Automation: Andy Glaser, National Sales Manager, Ellison Technologies Automation

Using Robotic Automation as a Competitive Advantage

Andy Glaser is a graduate from The Ohio State University with a BS in Engineering and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Andy has been in the robot/automation business for 16 years--12 of those with Fanuc Robotics America. He is currently the National Sales Manager for Ellison Technologies Automation headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Andy recently authored a book titled "Industrial Robotics: How to Implement the Right System for Your Plant” published by SME and the Industrial Press.

Grinding: Mike Head, Inside Sales Manager, United Grinding Ohio

New advances in automating cylindrical grinding

Mike Head’s distinguished career in grinding includes setting up the manufacturing of Studer machines in the US and revamping United Grinding’s program for rebuilding components. For the last 16 years, he has managed United Grinding’s effort to match cylindrical grinding technology with customer needs.

Grinding: Bruce Morse, Applications & Sales Manager, United Grinding Virginia (Walter & EWAG)

New advances in automating your tool grinding operation

Bruce Morse came up through the machine tool ranks starting as a setup operator on automatic screw machines, a position he held for 10 years. He then spent 13 years programming Walter CNC tool grinders, CNC lathes, and CNC mills and was a tool maker servicing 500 Acme Gridley & Swiss Tornos screw machines. Bruce later joined Walter as an applications engineer, training operators and analyzing tough applications around the country. He then transitioned to Inside Sales and now, as Applications and Sales Manager, helps customers in the Upper Midwest find the right solutions for their needs.

SkillsUSA MN: Jennifer Polz Executive Director SkillsUSA MN / William Kramlinger: SkillsUSA Minnesota Student College President

Partnering with SkillsUSA makes Good Business Sense

Jennifer Polz has been the State Executive Director of SkillsUSA Minnesota for the past six years. She is a graduate of Moorhead State University with a BS in Industrial Education. She has been an educator since 1986 serving as an Industrial Technology Instructor and holds a Vocational License in Graphic Communications. Jennifer has been working with students in SkillsUSA since 1996. She served on the SkillsUSA Minnesota Board of Director’s from 1998 until 2003 and is currently the Region IV Officer. No one covers more of Minnesota, visiting schools and talking to students on our behalf than Jennifer Polz.
William Kramlinger graduated from Mankato West High School in 2005. He will graduate this spring with an A.A.S. Degree in Computer Integrated Machining at South Central College in North Mankato. After graduation, he plans to work as a CNC Machinist at MICO Inc. in North Mankato where he currently works part time on second shift. MICO designs, manufacturers, and sells quality hydraulic components and brake systems for heavy duty, off-road vehicles and equipment. William plans to continue his education at MSU-Mankato in Automotive Engineering Technology. William learned about leadership, teamwork, and goal setting while involved with SkillsUSA and is currently serving as the SkillsUSA Minnesota Student College President for 2008.

Metrology: Dr. Greg Hetland, International Institute for Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing

New Solutions for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Challenges

Dr. Greg Hetland has more than 30 years experience in the aerospace, defense and commercial industries with extensive expertise in the mechanical and precision engineering fields as an engineer, manager, consultant, educator a nd author. Dr. Hetland consults in the areas of corporate technology forecasting, advanced measurement development, advanced mechanical design and modeling techniques, physical measurement strategies, uncertainty analysis, employee development planning, external technology development collaborations, analysis, and recommendations based on technology trends.

Hard Milling: Craig McQueen, Application Team Leader, Makino Die Mold Technologies

Evolution of Hard Milling: Past, Present and Future

Craig McQueen is focused on continuous development of new processes and techniques for machining operations to lower costs and increase productivity within the mold industry. The transfer of this technology through training and support of customers is key to this vision. Craig spent several years working as a job coordinator in various die and mold companies in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. He has knowledge and expertise in both cutting and programming of various materials in the die and mold industry.

Better Business: Scott Schmidt – Principal, Blackline Group

Getting Credit Where Credit is Due

In 2003, Scott Schmidt founded Black Line Group to usher companies through the process of successfully applying for the R&D Tax Credit, the firm's sole focus. He has presented information on the R&D Tax Credit for trade associations across the country and has authored numerous articles on the topic.

Retooling Your Workforce: Rod Jones, Chief Learning Officer, Mori Seiki University

Innovative Education for Manufacturing Employees

Rod Jones has over thirty years of experience in industrial and commercial markets for IBM, American Axle, GE Fanuc, DeVlieg Machine Company and the establishment of his own business development, research and training consulting firm, Decision Technology. Rod has held positions as a machinist, industrial engineer, CNC sales and applications engineer, as well as machine tool sales manager. Rod also has over ten years of experience in the educational and not-for-profit sectors, including managing a private academy and teaching as an adjunct college professor. During his 15 years as President of Decision Technology, Rod worked with over 100 of the world’s premier manufacturing and technology suppliers. He has been a consultant, trainer and speaker for the Association of Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the American Machine Tool Distributor’s Association (AMTDA) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). Rod is a co-author of several books including AMTDA’s “Certified Machine Tool Sales Engineer” training curriculum, “Speaking of Success” with Steven Covey and “Marketing Strategies that Really Work” with Jay Levinson. Rod holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Oakland University, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Applied Psychology from the California Graduate School of Theology. Rod is also a graduate of General Electric’s Technical Marketing Program.

