COMING UP! WorkAdvance Info Session (1/23), Workforce/HR Meet Up (1/28), and Shoptalk (2/12)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

You’re running out of time to renew your DRMA membership! Contact Shay with any questions at (937) 949-4000.

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

• NEW for 2025! The HR Leadership Circle - Grow your HR leaders to be indispensable business partners. Presented by Brixey & Meyer. $3,000 for 12 in-person sessions and a talent summit.
• The Emerging Leaders Circle - Nurture visionary leaders of tomorrow. Presented by Brixey & Meyer. $3,000 for 10 in-person sessions and a talent summit.
• Supervisory Excellence - Unlock your employees’ leadership potential with practical insights that are vital for excelling in a supervisory role. Starting in May; details coming soon!
• Lean Manufacturing - 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. More information here.
• NEW for 2025! Problem-Solving Skills - Learn tools and techniques applicable for implementation on the production floor by operating-level personnel. Participants will gain skills and knowledge to effectively solve problems by systematically identifying root causes and applying corrective actions (think “Six Sigma lite”). Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. Starting in April; details coming soon.
• Blueprint Reading - Learn how to read and interpret basic blueprints. Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. $175 for one 4-hour session. More information here.
• GD&T - Learn how to read and interpret engineering drawings and better understand the ASME Y14.5 GD&T standard. Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. $250 for two 3-hour sessions. More information here.

The DRMA Board of Trustees has awarded DRMA’s prestigious Honorary Membership to Don Clouser and Jerry Kronenberger, in recognition of the countless contributions they have made to both the Association and to the manufacturing industry. Read more here.

Many thanks to the members and companies who made donations to the DRMA Foundation in 2024!

Great news for your training budget! DRMA is officially partnering with Tooling U-SME to offer our members a 15% discount on hundreds of courses for upskilling your workforce! Want to learn more? Contact Amy.

Do you enjoy speaking in front of a group? We are looking to add to our emcee volunteer list for events! Please contact Amy if you'd like to be added.

Have you taken advantage of the 20% OSHA tuition discount offered to DRMA members? If not, contact Shay and she’ll help you get started! 

Know a retired manufacturer with expertise in PLC-3 Troubleshooting Programs/Allen Bradley and PLC-4 Sequencing & Testing Devices/Allen Bradley who’d be interested in training future manufacturing workers? If so, Upper Valley Career Center is looking for spot coverage Tuesdays or Thursdays from 5 - 9 p.m. for adult PLC classes. The program begins immediately and goes until 2/27. Interested candidates can contact Wendell Meyers.

Looking for ways to reduce your tax burden? A state tax credit offered through the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce (ODEW) is available to businesses that employ eligible CTE students. Businesses can use this nonrefundable credit against their aggregate tax liability. To take advantage of the credit, participating businesses must obtain a tax credit certificate from ODEW. Application is open thru 2/1. Learn more here. 

THANK YOU Mike Sander of MLA Companies. Mike has a long history with DRMA having served on the AMTS Committee, Government Relations Committee and the Member Services Committee, all before joining the Board of Trustees in 2023. You can also find him riding in the Tour de Gem in support the DRMA Foundation each fall. DRMA appreciates and thanks Mike for his commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole.

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 Susan to learn more.

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 1/28, 11 - 12 p.m., virtual! At this Meet Up, we will be discussing the key components of an internship program and how SOCHE can help! Register here.

Tired of recruiting and ready to take action?! Don’t miss your opportunity to 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! Contact Amy to learn more!

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. 

Want $$ to offset your training cost? Get funding from Ohio with TechCred, a workforce program that reimburses employers for employee training up to $2,000 per industry-recognized credential, and up to $30,000 total per application round! The application period is OPEN and will close on 1/31! Don’t miss out! Contact Amy with questions or see more details here. 

Your membership can save you $$ while upskilling your workforce! Take advantage of DRMA’s partnership with Tooling U-SME to receive 15% off hundreds of training courses just for being a DRMA member. Interested? Contact Amy.

