COMING UP! Shoptalk (2/12), WorkAdvance Info Session (2/19), and Breakfast with DRMA (3/5)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

Breaking news! DRMA has been awarded a State Industry Sector Partnership grant that will allow us to expand our efforts to grow and develop the manufacturing workforce pipeline! Read more here.

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

• Emerging Leaders Circle - Nurture visionary leaders of tomorrow. Presented by Brixey & Meyer. $3,000 for 10 in-person sessions and a talent summit. More information here. Kicks off 2/11 and space is still available!
• 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. Workshop #1 moved to 3/20 and space is still available!
• 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.

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!

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 Amy for more details.

• Business and Bourbon - Join 80+ attendees who love bourbon at this classy networking event on 4/10 at Moraine Country Club.
• Workforce Shoptalk - Join 120+ attendees as we celebrate DRMA’s workforce successes at the next Workforce Shoptalk on 5/6 at United Grinding.
• Summer Golf Outing - Join 100+ attendees for play-your-own-ball golf and happy hour fun on 6/2 at Troy Country Club.
• Fall Golf Outing - Join 200+ attendees for scramble-format golf and dinner on 9/29 at our new location at Miami Valley Country Club.

Do you enjoy speaking in front of a group? We are looking for emcees for events! Please contact Amy if you'd like to volunteer.

THANK YOU Laura Fenlon of Buckeye Metal Finishing. Laura has served on our Associate Board since its inception and was instrumental in the launch of our Business and Bourbon event, where she continues to serve on the planning committee. In addition to her committee work, you can also find her volunteering her time at our golf outings, helping DRMA move offices and nearly anything else we might need her for! DRMA appreciates and thanks Laura for her 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 2/25, 11 - 12 p.m., virtual! Come to this Meet Up to share with DRMA leadership your current workforce challenges and ideas on how we can work collectively to find solutions. 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!

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.

Help grow your future workforce by purchasing a sponsorship for 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.

Industrial Tech Training Manager needed at Edison State Community College. 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 to teach the next generation of talent to apply here.

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.

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.

Edison State is offering a FREE virtual workshop on 2/18, 9 – 10 a.m., to help employers use the TechCred grant program to offset training costs. Details/register here. 

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

• Dayton Public Schools Career Fairs: 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.
• Career Fair at West Carrolton High School, 3/18. Contact Melissa Fields for details.
• Hiring Fair at Greene County Career Center, 4/2. Contact rmack@greeneccc.com for details.
• Job Fair at Kettering Fairmont High School, 4/3. Register here.

2/12, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk, Gray America, Dayton. Not only will Thompson Hine be providing an update on non-compete agreements, you will also hear from Taft Law on how to protect your company rights in the event ICE knocks on your door, 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.

• 2/19 - Register here.
• 3/19 - Register here.

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

• 2/25, 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!

• 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 Summer Golf Outing - Troy Country Club

8/20 Economic Update - Sinclair Conference Center

9/29 Fall Golf Outing - Miami Valley Country Club

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

12/3 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Community Events

• 2/20, 8 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 4/16-18, 2025 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, Columbus. More information/registration here. 

Thanks so much for supporting the association that supports your industry and for trusting DRMA to bring you value, as evidenced by your renewing your membership for 2025. And thank you to members who adjusted up the amount of dues you paid this year based on your current number of employees. The honor system works!

DRMA members consistently report that their No. 1 concern is workforce. One way that DRMA addresses this is by working with educational institutions and utilizing manufacturing industry-recognized credentials. Don’t know what that means? Industry-recognized credentials are nationally portable skills that people have PROVED that they know. Learn more here.

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

Welcome new DRMA members:

• Eubel Brady & Suttman Investment + Wealth Management
• First Diversity Staffing
• Level MB Construction
• Perfection Group