Speakers

SESSIONS: Tips & Tricks for Cam Machines

 Don Anger is a Screw Machine Specialist for Champion Screw Machine Services. Don has been working on Acme Gridley screw machines for 48 years and held the following positions: Operator, Setup and Repair, Machine Rebuilder, Maintenance Supervisor and Business Owner. Don is very familiar with all things Acme, electrical, pneumatics, mechanical and attachment upgrades.

SESSION: K.I.S.S. (Keep Inspection Super Simple)

I have been with Cox Manufacturing since 2017. I worked my way up from Quality Inspector to Lead Quality Engineer in 4 years thanks to all of the support and training I received from the Cox Team. 

SESSION: Robots & Cobots

SESSION: CNC Swiss Focus (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)

CNC Swiss Focus 3 sessions

SESSIONS: K.I.S.S. (Keep Inspection Super Simple)

Quality manager at H&R Screw Machine Products for 11 years, employed with H&R Screw over 28 years.  

I have 6 wonderful grandchildren that I spend most of my free time with. We enjoy fishing, bonfires, and visits to Lake Michigan.  

SESSIONS: Rapid Fire & O365

Bridget Casey is the Global Manager of Information Systems and Technology at Bracalente Manufacturing Group in Trumbauersville, PA. She attended Bloomsburg University as a D2 Athlete and graduated with a dual Major in Business Management and Supply Chain. Bridget then went to school and graduated with a master’s in information technology. Bridget serves on PMPA’s IT Committee. 

SESSIONS: KPIs & Metrics

SESSION: ID Issues – Threading

SESSION: Tricks & Tips for Single Spindle and Plate-Style Cam Machines

SESSION: Automating Part Inspection with New Technology

SESSIONS: Rapid Fire & O365

SESSION: GD&T (Overview, Concepts & Applications)

Mr. Foster, President of Applied Geometrics, Inc., is a mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in design, quality, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). He is a member of the ASME Y14.2 committee and regularly attends ASME Y14 meetings nationwide. Mark has held management roles in Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, and Design Engineering, and serves as the chief instructor for AGI.

He has provided GD&T training to numerous individuals and companies, including Harley-Davidson, Delco Electronics (Delphi), Nissan, Briggs & Stratton, Woodward Governor Company, Dart Container Corporation, and Skil-Bosch Power Tools. Additionally, he has taught SPC, ISO/QS-900, Print Reading, and Train-the-Trainer classes.

Mark was a charter member of the Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP) Senior Level examination and is Senior Level Certified (GDTP #S09-8807) to the ASME-Y14.5-2009 standard. His extensive real-world experience in design, manufacturing, and quality gives him a unique ability to address common issues that arise during part production.

SESSION: Miles’ Industry Free Takeaways

Over the last 50 years Miles has served his apprenticeship in almost every area of manufacturing. Early career experience working in industrial safety, environmental and occupational testing, laboratory as well as plant and division management, customer service, quality, P&L, and operations leadership. More recently miles has focused on data analytics, government affairs, and regulatory compliance and  testimony- all of these are the foundations for what Miles will share. 

SESSION: Optimizing Efficiency with Form Tools

Johnny Freeze is the Director of Business Development for GWS Tool Group (formally Peterson Tool) in Nashville, TN, where he has supported custom tooling of all types in all aspects since 2003. Johnny is a former Chair of the PMPA Technical Programs Committee and currently serves on the PMPA Quality Committee, PMTS Committee and the PMPA TM Board of Directors. 

SESSION: Part Grinding Floor Application

Anthony started his career path at age 16 working for City of San Antonio during the summer months, transitioned to full time after high school for next 7 years operating various types of heavy equipment and helped develop his first pokeyoke for a street sweeper. Transitioned career path with Budweiser distribution for 3 years in sales and delivery as Training Manager. Joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Texas Stamping Department for 9 years as Group Leader and excelled in the Toyota Production System, driving Continuous Improvement through cost reduction kaizens, scrap reduction, cycle time and safety improvements throughout the production floor and other Toyota Manufacturing plants throughout the US and Canada. Hired with Cox Manufacturing in 2016 and has led and implemented various projects throughout the shop floor.

