Past Membership Meeting Videos

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 

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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

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