COMING UP! Workforce/HR Meet Up (5/26), Happy Hour after Summer Golf Outing (6/1), and Gov't Relations Meet Up (7/7)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

Bring your co-workers, family members, and friends for a fun night out with the Dayton Dragons on 6/25! It’s DRMA Night with the Dayton Dragons as the hometown team takes on the West Michigan Whitecaps. For every ticket that DRMA sells via this link, a contribution will be made to the DRMA Foundation to advance our career outreach activities. You can also purchase tickets by using this order form. DRMA members are encouraged to buy tickets for employees and clients – a fun way to help us raise money for the DRMA Foundation!

Upskill your employees in 2026! Our Lean Manufacturing series, presented by Sinclair's Workforce Development Division, continues with Session #2, Value Stream Mapping, on 6/11. More information here.

The 2026 DRMA Wage and Benefit Survey will launch in early June. Don’t miss out on getting the survey report for free (a savings of $500 for members) – all you have to do is participate! Supplier members: get your name in front of 100+ members, schools, and economic development organizations throughout the Dayton Region by placing an ad in the wage survey report. Contact Shay.

Joining a group rating program is the best way for Ohio employers to significantly lower their Ohio workers’ compensation premiums. Through a partnership with Sedgwick, DRMA members can take advantage of comprehensive Third-Party Administrator Services. Learn more here. 

Make your plans to attend Sinclair's 2026 Digital Transformation Summit, being held 6/8-10 at the Sinclair Conference Center. This annual conference draws over 350 national leaders and researchers in Engineering, Manufacturing, Defense, Aerospace, AI and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Attendees will hear firsthand about statewide and national initiatives driving research and workforce development in these rapidly evolving digital fields. Information about the benefits of digital thread programs in manufacturing can be found here, while registration details are here. 



Be sure to attend Dayton Business Journal's 2026 Manufacturing Forum – a dynamic gathering designed to inform, connect, and inspire the region's manufacturing community. This year's Forum will be held 6/11 at Sinclair Community College. Attendees will gain valuable insights into regional trends and emerging opportunities, build connections, and discover resources and tools to help manufacturers grow and succeed. DRMA members can receive 25% off the ticket price by using DRMA25off promo code when registering. Registration and additional details found here.



THANK YOU to our Associate Board for all their work on this year’s Shoptalk: Celebrating Workforce Successes! Beth Casella (FC Industries), Lucas Chupka (Gray America), Chuck Dryer (Industrial Tube & Steel), Laura Fenlon Cat-Wood Metalworks), Christy Fielding (Waiber Energy Systems), Nick Frazier (Dayton-Phoenix Group), Angel Galbraith (Conveyer & Caster), Connor Galen (Production Control Units), Matthew Gunter (DRT Mfg.), Kaitlin Hagan (Business Furniture + Co.) Josh Kneidl (Benjamin Steel), Jordan Lightner (Bruns General Contracting), Nick Minneman (Minco Tool & Mold), Manasseh Mwanthi (Greenpoint Metals), Joel Nordstrom (Nordstrom Films), Jessica Truax (Brixey & Meyer), and Sara Willen (Reliance Matrix). This group not only helps plan all DRMA Shoptalk events but also assists in a variety of fundraising efforts to support DRMA Foundation, and as a group, they've already raised $40,000 in 2026! DRMA appreciates and thanks the entire Associate Board for their commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole. Did we catch you there? Click here to see photos. 

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Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 5/26, 11 – 12 p.m., virtual! At this this Meet Up, we will discuss Sinclair’s Registered Apprenticeships as a talent strategy for manufacturing. Dani Heeter, Director of Work-based Learning at Sinclair, will break down innovative strategies to recruit, develop, and retain talent in today’s competitive labor market. This session will explore how Registered Apprenticeships can help address workforce shortages, strengthen retention, and build customized talent pipelines while supporting both employer and employee success. Register here. 

Catch more on apprenticeship value! Edison State Community College is hosting an info session on 6/24 at 9:00 a.m. on how apprenticeship programs support skills development and career advancement. This event will highlight Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Pathways and the opportunities they create for both learners and employers. For more information, email Brandi Olberding.

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.

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

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.

6/1, 12:30 - 7 p.m., DRMA Summer Golf Outing, Troy Country Club, Troy. SOLD OUT! 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. Golf registration might be sold out, but it's not too late to join us for happy hour! Thank you to all our event sponsors listed 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 on the TCC patio and congratulate the winners of the Summer Golf Outing held earlier in the day. 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.

8/20, 2:15 - 6 p.m., Economic Update, Sinclair College, Dayton. Register now to take advantage of the early bird discount! Don’t 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 opens on 6/8 for this AM and PM shotgun scramble play! We also have sponsorship opportunities that will lock in your spot before registration opens and sells out. Get your company name in front of our 200+ attendees! More details 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., 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!

• 5/26, 11 - 12 p.m., Workforce/HR, virtual. Register here.
• 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.

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

• 6/8 - 6/10, Sinclair Workforce Development’s Digital Transformation Summit. More information here.
• 6/10, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Federated Insurance 1-Day Risk Management Academy, Marriott North, West Chester. Registration and more information, 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.