SESSION: ID Issues: Threading

Carl Garza is a seasoned professional with 33 years of experience in the cutting tools industry, including 24 years with Horn USA. Prior to his tenure at Horn, Carl worked with a thread tool manufacturer, honing his expertise in precision tooling. As a regional sales manager, Carl is committed to helping customers enhance their manufacturing process, enabling them to stay competitive in the global market. His dedication to customer success is driven by a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities in modern manufacturing.

SESSION: Metalworking Fluids and Lubrications – Waste Stream Minimization Roundtable

Jerry Gates founded Gates Engineered Lubricants in 2005 after working for more than 30 years in the industry. Jerry’s goal was to offer a full line of innovative specialty industrial fluids to empower US manufacturers to remain competitive in a global market. His vision quickly became a reality. Gates Engineered Lubricants has provided countless solutions to small and large global manufacturers alike, designing “The Right Product for the Right Application”. 

SESSIONS: Rapid Fire & O365

With a distinguished 30-year career at EMC Precision, I have honed my expertise in Customer Service, Planning and Scheduling, have a background in IT, and supervise IT operations. My extensive experience has equipped me with a deep understanding of the industry and a commitment to excellence in every role I undertake. At EMC Precision, I am dedicated to ensuring seamless operations and exceptional service, always striving to meet and exceed customer expectations.  

Session: The Value of Job Security (Cross Training)

Marc Hall is the General Manager of RW Screw in Massillon, Ohio, with 25 years of experience in operations and supply chain management within the manufacturing sector. His career spans a wide range of industries, including automotive plastics, stamping, assembly, and contract machining, from Fortune 500 companies to Tier 2 manufacturing facilities. 

Marc’s expertise includes organizational optimization, capacity and labor planning, and driving operational improvements through the modernization of systems and procedures. He believes that people do not fail—systems do—and that effective communication is essential at every level of an organization. 

Marc’s career highlights include management roles across the United States, obtaining Six Sigma Black Belt certification, and becoming a certified U.S. Soccer Coach in recent years. 

Session: K.I.S.S (Keep Inspection Super Simple)

Ron is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the GE Manufacturing Management Program.  He has spent time during his career with GE, Cummins Engine, Power Drives and has been with Erie Specialty Products, for most of the past 24 years, doing both quality and engineering . He has been married to his wonderful wife Theresa for over 30 years, (who is also an engineer).  He has been involved in Scouting as a Scoutmaster for over 14 years, and continues to be active still playing hockey in the Erie beer league, and softball with the Erie Codgers. 

Session: K.I.S.S. (Keep Inspection Super Simple)

I have worked in manufacturing and quality for almost 30 years. With experience as a quality technician, quality engineer, & quality manager, in several different industries (precision machining, die-casting, injection molding, stamping, assembly, as well as teir-1 & OEM automotive). For the past 6 years, as Quality Manager at EMC Precision Inc. (Elyria, OH), I have been the key person in determining proper inspection methods.

SESSION: Lean Shop Floor

Anthony started his career path at age 16 working for City of San Antonio during the summer months, transitioned to full time after high school for next 7 years operating various types of heavy equipment and helped develop his first poka-yoke for a street sweeper. Transitioned career path with Budweiser distribution for 3 years in sales and delivery as Training Manager. Joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Texas Stamping Department for 9 years as Group Leader and excelled in the Toyota Production System, driving Continuous Improvement through cost ‘ . reduction kaizens, scrap reduction, cycle time and safety improvements throughout the production ‘

SESSION: Rapid Fire & O365

SESSION: Tips & Tricks for Cam Machines 

Brett May is a seasoned professional with over 46 years of experience in the screw machine industry. In 2007, he founded BME Inc, which has since grown into a highly specialized company featuring an Acme Gridley rebuild shop and a fully equipped toolroom that produces both standard and custom attachments for various cam machines. With decades of expertise in setting up and troubleshooting cam machines, Brett is passionate about sharing his wealth of knowledge. Brett and Don Anger’s session on tips and tricks for cam machines promises to be both insightful and invaluable to anyone in the industry. 

