Conference Agenda
(Conference starts at 1 p.m., April 29)
Full Agenda (Tentative)
Day 1
Tuesday, April 29
Day 2
Wednesday, April 30
Day 1
8 a.m.-Noon
1 p.m.
1:30-2 p.m.
Phil Mintz – NCMEP
Ben Kinney – Business NC
2-2:50 p.m.
2025 Viewpoint: As the World & Markets Turn
Jim Reichard – Managing Director and Market Investment Executive, Bank of America
3-4 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION 1
Winston 3A: Navigating the Talent Landscape: Strategies for Acquisition, Hiring, Retention and Internships
Danielle Stilwell – HRD Recruitment Manager, Columbia Forest Products
Michael Lewis – Intern, Appalachian State University
Jose Rico Martinez – Intern, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Sponsored by: 
Winston 3B: How EOS Can Propel a Manufacturer’s Growth
Walt Brown – EOS (Entrepreneurial Operation System) Implementer
Bryan Bunker – President, Nomaco
Sponsored by:
Winston 3C: How the Federal US Government can assist exporters increase their sales through Financing Support and Credit Insurance
Melissa McGurk – International Trade Manager, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (Moderator)
Julie Detmering – Export Compliance Manager – Equilibar
Susan Kintanar – Regional Director, Export-Import Bank of the US
Lisa Shimkat – Associate Administrator, Office of Field Operations, US Small Business Administration
Sponsored by:
4-4:30 p.m.
Leadership Awards Ceremony
4:30-6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Adjourn
Day 2
7 a.m.
7:30 a.m.
8 a.m.
Adrianne Kroll – Assistant Director of Quality, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (Moderator)
Nichole Holroyd – COO, Spiritus Systems
Mason Whitaker – President, Volt Technologies
Igor Jablokov – Founder and Chair, Pryon
9:30-10:30 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION 2
Winston 3A: Building a Cyber Game Plan in the Era of Ransomware
Brian Vigna – Instructional Designer and Security Awareness Training Specialist, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions
Sponsored by:
Winston 3B: Securing Your Workforce: Employee Retention in the Intelligence Age
Alfred Gardner – Senior Human Resources Consultant, Georgia Manufacturing Partnership
Sponsored by:
Winston 3C: Business Resilience and Succession Planning Through Employee Ownership
Illa Burbank – Executive Director, NC Employee Ownership Center
Pamela Colley – Regional Government Affairs Manager, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
Sponsored by:
10:30-11 a.m.
11 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION 3
Winston 3A: Investing in Innovation: The ROI of Engineering Interns
Dan Grimsley – Operations Training Manager, Chatsworth
Anna Mangum – Regional Manager, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions
Winston 3B: Maximizing Community College Partnerships
Kevin Ashmore – Business Development Director, We Pack Logistics
Leighton Bell – Director of Customized Training, Richmond Community College
Clifton Dial – Operations Manager, We Pack Logistics
Amy Epley – Customized Training, Regional Director, NC Community College System
Tyler Graves – Director of Operations, We Pack Logistics
John Kester – Dean of Engineering and Trades, Richmond Community College
Winston 3C: Smart Sensing II – From the Breadboard to the Dashboard
Jason Low – Senior Manufacturing Engineering Specialist, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions
Sponsored by:
Noon
Buffet Lunch Available
12:30 p.m.
Closing Keynote:
Beyond Paychecks: Cultivating Engagement for Long Term Success
Lindsey Crisp – President and CEO, Carver Machine Works Global
1:15-1:30 p.m.
Closing Comments and Door Prizes