COMING UP! Operations Meet Up (10/13), Candidate Chat (10/14), and our annual Trap Shoot event (10/15)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

Manufacturers, we want to know what your “hot button” public policy issues are! Look for your opportunity to complete the simple (only 2 questions!) Top Issues Survey coming soon. This is your opportunity to provide input on the issues DRMA will be monitoring in the coming year. Questions? Contact Amy.



Manufacturers: want to grow your business in the defense space? Join us for our Operations Meet Up on 10/13 at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield. Before the typical operations roundtable discussion and facility tour, this Meet Up will feature a short presentation by Brian Bullerman from Treble One, who will provide an analysis of manufacturing skill sets and forecasted DoD (primarily USAF & USSF) supply chain and procurement trends expected to drive future manufacturing growth. Meet Ups are free and for members only! Register here.

Upskill your workforce with our upcoming workshops, presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College and exclusively for DRMA members. Contact Shay for more information and to register.

• NEW! Root Cause Problem Solving & Process Improvement – This series will cover practical problem-solving and continuous improvement tools, including process mapping, 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, Root Cause Analysis, brainstorming and decision-making tools, and basic process control concepts. $1600 for five 4-hour sessions, starting 10/30. Discount available if registering more than 4 employees. More information here.
• Our Lean Manufacturing series wraps up with Session #4: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) - Participants will learn how to effectively “mistake-proof” their operations to minimize and eliminate errors. $300 for one 3.5-hour session on 11/5. Understand how to effectively “mistake-proof” processes and operations to minimize and eliminate errors. More information here.
• Blueprint Reading - Learn how to read and interpret basic blueprints. $200 for one 4-hour session on 11/6. More information here.
• GD&T - Learn how to read and interpret engineering drawings and better understand the ASME Y14.5 GD&T standard. $300 for two 3-hour sessions on 11/13 & 11/20. More information here.

Want to increase your brand exposure and support the DRMA? Get your name in front of 150+ attendees by sponsoring our upcoming Annual Meeting event on 12/2! Contact Susan for more details.

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.



The Dayton-Cincinnati region is red-hot for economic growth! Learn what is driving this growth, the impact of regional collaboration, and what this means for workforce development on 11/4 from 8:30 - 10:30 am. A panel discussion will be held at Butler Tech and Miami University’s new Advanced Manufacturing Workforce & Innovation Hub (Hamilton campus) featuring leaders from GE Aerospace, Modula, REDI Cincinnati, and the Dayton Development Coalition. An optional tour of the Hub will be available after the panel discussion. For more info or to register, click here. 

Sinclair is seeking candidates for the 2027 cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. This free 12-week course helps small business owners create a strategic 5-year growth plan with support from peers, faculty members and business advisors. Application process, curriculum, and other details can be found here. 

THANK YOU to everyone who attended the DRMA Fall Golf Outing on 9/28! The proceeds go to the DRMA Foundation to help us grow your future workforce. Click here to see some fun pics, golf prize winners, and a list of all who contributed to this great cause!

THANK YOU to our Golf Outing Committee for planning another amazing event on 9/28! Consisting of Brian Ault (Bruns General Contracting), JD Claffey (Non-Ferrous Casting Co., Inc.), Dan Egbers (USI Midwest Insurance), Adam Gehret (Knox Manufacturing Solutions), Bruce Hackett (Honorary member), Mitch Heaton (Hartzell Propeller), Jordan Lightner (Bruns General Contracting), Mike Nemeth (Elliott Tool Technologies), Curtis Schmiedebusch (US Chrome Corp. of Ohio), Austin Sipe (McGohan Brabender), Josh West (RUSH Transportation/Logistics Inc.), & Alex Yantis (Cat-Wood Metalworks, Inc.). This group has worked hard to make this outing a success and helped raise funds for the DRMA Foundation! DRMA appreciates and thanks the entire Golf Outing Committee for their commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole.

Sponsored Content

October is MFG Month! It’s time to celebrate manufacturing and spread the word on the great careers offered by our industry. Last Friday 10/2 was MFG Day but it doesn’t stop there! Throughout this month, thousands of area students will be exposed to manufacturing careers by visiting our members’ manufacturing facilities. Thank you to the 19 members who are hosting student tours this month! Remember, we’re doing student tours year-round, so you didn’t miss your opportunity to build your pipeline of future workers. Learn more here.

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 10/27, 11 - 12 p.m., virtual! At this Meet Up, we will do a deep dive into the results of the 2026 Wage and Benefit Survey, with analysis provided by Barnes Dennig. Free and for only members that participated in the survey or purchased a copy of the report.! Register here.  

