National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing Summit 2025

Hosted by FANUC America Corporation in partnership with the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers

Overview of Summit Activities

Attendees were able to participate in facility tours, networking opportunities, hand-on sessions and listened to many organizations initiatives. Our robust agenda is available via pdf for your reference.

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Guest Presenters

Matt Kirchner, Dr. Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Joe Baldiga, Tony Nighswander, Claude Dinsmoor, Paul Aiello, Drew “The MFG” Crowe, Tim Baber, Jerry Muller, Chris Dennis, Eric Flynn, Paul Lavoie, Dr. Suj Chandrasekhar, Dr. Ann Beheler, Dayonte Grimes, Carver Middleton, Michael Cook, Richard Polanin, Mark Kappes, Jake Gorden, Debra Basso, Katie Austin, Nivedhitha (Neethu) Giri, Jessica Juhasz, John Wheeler, Mark Kappes, and Mike Sauter.

Supporting Organizations

ACCUFACTURE LLC, APT Manufacturing Solutions, American Welding Society, CORD (Center for Occupational Research & Development), DeafTEC, FANUC Education Solution Providers, Fronius USA, Levil Technology, Lincoln Electric Automation, Michigan Department of Corrections, National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC), National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, National Science Foundation, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, NOCTI, OTTO by Rockwell Automation, Rockwell Automation, Rochester Institute of Technology, Weld-Ed

“Listen, Understand and share!- Thank you to Next Gen Manufacturing, NSF and FANUC for hosting such a thoughtful event focused on building the best most capable workforce in advanced manufacturing. It was humbling to be amongst such dedicated and smart people making a big difference for us all!"

Michael Cook, Rockwell Automation

Presentations

Please note that the presentations are the intellectual property of their presenters and should not be redistributed without permission and credit

Day 1

Matt Kirchner – Keynote Speaker; Host of TechEd Podcast

Dr. Karen Wosczyna-Birch – Executive Director, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing

Joe Baldiga – National Education Program Manager, FANUC America

Tony Nighswander – President, APT Manufacturing Solutions

Claude Dinsmoor – FANUC America Artificial Intelligence

Paul Aiello – FANUC America Emerging Technologies Presentation

Drew “The MFG” Crowe – Founder, Manufacturing Renaissance & Youth Advocate

Tim Baber, Full-Time Professor, Department Chair of Welding Technology, College of the Canyons, and Co-Principal Investigator NCNGM

Jerry Muller, Industrial Technology Coordinator and Trainer, Central Community College, and Co-Principal Investigator NCNGM

Chris Dennis, Assistant Professor, Supply Chain Management, Columbus State Community College, and co-Principal Investigator NCNGM

Eric Flynn, Professor at Connecticut State Community College, Faculty Technical Lead of MET², and Co-Principal Investigator of CICSTART.

Day 2

Paul Lavoie Co-Keynote – Former CT Chief Manufacturing Officer and Current VP of Innovation and Applied Technology at University of New Haven, CT.

Dr. Suj Chandrasekhar Co-Keynote – Founder, Strategic Insights (Leveraging AI Platforms)

Dr. Ann Beheler – NCNGM Leadership & BILT - Employer-led Community College Programs w/ Emphasis on AI in Manufacturing

Dayonte Grimes – Lapeer High School Instructor, Michigan

Carver Middleton - Mississippi State AiM-Up Program

Rockwell Automation Michael Cook, Director Industry-Academia Engagement.

AWS American Welding Joe Young, Associate Director of the AWS Foundation.

Weld-ED Richard Polanin, Co-Principal Investigator for Weld-Ed, the National Center for Welding Education and Training & Tim Baber

Day 3

Drew “The MFG” Crowe, Founder, Manufacturing Renaissance & Youth Advocate

Fair Chance Hiring & Second Chance Employment Panel - Drew Crowe, Mark Kappes, Gateway Technical College

Women in Robotics - Panel Discussion - Debra Basso, Director R&D Product Information and Development Systems at FANUC America Corporation; Katie Austin, Applications Engineer, General Industries and Automotive FANUC America Corporation; Nivedhitha (Neethu) Giri Engineering Leader in Robotics R&D and Industrial Automation; Jessica Juhasz, Engineering Manager FANUC America Corporation

The Uniquely Abled Project John Wheeler, Mark Kappes – Gateway Technical College

STEM Accessibility Initiatives - Mike Sauter, Adjunct faculty at National Institute for the Deaf (NTID), DeafTEC, Project Good to Go, and Accessibility Expert for AccessATE.

APT Manufacturing

FANUC Education Solution Providers

Fronius

Levil Technology

Lincoln Electric

National Institute of Industry and Career Advancement (NiiCA)

National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI)

Miller Welding