Past Membership Meeting Videos
Throughout the year, CWIMA offers an extensive range of events tailored for professionals across the spectrum of a manufacturing organization, from the production floor to executive leadership. Membership in CWIMA unlocks access to invaluable programs and resources designed to foster knowledge and skills essential for success. We warmly invite all in manufacturing and supportive allies to participate in our events, underlining our commitment to closing to worker shortage in Central Wisconsin
July CWIMA Lunch and Learn - Virtual: Matt Guse Manufacturing Story
Date: July 9, 2026
Title: The MRS Story: Family, Faith, Grit & the Reality of Building a Machine Shop
Purpose: Give CWIMA members a candid, personal look at Matt Guse’s journey with MRS Machining — from the company’s beginning in 1986, through years of growth, setbacks, family-business challenges, the pandemic, and beyond.
Who is going to love this: Owners, presidents, family-business leaders, plant leaders, next-generation leaders, and anyone who has felt the pressure of keeping customers happy, keeping people employed, protecting the culture, and doing the right thing when the path forward is not obvious.
Why: Small manufacturing companies are built in the messy middle: family dynamics, cash pressure, customer demands, employee challenges, machine-shop realities, and moments where grit matters as much as strategy. Matt’s story is powerful because it is not theory — it is a real account of building a Wisconsin manufacturing company through hard work, integrity, faith, second chances, and a deep commitment to people.
Summary: Matt Guse, president and owner of MRS Machining, will share the story behind The MRS Story a first-hand account of a family-run machine shop that started in humble circumstances and grew through persistence, community, and a commitment to doing the right thing. This session will highlight the real challenges of sustaining a small manufacturing company: navigating family ties, building a workplace people choose to stay with, staying competitive, surviving disruption, and creating high-paying jobs in American manufacturing. CWIMA members will hear a relatable story about messiness, grace, resilience, and the lasting impact a company can have on the lives it touches.
Speaker: Matt Guse, President & Owner, MRS Machining
Accessed Here: July Virtual Membership Meeting
April CWIMA Lunch and Learn - Virtual
Topic: What to Expect at the Manufacturing Summit: Leadership, Communication & Best Practices
Date: April 9th, 2026 12p-1p Lunch & Learn, Remote
Title: What to Expect at the Summit: Preparing Your Team for Maximum Impact
Purpose: Provide a preview of key themes and insights from the upcoming Summit, including leadership development, team communication strategies, AI and machine automation, and proven best practices from other manufacturers.
Who is going to love this: Manufacturing leaders, plant managers, supervisors, HR leaders, and executives who want to strengthen leadership capability and improve team performance.
Why: Gain early insight into the Summit’s most valuable sessions so you can align your team and maximize your return on attendance. Walk away with practical leadership and communication ideas you can begin applying immediately.
Summary: This virtual session will highlight what attendees can expect at the upcoming Manufacturing Summit. Mike White and Ethan Pawlak will share insights into leadership development programs, strategies to improve team communication, and best practices being implemented by leading manufacturers.
Speakers: Mike White & Ethan Pawlak
Accessed Here: April Virtual Membership Meeting
March CWIMA Lunch and Learn - Virtual
Topic: Automation Without the Intimidation: Practical Robotics for Today’s Weld Shops
Date: March 12, 2026 12p-1p Lunch and Learn, Remote
Purpose: Explore how robotics and automation can enhance productivity and alleviate workforce challenges.
Who is going to love this: Manufacturing engineers, plant and operations leaders, executives, and HR/workforce leaders in fabrication or welding-focused manufacturing companies.
Why: Learn how collaborative robotic welding and plasma cutting can boost weld shop productivity without adding headcount while helping you attract, retain, and upskill talent in a tight labor market.
Summary: Vectis Automation provides collaborative robotic welding and plasma cutting systems. During this discussion, we will explore how to increase weld shop productivity while attracting and retaining workforce talent.
Speakers: Kyle Anderson and Reece Bolin of Vectis Automation
Kyle Anderson is a Regional Manager for Vectis Automation. He started working in the traditional robotic welding industry in 2010 as a project engineer and programmer, before transitioning into project management and sales engineering roles. He started working with collaborative robots in 2020, and has enjoyed watching robotic adoption increase through the Midwest as the technology becomes more accessible.
Accessed Here: March Virtual Membership Meeting
January CWIMA Lunch and Learn - Virtual
Explore innovative approaches to recruitment and talent attraction for roles into the Wausau region.
Speakers:
Paige Goldner - TRC Talent Solutions
Paige Goldner is a senior HR and workforce strategy leader with decades of experience helping manufacturers move and place hourly talent for plant start-ups and hard-to-staff locations. She brings a practical, operator-focused, holistic approach to building workforce pipelines in remote and high-growth manufacturing environments.
Emily Reese – TRC Talent Solutions
Emily Reese leads national talent solutions at TRC Talent Solutions, supporting manufacturers with large-scale hiring and relocation for plant start-ups and remote facilities. She specializes in moving hourly workers where they are needed most to keep production launches on schedule.
Brent Johnson – KFI Staffing
Brent Johnson works with KFI Staffing, which specializes in national recruitment for manufacturers, helping plants overcome labor shortages by relocating dependable hourly workers nationwide. His focus is on delivering scalable staffing solutions that support production demands and operational continuity.
Accessed Here: January Virtual Membership Meeting