Hiring interns is a great way to grow your future workforce. Get started now by taking advantage of the Ohio High School Tech Internship program which provides up to 75% reimbursement for engineering technician, CNC operator, database management interns (among other roles). To learn more, contact SOCHE. 

Help grow your future workforce by purchasing a sponsorship of our student giveaways! We are preparing for our spring career outreach events, and we need your help. Your sponsorship of $500 will help us cover the costs of things like lanyards, stickers, dog tags, and wood gliders (all items that students love to get!) and will include your organization’s name. Contact Kara for more info.

It's never too early to invest in potential future employees. Miami University is hosting a FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Tournament on 2/15. They are looking for volunteers and sponsors. Interested? More details here.

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

• Dayton Public Schools Career Fairs: Stivers High School (1/24), Thurgood Marshall High School (2/26), and Dunbar High School (2/28). Contact David Andrews for details.
• Manufacturing and Engineering Job Fair at Clark State, 2/17. Contact careers@clarkstate.edu for details.
• Junior Achievement Inspire to Hire event at Dayton Convention Center, 3/18. Register here.
• Job Fair at Kettering Fairmont High School, 4/3. Register here.

2/12, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk, Gray America, Dayton. Hear a short presentation from members Thompson Hine and Taft Law on the current status of the non-compete agreement regulation, followed by peer-to-peer networking, drinks, and tours of this impressive manufacturing facility! Register here.

3/5, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Breakfast with DRMA: Exploring the 2025 Economy with the Fed, Springboro. Presented by MLA Companies, join us as the Fed pinpoints the facts and provides insights into the dynamics that may affect you, your employees, and your business in 2025! Register here.

4/10, 5 - 7 p.m., Business and Bourbon, Moraine Country Club, Kettering. Presented by Lincoln Electric, this classy networking event benefits the DRMA Foundation. Register here.

WorkAdvance Info Sessions, 1 - 1:30 p.m., virtual. This grant program is designed to bring you quality candidates to fill your entry-level positions. Attend a FREE info session to learn more.

• 1/23 - Register here.
• 2/19 - Register here.

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

• 1/28, 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!

• 1/22, 12 - 1 p.m., at MLA Companies, Springboro (lunch provided).
• 2/27, 4 - 5 p.m., at Back to Business I.T., Beavercreek (drinks/snacks provided).

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

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

5/6 Workforce Shoptalk - United Grinding North America

6/2 Spring Golf Outing - Troy Country Club

8/20 Economic Update - Sinclair Conference Center

9/29 Summer Golf Outing - Miami Valley Country Club

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

12/3 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Community Event

• 4/16-18, 2025 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, Columbus. More information/registration here. 

As the voice of manufacturing in the Dayton Region, DRMA identifies issues which have the greatest impact on Manufacturer member companies. This fall, we conducted a short survey to better understand the “hot button” issues affecting members across the region. Thanks to the participants, we’re able to accurately communicate your concerns to the media, elected officials, and other community leaders; and have better direction on the types of programs and services that will help you strengthen your company. Based on responses, it is clear that the shortage of skilled workers and increasing cost of doing business are the primary concerns of members. To read what else is keeping members awake at night, click here.

Did someone say BOURBON? Have lots of people said BOURBON?? YES!! And that’s why we’re very excited to share Business & Bourbon is back AND bumped up to the spring! This event helps raise funds for our Foundation (its EXCLUSIVE purpose is to pay for our workforce development initiatives)! It’s a bourbon tasting and networking event on 4/10 at the Moraine Country Club! Registration is open!

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. 

DRMA is proud to partner with The Abilities Connection and SOCHE in their Bridging Abilities program: You get your light assembly work done at a low price AND help students learn manufacturing skills! Send SOCHE an email at soche@soche.org to learn more.

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

Welcome new DRMA members:

• Eubel Brady & Suttman Investment + Wealth Management
• Level MB Construction