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Sessions & Speakers
NEW This Year:
If you need to provide professional development for your rising leaders and training for human resources personnel to effectively support them, we have a half-day workshop that can help.
Leadership Skills Workshop: From Team Member to Team Leader
Manufacturing employees stepping into leadership roles face new challenges and opportunities. This introductory leadership workshop is designed to help emerging leaders build a strong foundation for success by exploring essential leadership principles, communication strategies, and practical best practices that can be applied immediately in the workplace.
Led by Tim Waldo, Workforce Consultant with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services, the workshop will provide attendees with tools to begin developing their personal leadership skills and chart a path for continued growth.
Who Should Attend?
- Operations Managers and Supervisors
- Manufacturing and Production Personnel
- Safety and Environmental Professionals
- Human Resources and Recruiting Teams
- Training and Workforce Development Staff
View Tim Waldo's Bio
Tim Waldo is a Workforce Consultant with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS), assisting Tennessee manufacturers with workforce and workplace development opportunities. His passion for helping people discover their potential has been a primary motivator throughout a career that includes more than 17 years in the manufacturing sector and multiple years in the service sector. Through those years, Tim has had the opportunity to recruit, train, and manage multiple teams.
In 2012, he shifted his career focus exclusively to workforce development, first in the nonprofit sector and then, in 2017, joining UT CIS. In these roles, he has helped launch new initiatives, including a pre-apprenticeship training program for marginalized audiences and, with UT CIS, a strategic shift toward workplace development efforts. Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tusculum College and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, focused on adult education, from the University of Tennessee. Living in East Tennessee affords Tim and his wife, Carol, plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
This workshop is an add-on to the Operations Managers Meeting. The cost is $150 and it can be added during registration. If you have any questions, please contact the AWPA Office.
General Session Program
Preparing for ISO 9001:2026: What Wire Manufacturers Need to Know
As ISO 9001 transitions to its 2026 revision, manufacturers will need to prepare for changes that place greater emphasis on leadership, organizational culture, risk management, supply chain resilience, supplier performance, workforce knowledge, and quality culture.
This session will provide an overview of the upcoming changes and their practical implications for wire and wire products manufacturers, including what auditors are expected to focus on and what steps companies can take now to prepare for a smooth transition.
View Lynn Reed's Bio
As an energy and environmental consultant at UT CIS, Lynn Reed develops and delivers ISO 14001:2015 environmental system training and assistance to industries. He also provides environmental regulatory EPCRA Tier II and EPCRA Form reporting assistance to industries and communities. Additionally, Reed is skilled in implementing ISO 9001:2015 principles, product failure mode effect analysis (PFMEA) and 8D, as well as customizing supply chain development programs.
Reed holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering. His background spans more than 40 years of industry experience as a chemical and industrial engineer. He is Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certified and maintains certifications as an ISO Environmental Management System Lead Auditor and ISO Quality Management System Lead Auditor.
AI 101 for Operations: Practical AI for the Factory, Safety, and HR Teams
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future technology—it is a practical tool that can help operations professionals work smarter, solve problems faster, and reduce time spent on routine tasks. This interactive session will introduce AI in plain language and demonstrate real-world applications for operations, safety, and HR personnel.
Attendees will learn what AI is, how it works, where it can add value, and how to use it responsibly for drafting reports, improving safety communications, creating training materials, analyzing operational data, developing job descriptions, documenting procedures, and streamlining administrative work.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of AI and generative AI.
- Identify opportunities to use AI in operations, safety, and HR functions.
- Create effective prompts to get useful results from AI tools.
- Use AI to draft communications, procedures, reports, and training materials.
- Recognize the limitations, risks, and best practices for responsible AI use.
- Leave with practical examples they can apply immediately.
No technical background is required. This session is designed for operational professionals who want a practical introduction to AI and actionable ways to use it in their everyday work.
View Enrique Macias de Anda's Bio
Enrique is the Manufacturing Consultant for Student Programs & Human-Centered Operations within the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
He strongly advocates for the development of work systems that incorporate the complexities of processes, technology, and people, based on the development of organizational culture centered on continuous improvement and a deep understanding of what motivates and engages people in their professional roles.
He has more than 20 years of experience in both industry and academic roles. He has worked with several organizations around East Tennessee through multiple UT programs focused on Lean. His latest role was as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and as Industry Program Manager for the Center of Advanced Systems Research and Education. He also served as Undergraduate Program Director and Academic Advisor in the Industrial Engineering Department for the Aguascalientes Campus of Monterrey’s Technological Institute of Higher Education.
