COMING UP! Workforce/HR Meet Up (3/24), Operations Meet Up (3/31), and Gov't Relations Meet Up (4/2)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

DATE CHANGE! Attend our upcoming DRMA 101, 3/24, 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.

Just announced! 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 newly elected Dayton City Commissioner Darius Beckham on 4/2 at 4pm at Ezkin Company. Free and for members only! Register here.

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

• What should you do if you suspect that a fraudulent workers comp claim has been filed against you? Find out how to identify and report claims you suspect may be fraud here.
• Employers in Ohio, whether public or private, are both required to report severe injuries. OSHA enforces safety in the private sector; PERRP in the public sector. The agencies might be different but are required to report certain severe injuries. Read more on what’s reportable and how to report it here.

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. 
• GD&T Workshop - Learn how to read and interpret engineering drawings and better understand the ASME Y14.5 GD&T standard. More information here.
• Blueprint Reading - Learn how to read and interpret basic blueprints. More information 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.

UD’s Department of MIS, Operations & Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics Department is offering local manufacturers a variety of services including custom training, ASCM supply chain maturity assessments, and student-led projects on a variety of business projects. Faculty and faculty-guided student teams can help with Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Information Systems, and Analytics projects. Many of these services are free. Contact Dr. Mark Jacobs at majacobs@udayton.edu for more information.

The DRMA Summer Golf Outing, presented by Greenpoint Metals, is happening on 6/1 at Troy Country Club. The format is play your own ball. Registration forms will be emailed on 3/30. Sponsorship opportunities are available – contact Susan for more information. Details here.

THANK YOU Mechanical Services & Design Inc. for hosting the Happy Hour last week! With over 90 registrants, they welcomed our members into their beautiful, newly renovated office space to mingle, connect, and find new avenues for business growth. DRMA appreciates and thanks Mechanical Services & Design Inc. 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. You'll hear his 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 will be ready to interview at the end of the month! Contact Amy to learn more.

Taking advantage of work-based learning programs such as offering job shadow or internship opportunities to students exposes them to great careers the region’s manufacturing industry offers AND is a powerful strategy to build your future workforce. Learn more here. 

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.

DRMA members considering adopting handheld laser welding technologies are invited to attend Laser Precision: An Industry-Focused Handheld Laser Welding Workshop on 3/20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clark State’s Springfield campus. Presented by Clark State College and IPG Photonics, the workshop will include live laser welding technology demonstrations, safety insights, and real-world industrial applications. Click here to register or more info, or email Dr Adam John Parrillo. 

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.

4/9, 5 - 7 p.m., Business and Bourbon, Moraine Country Club, Dayton. SOLD OUT! Presented by Lincoln Electric, this classy networking event benefits the DRMA Foundation. Thank you to all our sponsors and registrants for your support; we look forward to a fun evening! More details 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 on the TCC patio 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.
• 4/2, 4 - 5 p.m., Government Relations, EzKin Company. 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!

• 3/24, 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

• 3/19, 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.
• 3/20, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Laser Precision: An Industry-Focused Handheld Laser Welding Workshop, Clark State College and IPG Photonics, Springfield. More information here.
• 3/25, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Montgomery County Office of Reentry Spring Reverse Career Fair, Dayton Job Center. More information here.
• 4/22 - 4/23, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., More Than MFG Expo, CBT Company, Cincinnati. More information/registration here.
• 6/8 - 6/10, Sinclair Workforce Development’s Digital Transformation Summit. More information here.

Happy St Patrick’s Day! I hope you have plans to enjoy an Irish beer or coffee today. But if Irish holidays are not your thing, perhaps you have plans to watch a basketball game at UD Arena as Dayton becomes the epicenter of college basketball this week.

I also feel lucky (ha ha) to announce that the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association has once again officially designated DRMA as an OMA-Endorsed Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) for 2026–2028. This designation reflects our continued commitment to employer-led workforce solutions and to strengthen Ohio’s manufacturing talent pipeline.

And DRMA isn’t the only organization to achieve a designation for our workforce efforts recently. Congrats to our partners, the Miami County ESC, the Montgomery County ESC, and the Preble County ESC for recently being recognized as a 4-Star Business Advisory Council by the Ohio Dept of Education & Workforce.  

Registration opens Monday, 3/30 for the Summer Golf Outing held at Troy Country Club on 6/1 This event sells out FAST, so please plan to submit registration quickly. This always-popular outing benefits the DRMA Foundation, which pays all our expenses related to growing the manufacturing worker pipeline. Have questions? Contact Susan.

Are workforce challenges keeping you awake at night? Taking advantage of work-based learning programs such as offering job shadow or internship opportunities to students exposes them to great careers the region’s manufacturing industry offers AND is a powerful strategy to build your future workforce. Do you know that 70% of interns convert to permanent employees? Let me know if you want to learn more, and we’ll connect you to partners who will make participating easy for you. And there might even be $$ to offset costs! 

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:

• Apex Commercial Group
• Colliers
• Dayton Dragons
• D9 Technologies
• Edward Jones / Sherri Devlin - Financial Advisor
• Hawthorn Aero