Speakers

SESSIONS: Advantages of Trade School / Closing The Gap: Training is Key!

Sean’s manufacturing journey started at Cox in 2010 as a deburrer. Demonstrating his commitment to growth and proficiency, he successfully completed the machinist apprenticeship program in 2016, thereafter assuming the role of Training Coordinator. Over the past 8 months, Sean has assumed broader responsibilities, serving as the lead for HR, Training, & Safety. Beyond his professional endeavors, Sean’s values are deeply rooted in his faith, family, and other people’s holistic personal development.

SESSION: Tips & Tricks to Collaboration

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. 

SESSION: Upskill Employees with Measurable KPI’s

SESSION: What’s the Buzz?

Michael DeVoss is a Quality Engineer with Marcegaglia Stainless Long Products in Richburg, South Carolina. Over the past 5 years Michael has learn the ins and out of stainless steel manufacturing and has assisted customers with machining questions and concerns.

SESSIONS: GD&T

Mr. Foster is a mechanical engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in design, quality, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). He is currently the President of Applied Geometrics, Inc.

Mark is a member of the ASME Y14.2, Y14.5.1, Y14.5.2 committees, as well as the Y14.5 support group and participates regularly in the ASME meetings throughout the country. Mark has held management positions in Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, and Design Engineering and is the chief instructor for AGI. He has provided GD&T training for hundreds of individuals and companies, such as Harley-Davidson, Delco Electronics (Delphi), Nissan, Briggs & Stratton, Woodward Governor Company, Dart Container Corporation, Skil-Bosch Power Tools. He has also taught SPC, ISO/QS-900, and Print Reading, as well as Train-the-Trainer classes.

Mark was a charter member of the Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP) Senior Level examination. He passed the first ever GDTP Senior Level exam administered by the ASME and is Senior Level Certified (GDTP #S09-8807) to the ASME-Y14.5-2009 standard.

Unlike many GD&T instructors, Mark has applied his training to real-world designs on a regular basis from the design, manufacturing and quality perspectives. This experience and ongoing practical application provide him with the unique ability to relate the common problems that inevitably arise between these groups during the production of a part.

SESSIONS: How to Read a Chip

Miles Free is Director Industry Affairs for the Precision Machined Products Association, where he handles Regulatory, Government Affairs, Statistical and Financial reporting and providing Technical Assistance in all areas of manufacturing. Prior to joining PMPA in 2003, Mr. Free was Director, Quality and Development, at Republic Engineered Products. Mr. Free started his career at United States Steel, where he served in Environmental Engineering and Laboratory Supervisor positions. His career included leading the implementation of the Cold Finished Bar Industry’s first Quality Operating System awarded Q-1 status at Bliss and Laughlin steel as well as managing the technology and development function for the restart of Operations at Bar technologies and Republic Steel. He has created content using all forms of media, with numerous articles published,  over a million views on his blog  Speaking of Precision, and currently hosts two Podcasts for PMPA. He is a widely sought presenter on Problem solving, Quality, and Metallurgical topics.  Mr. Free holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University, and an MBA from Walsh University, where he taught Quality and Performance Management and Data Analytics in the MBA and Executive MBA programs.  

SESSIONS: What’s the Buzz?

Johnny Freeze is a Product Support Specialist at GWS Tool Group (formally Peterson Tool) in Nashville, TN. Johnny is a former Chair of the PMPA Technical Programs Committee and currently serves on the PMPA Quality Committee.

SESSION: ID Issues: Boring & Grooving

Ken Hamming is a Sales and Application Engineer for Horn USA. Ken has nearly 30 years of manufacturing experience. He started as a machine operator yet most of his career has been in quality, engineering, and program management. He has also sat on the board of directors for 2 manufacturing organizations. For the past 10 years Ken has been working for Horn USA covering the West Michigan region.

