a day or two, so please plan accordingly. Tee time is 12:30p.m. and the format is play your own ball. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available; contact Susan for more information. Details here.

Are you responsible for your company’s manufacturing operation(s)? Attend our next Operations Meet Up to ask questions, get advice, and share experiences with fellow members on 3/31 at Dysinger Incorporated. More information here.

Manufacturers! Are you looking for sources to get your light assembly or kit building work done? DRMA is excited to partner with SOCHE and TAC to bring you the Bridging Abilities program: You get your work done, and students with developmental disabilities learn about manufacturing occupations! Even better, SOCHE will pay for at least 50% of the students’ wages! Email SOCHE at soche@soche.org to learn more.

Invest in your employees in 2026! You don’t want to miss these workshops, exclusively for DRMA member companies. Contact Shay with questions or to register.

Presented by Brixey & Meyer:

• 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.
• 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.

Presented by Sinclair's Workforce Development Division:

• Lean Manufacturing - Participants learn how to implement lean concepts and techniques to make systematic, lasting improvements within their operations. Session #2, Visual Workplace/Standardized Work, is 4/30. More information here. 
• Problem-Solving Skills - Participants will gain skills and knowledge to effectively solve problems by systematically identifying root causes and applying corrective actions (think “Six Sigma lite”). $1,100 for 5 in-person sessions. More information here.
• JUST ANNOUNCED! GD&T Workshop - Learn how to read and interpret engineering drawings and better understand the ASME Y14.5 GD&T standard. More information here.
• JUST ANNOUNCED! Blueprint Reading - Learn how to read and interpret basic blueprints. More information here.    

Attend our upcoming DRMA 101, 3/10, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., at Modern Office Methods in Centerville. Kick start your membership ROI, learn what DRMA does to help strengthen your business, and meet a few members in your area. AND lunch is provided! Contact Shay for details.

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!

Ready to swap safety tips and make some new connections? It’s your last chance to register for the 2026 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, one of the biggest FREE safety events around. This year’s event is 3/11-3/13 in Columbus, OH. Learn more and register today!

Want to increase your brand exposure and support the DRMA? Get your name in front of attendees by sponsoring one of our upcoming events! Contact Susan for more details.

• Workforce Shoptalk - Join 200+ attendees as we celebrate DRMA’s workforce successes at the next Workforce Shoptalk on 5/7 at American Testing Services.
• Summer Golf Outing - Join 100+ attendees for play-your-own-ball golf and happy hour fun on 6/1 at Troy Country Club.
• Economic Update - Respected economist Connor Lokar is back for this annual event on 8/20. We have several sponsorships available. This is one of our most well attended and highly anticipated events of the year with 150+ attendees!
• Fall Golf Outing - Join 200+ attendees for scramble-format golf and dinner on 9/28 at our new location at Miami Valley Golf Club.
• Trap Shoot - You’ll get your name and brand in front of 100+ attendees who come out to participate in this fun event on 10/15! Some sponsorships include shooters; lock in your spot by purchasing a sponsorship today!

THANK YOU MLA Companies, for hosting a Breakfast with DRMA last week! Once again, they hosted us in their beautiful new office space to hear insights on the 2026 economic outlook, keeping members up to date on the dynamics that help them successfully manage their business. DRMA appreciates and thanks MLA Companies for their support of our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole. Did we catch you there? Click here to see photos. 

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 3/24, 11 – 12 p.m., virtual! At this this Meet Up, Glen Horton, AI Architect at Sinclair College, will share best practices for applying AI responsibly and keeping AI human centered. He will share lessons learned from an AI hiring pilot and how the College's Human Resources Department is exploring new AI integrations. We will also have Brittany Smith, HR Manager at French Oil Mill Machinery, give an overview of how they are utilizing AI in their HR tasks. Register here.

Member exclusive! WorkAdvance, a proven initiative to supplement your recruitment strategies, will bring you quality candidates to fill your manufacturing entry-level positions. Candidates are ready now to interview! Contact Amy to learn more.

Employee recruitment keeping you up at night? Here’s your opportunity to sleep well and build a pipeline of future workers by hosting a student tour on any day that works for you and your school partners. Yep, we’re doing MFG Day year-round! We’ll help you plan your tour and connect you to schools! Learn more here.

CTE Advanced Manufacturing teacher needed at Belmont High School. It is critical that manufacturers support manufacturing training programs; without qualified instructors, schools will not be able to produce employees for you! Encourage recently retired manufacturer colleagues looking to teach the next generation of talent to apply here.

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

• Spring Reentry Reverse Career Fair, Dayton, 3/25. More information here.
• Fairmont High School Job Fair, Kettering, 4/2. Contact dave.delon@ketteringschools.org for details.
• Greene County Career Center Hiring Fair, 4/1-2. Contact Rick Mack for details.

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. Act quickly – limited tickets remain! Register here.

5/7, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk: Celebrating Workforce Successes, American Testing Services. Registration open! Join us in celebration of DRMA’s workforce initiatives! Networking and drinks will follow a short presentation and member awards. Elevate your support with a sponsorship – contact Susan for more information. 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; reminder that this outing sells out quickly so please mark your calendars! More details here.

6/1, 5 – 7 p.m., Happy Hour, Troy Country Club, Troy. 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 Summer Golf Outing held earlier in the day. Register here.

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

• 3/24, 11 - 12 p.m., Workforce/HR, virtual. Register here.
• 3/31, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Manufacturing Operations, Dysinger Incorporated, Dayton. 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!

• 3/10, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Modern Office Methods, Centerville (lunch provided).

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

• 3/4, 7:30 - 10 a.m., Sinclair Work-based Learning Apprenticeship Team: Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Info session, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 3/19, 7:30 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here. 
• 3/19, 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Dayton Business Journal's Dayton Works: A Community Career + Education Connection Event, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 3/25, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Montgomery County Office of Reentry Spring Reverse Career Fair, Dayton Job Center. More information here.
• 6/8 – 6/10, Sinclair Workforce Development’s Digital Transformation Summit. More information here.

March is here, and with it the last day of winter (3/20) … yea! The change into spring represents a great time to think about hiring interns for the summer break. SOCHE partners with schools in the region to match enthusiastic students with companies who need their help. Contact SOCHE today to learn more.

Manufacturer members who want to be listed in the Dayton Business Journal’s Largest Manufacturers List for 2026 can complete a survey to be considered. List is being compiled now for publication on 4/3. Form is here.

Struggling to fill open positions? Consider participating in the WorkAdvance program, which is designed to recruit, screen, and train people from our untapped workforce to fill entry-level manufacturing positions. Email me to learn more. 



Join us for DRMA’s Business & Bourbon event, presented by Lincoln Electric Automation, on Thursday, 4/9, at Moraine Country Club. As the Masters tournament kicks off, we are welcoming back author and award-winning mixologist, Heather Wibbels, who will lead attendees through an exclusive tasting experience with a fun twist! End the night by enjoying sips and cigars at the After Party sponsored by Greenpoint Metals! This event benefits the DRMA Foundation and funds DRMA’s workforce initiatives. Click here for more details! Limited tickets available!



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

Congratulations to DRMA member Hartzell Propeller on the grand opening of their Innovation Center in Piqua!



Welcome new DRMA members:

• Brinkman Tool & Die/Aero
• Colliers
• Dayton Dragons
• Edward Jones / Sherri Devlin - Financial Advisor
• Ghostwerks LLC
• Sierra Nevada Corporation
• TPI Efficiency