Lori Tapani, Co-President of WMI, recently served as chair of the steering committee for the FMA Leadership Summit. The committee, comprised of six industry leaders from across the country, set the agenda, chose the 38 speakers and presided over the various meetings.
The purpose of the Leadership Summit is “to invigorate metal fabricators with an annual injection of knowledge, skill development, inspiration, and networking opportunities for the advancement of the greater manufacturing community”. Members from Mexico to Canada, and nearly all 50 of the US states were on hand to improve and grow their businesses. Topics ranged from technology, global economics and cyber-security, to market trends, threats, strategic planning and more.
One of the event’s highlights was the keynote address by Ken Schmidt, on branding. Ken was director of communications at Harley-Davidson, and a leading player in the historical turn-around of that company. Outspoken and provocative, Ken speaks on understanding the most basic of human behaviors to increase marketshare. Ken believes that personal engagement with customers (or in the case of Harley Davidson, “Disciples”) is key in developing a strong brand.
According to Lori, attendance at the Leadership Summit continues to grow because of the value it provides to attendees. “This is the only conference I attend that provides both a global perspective of manufacturing, an opportunity to network with peers and to participate in roundtable conversations about issues that impact my company on a daily basis”.
If you’d like to know more about the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Leadership Summit, please click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekSxoG7-yTI
Lori Tapani at a networking event with fabricators from Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Washington.