SESSION: CMMC / NIST

Robbie Harriman is Director, Advisory Services at OCD Tech. Robbie
joined the firm in May of 2016. Prior to working at OCD Tech, Robbie worked in IT for other companies, including the heavily regulated casino industry. He currently oversees OCD Tech’s Virtual CISO services, as well as government compliance services including DFARS, NIST and CMMC for organizations in the Defense Industrial Base. He has a diverse range of experience in the IT field, with a deep background in IT systems administration and control areas. Robbie presents regularly at events and contributes to industry publications, providing guidance and thought leadership around cybersecurity practices across many industries.

SESSION: Materials

SESSIONS: What’s the Buzz?

Ron is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the GE Manufacturing Management Program.  He has spent time with GE, Cummins Engine, Power Drives and has been with Erie Specialty Products, for most of the past 23 years, doing both quality and engineering . He has been married to his wonderful wife Theresa for over 30 years, (who is also an engineer) and his passions are Scouting and Ice Hockey.

SESSION: Metalworking Fluids

Edward Jones is a third generation metalworking fluid expert. He is a Certified Metalworking Fluid Specialist (CMFS) under the Society of Tribology and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). His formal education is in business, engineering and science along with over 30 years of experience in the metalworking industry. Ed has extensive expertise in the areas of Coolants, Cutting Oils, Metalforming, Machine Lubricants, Cleaning, Coatings, Corrosion, Filtration, Machines, Tooling and Materials. As Chief Operating Officer/Chief Technical Officer at Hangsterfer’s, Ed ensures that they manufacture the highest quality and highest performance products without compromising on health, safety, and environmental standards.

SESSION: ID Issues: Boring & Grooving

Rick is a USAF Veteran, upon leaving the military Rick got into machining and progressed his way through the ranks to become the Machining Manager at American Axle in the Ridgway/St. Marys PA facilities for 12 years managing the processing of Tier 1 High Volume Transmission and Transfer case Powdered Metal Components. After Leaving AAM Rick joined Horn USA as a Sales Engineer in 2020.

SESSION: What’s The Buzz

Mike has 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 5 years Mike has been the Quality Manager at EMC Precision Inc. (Elyria, OH), as well as the primary arbiter of their Internal & External PPM.

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 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: Chips Processing

SESSION: Materials

Derek began his career at Nucor-Yamato Steel as a Plant Metallurgist in 2012.  In 2015 he moved to Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska as a Division Metallurgits, later becoming the Quality Assurance Supervisor. In 2018 Derek transferred to Nucor Steel Nebraska overseeing the Quality Department.  Today, Derek serves as a District Technical Service Manager for Nucor’s Cold Finish Group.

SESSIONS: Advantages of Trade School / Closing The Gap: Training is Key!

Jeston started machining in July 2007, worked with CNC lathes until April 2015 when I moved to Enoch Precision Machining and started working with CNC Swiss lathes. He also started teaching class at work in 2017 and became full-time trainer in 2021. Now he works with local schools and community colleges, teach our class, and do OTJ training on the machines.

Session: Advanced Cam to Reduce Secondary

Joel Rutzen is the president of SPC Innovations, Inc., founded over 100 years ago in 1923, specializing in offering productivity and quality improvements to the precision machining industry.  Joel is a 3rd generation principal in the company, succeeding David Philipp, his step-father, who still remains active in day-to-day operations.  In additional to his new managerial role as president, Joel has retained his position as head of engineering and technical support.  Joel has a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering and a Master’s Degree of Business Administration from Cornell University.

Session: Machining Unleaded Brass

Session: Honing of Cutting Tools

Julius M. Schoop is the Erwin J. Nutter Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He is a Materials Science and Manufacturing Process expert with combination of applied and theoretical knowledge of advanced machining and finishing processes. Following his undergraduate studies in Chemical Physics (B.S., Centre College, 2011) and doctoral studies in Materials Science and Engineering (Ph.D., UK, 2015), Dr. Schoop was a postdoctoral research associate at the Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing (ISM) at the University of Kentucky.

