The Pierce County Manufacturing Day Expo is coming to Clover Park Technical College’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing, 1-5 pm on Oct. 5.

The free event will bring together high school students, community partners and industry leaders for a day of innovation and insider insights. Attendees will learn about new frontiers in manufacturing, including automation, robotics, instrumentation and process control, and supply chain logistics equipment.

“This inaugural event is an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on Pierce County manufacturers and provide the opportunity for students, parents and educators to learn more about exciting and in-demand careers in the growing sector,” EDB Vice President for Business Retention Maddie Merton said.

Pierce County Manufacturing Day Expo is presented by the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, Pierce County Economic Development, Impact Washington, Clover Park Technical College, City of Tacoma and City of Lakewood. Event sponsors include Milgard Windows and Doors, Hormann Northwest Door, Brown & Haley, Aeroforge Maintenance Tooling and GSE and Banner Bank.

Expo boasts bountiful slate

Designed as the ultimate Pierce County manufacturing showcase, the Expo will feature:

• 20 Pierce County manufacturing industry exhibitors.
• Guest speakers, including Merton; City of Lakewood Mayor Jason Whalen; City of Tacoma Councilmember Keith Blocker; and Claire Korschinowski, CPTC Dean of Instruction, Aerospace, Technology, Manufacturing and Workforce.
• A session on diversity, inclusion and innovation in manufacturing.
• CPTC student demonstrations.
• A manufacturing leaders panel, featuring:
  • David Huang, CEO, and Thomas Bolt, HR Manager, SeaTac Packaging
  • Joseph Gosar, Account Executive and Project Manager, Impact Washington
  • Mike Hagen, CEO, American Structures & Design, Inc.
  • Matea Osojnik, Senior Director, Business Development – New Technology, SEKISUI Aerospace
  • Alicia Gilpin, CEO, and Ann Wyatt, HR Manager, Process & Controls Engineering LLC
  • Deb Tuggle, CEO, Bite Me! Cookies
  • Carl Wenngren, CPTC Mechatronics program instructor
  • Angie Agreda, Industrial Engineer/Continuous Improvements, Sekisui Aerospace, and CPTC Mechatronics program graduate.
  • Kortni Pendon and Cody Sizemore, CPTC Manufacturing program students.

To register for the Pierce County Manufacturing Day Expo, click here.

Raising awareness, changing perceptions

Manufacturing (MFG) Day is celebrated annually across the U.S. on the first Friday of October. MFG Day is manufacturing’s biggest annual opportunity to spotlight what modern manufacturing looks like and inspire the next generation of skilled workers. It is also designed to positively change perceptions among youth, educators, parents and the community.

As U.S. manufacturers seek to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying jobs over the next decade, MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges and build excitement about manufacturing careers to help their communities and future generations thrive.

In Pierce County, a proclamation signed by County Executive Bruce Dammeier recognized October as Manufacturing Month. The cities of Lakewood and Tacoma will issue similar proclamations.