Looking to upskill your workforce? TechCred is back and taking applications through 10/30. The program provides direct financial assistance for training to help employers develop in-demand technical skills, strengthen talent pipelines, and enhance the overall competitiveness of Ohio’s economy.



We rely on our volunteers to keep our career events running! We appreciate you contributing to our outreach efforts! Click here to see who helped us out recently!

Liberty HS is seeking work-based learning opportunities for their Advanced Manufacturing students for the 26-27 school year. Liberty HS students receive industry-focused training while working toward earning credentials in safety and employability, maintenance awareness, processes and production, and measurements. If your company is interested in hosting students for work-based opportunities, email Mickel Miles. 

We have a ton of career events coming up that need volunteers! These events are mission-critical for your company to grow YOUR future workforce AND they are a lot of fun! DRMA staff does all the hard work; your job is to talk one-on-one with students when they come up to our display table. Events are a couple of hours long, no public speaking is required, and talking points will be provided. We’ll send you an email when we have an opportunity, and you will let us know if the location and date work for you. Upcoming events: Northwestern Power Lunch (in Springfield) on 10/7; Junior Achievement’s Inspire to Hire (in Clark Co) on 10/28; Bellbrook HS Power Lunch on 11/19. Contact Michelle for more info.

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

• Northwestern Jr./Sr. High School Opportunity Fair (Springfield), 10/29. Email Amy Fraker for more details.
• Stebbins High School & Career Technology Fair at Stebbins High School (Dayton), 11/11. Contact Jeff Berk for more details.

You may have noticed all the political ads hitting the airwaves, and that can only mean one thing: elections are coming! DRMA’s Government Relations Committee is holding a series of virtual Candidate Chats to provide you and your colleagues with the opportunity to talk with candidates in a small, focused setting. On the schedule this year are State Rep Andrea White, running for re-election to Ohio House District 36 (Montgomery County) on 10/7; Don Leonard, running for US Congressional District 15 (parts of Clark, Miami and Shelby Counties) on 10/14; Dr. Vanessa Enoch, running for US Congressional District 8 (Butler, Darke and Preble Counties) on 10/21 and State Rep Tom Young, running for re-election to Ohio House District 37 (Montgomery County) on 10/28. Click on each name for more info and to register. As always, Candidate Chats are free and for members only!

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., and Makers Supply, join your DRMA peers for an afternoon of fun! Registration is open - no experience required! Contact Susan! Not a trap shooter but want to attend happy hour? Register here.

10/22, 12 - 12:30 p.m., Lunch & Learn Webinar: Today's Energy Market Outlook - How To Manage Your Energy Bill presented by Ampica Energy Solutions. This session is designed for facility, finance, and sustainability leaders looking for actionable insights to make smarter energy decisions and better control their energy bills. Register here.

11/11, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk, Solvita, Kettering. Inside Manufacturing: What's Keeping Industry Leaders Up at Night?, Solvita, Kettering. Join us for a little “overtime” after work, enjoying the casual atmosphere while learning something new and networking with your DRMA peers! Panelists from FC Industries, The Minco Group, and Solvita will share insights on today's top challenges and pain points for manufacturers. Register here.

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

• Candidate Chats

○ 10/7, 4 - 4:45 p.m., Candidate Chat with Andrea White, candidate for Ohio House of Representative - District 36, virtual. Register here.

○ 10/14, 4 - 4:45 p.m., Candidate Chat with Don Leonard, candidate for US House of Representative - District 36, virtual. Register here.

○ 10/21, 4 - 4:45 p.m., Candidate Chat with Dr. Vanessa Enoch, candidate for US House of Representative - District 8, virtual. Register here.

○ 10/28, 4 - 4:45 p.m., Candidate Chat with Tom Young, candidate for Ohio House of Representative - District 7, virtual. Register here.

• 10/13, 7:45 - 9:45 a.m., Manufacturing Operations, National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence. Register here.
• 10/27, 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!

• 10/8, 8 - 9 a.m., Benjamin Steel Co., Springfield (breakfast provided)

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

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

4/8/2027 Business and Bourbon - Moraine Country Club

6/7/2027 Summer Golf Outing - Troy Country Club

Community Events

• 10/7, 12 - 1 p.m., Virtual Info Session on Goldman Sach 10,000 Small Businesses program, sponsored by Sinclair’s Office of Work-based Learning. More information/registration here.
• 10/20, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Montgomery County WIOA Youth Program Lunch & Learn, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 10/28, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Miami Valley Safety Council 74th Annual Safety Conference & Symposium, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 11/11, 8 - 10:30 a.m., Stebbins High School & Career Technology Center's Annual College & Career Fair, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 11/20, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Montgomery County ESC Accessibility Career Fair, Fairborn ( Wright State University Student Union). More information/registration here.