In 2016, Julius Schoop joined TechSolve, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH as Program Manager and Principal Engineer. At TechSolve, Dr. Schoop worked on wide range of applied manufacturing projects, from developing and commercializing technology for sustainable, near-dry machining processes, to serving as principal consulting engineer on major machinability and process development studies for both small/medium manufacturers and large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

In 2018, Dr. Schoop joined the University of Kentucky’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing as Assistant Professor of Sustainable Manufacturing, with a research and teaching focus on Digitally Enabled Manufacturing and Advanced Surface Finishing and Engineering via in-situ characterization and modeling of material response under machining-specific thermomechanical regimes. His work has been funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Defense (DoD), including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Army Research Laboratory (ARL), and various DoD industrial base suppliers and OEMs. Dr. Schoop is a 2022 NSF CAREER awardee for his project titled “Thermomechanical Response and Fatigue Performance of Surface Layers Engineered by Finish Machining: In-situ Characterization and Digital Process Twin”.

SESSION: What’s The Buzz

Ray Schnell is the Material Technical Specialist for Valbruna Slater Stainless, Inc., located in Ft Wayne, Indiana.  Ray has both his B.S. and M.S. in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

Ray is retired from Carpenter Technology Corp., located in Reading, PA, where he worked for 32 years.  He held several technical and quality positions, during his tenure, but he is better known as being Carpenter’s Machinability Specialist.

Ray began his “second” career with Valbruna in April 2016.  Ray’s main priority, is to work with Valbruna’s customers, here in the United States and in Canada.  His efforts are concentrated in assisting customers to better understand the unique characteristics of Stainless Steel and helping them to take full advantage of the machinability attributes of Valbruna’s products.

SESSION: 3D Printing & Tips & Tricks to Collaboration

Dave Seabrook has been at Micron Manufacturing for 24 years and has served many functions from receiving raw material to shipping product to customers. Dave was the Quality Manager for 4 years but for the last 10 years has spent his days as IT Manager and a Continuous Improvement leader. He has overseen Micron’s network including the communication of its production equipment, gaging, and tool cribs. Over the last several years he has worked to secure this equipment and ensure backups are in place in the event of an attack or system failure.

SESSION: CNC Swiss Focus

Brian has been a member of MCC-Citizen team for going on 40 yrs. While MCC is also proud to announce it’s 40th anniversary this year. Brian is proud to be a lifetime member of the Citizen family, the industries leading CNC Swiss manufacture in the world.

SESSION: Materials

Calvin Wiggins is an industry veteran of 40 years and serves as the V.P. of Technical Services & Continuous Improvement at Service Center Metal’s Prince George facility.  He joined the company in 2003 as part of the startup team for this aluminum extrusion & casting operation.  Calvin served as the Director of Manufacturing and Director of Technical Services prior to assuming his current role.

Calvin has held diverse manufacturing roles in technical service, sales, and operations management at extrusion, casting, sheet & plate rolling, and foil conversion operations.  He joined Reynolds Metals Company in 1984 after graduating with an M.S. in Materials Engineering at the University of Alabama.  While at Reynolds, Calvin worked at the Alabama Listerhill facility and then transferred to Reynolds International in 1994 for assignments in Russia, Guinea, and South Africa.   Calvin joined Norandal Tennessee in 2000 and then moved to Service Center Metals in Virginia for the company startup in 2003. 

SESSION: Coolants v. Oil

IMTS 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of Mr. Wiley’s entrance into the world of metalworking coolants, cutting oils, and related manufacturing fluids. He was responsible for the technical memberships of Hangsterfer’s Laboratories, where he started in 1992, followed by Blaser Swisslube, and now QualiChem, Inc., where he has been since 2010. His experience has been earned in more than 35 countries, and covers a multitude of industries, applications, materials, and machine types. Currently serving as Director, Global Marketing for QualiChem, he has worked in sales, technical support, product development, and various management roles. He is a graduate of Boston University (BA Economics, ‘91) and Drexel University (MBA, ‘07).

SESSION: 3D Printing & How to Get Profitable Volume

David Wynn holds an MBA from University of Tennessee . David is the Technical Services Manager for PMPA. David believes that everything and anything should be automated and is also a strong believer that to sustain continuous improvement you need to be a lifelong learner. David also has experience in computer programming, CNC programming and accounting. David has served on the PMPA’s Board of Directors and currently also serves on the PMPA’s IT Committee. 

SESSION: Designing Tools for Quality

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