His industry experience spans the automotive and electronics sectors in quality management systems, Lean production systems, environmental health and safety systems, and corporate responsibility. Enrique earned his PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, researching the interaction of Lean Production Systems and National Culture. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Systems Engineering and a master’s degree in Quality and Productivity Systems, both from Monterrey Tech in Mexico.
View Danny Norman's Bio
Danny Norman is a manufacturing technology consultant with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS), where he serves as the Advanced Manufacturing Consultant for the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP).
In his role, Danny works closely with manufacturers across Tennessee to advance digital transformation, Industry 4.0 adoption, and automation initiatives. He leads assessments to help plants identify high-impact technology investments and bridges the gap between emerging innovation and practical application on the shop floor.
Before joining UT CIS, Danny gained experience in technology commercialization through work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. He has also collaborated with MEP centers across the country to expand national manufacturing services and strengthen connections between innovation ecosystems.
Danny regularly contributes to industry events and workshops, presenting on topics such as integrating Industry 4.0 with workforce development and applying Lean and Kata principles to foster continuous learning cultures. He has also led sessions connecting advanced materials manufacturers with technical and business partners.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from Lipscomb University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tennessee.
Lessons Learned: Reducing Wire-End Release Injuries Through Proactive Safety Measures
Safety remains one of the highest priorities at our Operations Meetings. At the end of the day, we're engaged in work that can have life-changing consequences, making the safety of our employees our highest responsibility. Every lesson learned and every improvement implemented at one facility creates an opportunity to strengthen safety performance across our entire organization.
During this session, Kevin Natterstad of Sumiden Wire will use real-world incidents to demonstrate how the company leverages accident reports from across its global network to evaluate similar processes within its own operations. He will explain the review process that drives corrective actions, operational improvements, and the implementation of a strategy known as "Make It Your Own," which encourages every employee to consider risks within their own job rather than assuming similar incidents could not happen locally.
Attendees will gain practical insight into why injuries occur, identify common patterns in safety culture failures, and explore five key principles for improving workplace safety across all facilities. The session will demonstrate how effective information sharing transforms individual incidents into organization-wide learning opportunities, helping prevent similar events before they occur.
Please join us for this important discussion as we explore how sharing lessons learned leads to safer operations, stronger prevention strategies, and a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
View Kevin Natterstad's Bio
Kevin Natterstad is the Environmental, Health & Safety Manager at Sumiden Wire Products Corporation in Dickson, Tennessee, and Chair of the American Wire Producers Association’s Operations Steering Committee. In addition to environmental safety, his work focuses on creating safer workplaces, preventing incidents, and helping manufacturing teams learn from past experiences to improve overall safety on the shop floor.
Through AWPA’s educational programs, Kevin shares practical ideas for identifying workplace risks, addressing safety concerns, and engaging employees in creating a safer work environment. His presentation emphasizes the importance of sharing experiences and lessons learned across facilities to help prevent injuries, strengthen safety awareness, and promote continuous improvement.
More Than Soap: Leveraging Lubricant Additives for Better Wire Drawing Performance
Brad Andrews from Condat will present new information on improving wire drawing by focusing on the fillers and additives in lubricants, not just soaps and fats. Attendees will hear the latest potential benefits and real-world solutions that can help drive efficiency and productivity.
View Brad Andrews' Bio
Bradley "Brad" Andrews is Senior Market Manager for Wire Drawing at Condat Corporation, serving the North American mechanical and electrical wire markets. His expertise includes wire drawing lubricants, surface preparation, and process optimization, with a focus on helping manufacturers improve productivity, product quality, and operating efficiency.
Brad has represented Condat as an active member of the American Wire Producers Association (AWPA) for 16 years. He is also active with the Wire Association International, sharing his technical knowledge through industry education and presentations on lubrication and wire production. His involvement reflects a commitment to practical problem-solving, professional development, and collaboration across the wire industry.
Manufacturing Roundtable Discussions
Participate in interactive roundtable discussions designed specifically for manufacturing and operations professionals. These peer-to-peer sessions provide a forum for attendees to share challenges, exchange ideas, and discuss practical solutions to issues impacting their facilities.
Whether the topic is workforce development, safety, maintenance, supply chain management, or other operational concerns, participants will benefit from candid conversations with industry colleagues facing many of the same challenges.