SESSION: Networking for People Who Don’t Like Networking

Geoff McLachlan is a professional speaker, trainer and coach. He has given well over 1000 speeches to almost two million individuals and has facilitated learning from schools to multi billion dollar companies. As a coach, he believes in deeply powerful conversations. Geoff is the founder of Professionals at Play, a training organization that specializes in growing highly productive and engaged teams through the power of play. He is a co-host of the “No More Leadership BS” podcast. He is also the creator of Engineering Ethos, a six-week online program to help students design the life they want to live! Geoff lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and manages to make time for home remodeling, health and fitness, reading, Jiu Jitsu and spending time in the great outdoors with his amazing wife and kids and his hunting dog, Maggie.

SESSION: Rapid Fire & O365

SESSION: Advanced Threading

SESSION: Waste Stream Minimization Roundtable

SESSION: Rapid Fire & O365

SESSION: Thread Rolling

Liberato Pietrantoni earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Economics in 1986 from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has been with Brinkman International Group, Inc. for the last 36 years. He has been involved with new product development and design, developing processes for their CJWinter thread rolling product line, Davenport product line, medical and aerospace components. Over the years he has held numerous positions – Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Product Manager with Brinkman International Group and its manufacturing divisions. Currently, Lib is the Director of Global Sales, ME for the CJWinter product division. He has been awarded several patents associated with improving tooling for the thread rolling industry. He is currently a member and served on the governing boards for the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Precision Machined Products Association. 

SESSION: Machining High Temperature Alloys

I have been a manufacturing and quality engineer for Sorenson Engineering for almost 13 years. I spent over 8 years working on cam driven Bechler Swiss Screw Machines and started using CNC Swiss Screw Machines about 4 years ago. I learned most of what I know about manufacturing and machining from my leaders and coworkers at Sorenson Engineering. I’ve also been participating in PMPA since 2013, which has been an important source of information and provides and valuable perspective. 

SESSION: Robots & Cobots

SESSION: Lightly Attended

SESSION: The Science/Art of Metal Cutting

Dr. Julius Schoop is a materials and manufacturing process expert with a research program focused on in-situ characterization of machining-specific material response. Dr. Schoop received his PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 2015 and subsequently worked at TechSolve as Principal Engineering and Program Manager. In 2018, Dr. Schoop joined the University of Kentucky’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he currently holds a tenured and endowed appointment as the Erwin J. Nutter Associate Professor. Dr. Schoop is an expert in the measurement and prediction of surface integrity in finish machining processes for challenging materials used in aerospace and defense applications, including high-temperature and refractory alloys, as well as advanced composites and hard/brittle materials.

SESSION: 3D Printing & How to Get Profitable Volume

Session: Rapid Fire & O365

Voted best looking guy in the PMPA 2024, Large and fluffy beard, Not too shabby with a keyboard. 

BA Computer Science (Boston University) MS Computational Science and Engineering (MIT), Founding Member HTML Writers Guild, Multiple DIA/DOD Certificates, IBM Certified Data Scientist, CCNP Security, Certified Cookie & Pie Baker, Certified Cat Enthusiast. 

SESSION: Rapid Fire

Graduated HS in 1998, married my high school sweetheart the same year. Had our daughter the following year. Went straight into the workforce. Started in the offset printing industry and ended up managing the production floor of a small print shop. Left printing and hired at Cox Mfg in 2006. I though I would operate a machine with my years of printing press experience but was hired into the Secondary department. Spent a year and half there when a position in IT opened up. Started in IT part time and quickly moved to full time. I have been there ever since.

SESSION: Shop Floor Communication Best Practices

SESSION: How To Get Profitable Volume

SESSION: K.I.S.S. (Keep Inspection Super Simple)

Justin Zak is a Quality Engineer for Corey Steel Company in Cicero, IL.  Justin is the current Chair for PMPA’s Quality Committee.