Retooling Your Workforce: Attila Catto, General Manager Sales & Marketing, DOOSAN INFRACORE America Corp. Machine Tool Division

"Tech Centers vs. Engineering Centers", How Industry-Specific Engineering Centers can help you

Attlia Catto is an alumnus of Fairleigh Dickinson University where he majored in electrical engineering. He began his machine tool career while in college in 1977 for a New Jersey company that retrofit NC controls on non-NC jig bore and boring machines, and later he was a service technician for a local distributor there. He began working for Marubeni Citizen-Cincom (Citizen CNC Swiss-style machines) as a service & applications engineer and was later named Eastern Regional Sales Manager. In 1995 he joined Doosan Infracore America (then known as Daewoo Heavy Industries) in the same capacity. In 2008, he was promoted to GM-Sales & Marketing. In this capacity, he serves as a liaison with the thirty-seven independent companies comprising Doosan's North, Central, and South American distributor network, providing materials, training, and support to assist the distributors in achieving their goals.

Coolant Management: Keith A. Urban, President & partner of DLB Inc.

Coolant: Improving Quality to Eliminate Issues

Keith Urban has a Bachelor of Science degree from Hillsdale College has attended over a dozen different post-graduate courses on hydraulics, fluid dynamics, fluid rheology, chemical and mechanical filtration methods and currently holds two separate patents pending for filtration and fluid management.

CAD: Tim Newton- Senior Applications Engineer, Symmetry Solutions

Leveraging 3D Everywhere

Tim Newton is a Senior Application Engineer with Symmetry Solutions, Inc. He graduated from the North Dakota State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. For the last seven years, he’s been involved with the sales, support and training for SolidWorks 3D CAD software and related products. Tim is experienced with numerous CAD, FEA, CAM & PDM systems. Working with hundreds of companies in the Upper Midwest, Tim assists them in leveraging 3D across their enterprises from design, to manufacturing, sales and marketing, technical publications and.supports their use of new technologies to improve engineering processes and efficiency that ultimately reduces time to market.

Accounting: William R. (Rob) Younkers, CPA

Taxation of Inventories

Rob Younkers graduated from Mankato State University in 1993 and passed his CPA exam that November. He accepted a position as Supervisor at Carlson Advisors in 1997 and became a Partner in 2001. Rob is a former treasurer of the Minnesota Society of CPA’s and conducts various seminars on topics including tax planning, business forecasting, and other tax subjects.

CAM: Midwest CAM Solutions

Coming soon.

Pneumatics: Chris Landis-Product Manager for Fieldbus Networks and Pneumatic Valves, Parker Pneumatic Division

Are You Taking Full Advantage of Pneumatic Valve Technology?

Chris Landis has been working with customers to understand and solve automation challenges for the past 8 years, using both electromechanical and pneumatic technologies. In Chris's current role as Product Manager for Fieldbus Networks and Pneumatic Valves, he focuses on the cost effective integration of pneumatics into machine and system design. Whether your organization is an OEM or an end user facility, it is possible to achieve significant cost reductions resulting form multi-vendor support, wiring simplification, and decreased machine downtime. Covered topics will include: Advancements in ISO standardization; cost savings with collective wiring solutions; and increased productivity with diagnostic capabilities.

Better Business: David Flotten, JD, SPHR Associated Financial Group

Biometrics: The Next Step in Wellness & Consumer Driven Healthcare

David Flotten has been advising employers on employment practices and human resources issues for over ten years and prior to that spent two years working in the Minnesota court system. David works with employers on a wide range of HR compliance and strategic issues, including drafting policies and procedures, employee attitude surveys, coaching, employee benefits, and leaves of absence. He regularly presents seminars on leadership skills, coaching, hiring, and wage and hour rules at Associated Financial Group as well as presenting at the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota. David has a law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and is a member of the Society of Human Resources Managers (SHRM).

Better Business: Kevin Vito, Customized Training Instructor, Hennepin Technical College

Safety Committees and Their Role in Manufacturing

Kevin Vito is a Safety/OSHA Compliance Training Instructor Hennepin Technical College and a US Department of Labor/OSHA Outreach Trainer. Previously, he worked seven years as the Industrial Safety Training Coordinator at Anoka Technical College, is a Retired Career Firefighter/Training Officer, and a member of Fire Dept. Technical Rescue Team specializing in Confined Space, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse, Hazardous Materials Response & Water Rescue. At the OSHA Institute, Kevin has received specialized training in the fields of general industry, construction and disaster site worker. Other training includes Technical Rescue Specialist – Texas A&M University, Industrial Facilities Protection – Defense Security Institute, Richmond, VA., Emergency Incident Management System – Minnesota Department of Emergency Management, and US Navy Damage Control Training – Pearl Harbor, HI.

Retooling Your Workforce: Monica Pfarr, Corporate Director of the AWS Foundation Solutions Opportunity Squad

AWS and Welder Workforce Development

Ms. Pfarr received her bachelor of science degree in industrial and systems engineering at The Ohio State University and her master of science degree in administration from the Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI. In addition, she completed an executive development program at Northwestern University and is a Certified Quality Engineer. Ms. Pfarr chairs several national advisory committees, is a sought after industry speaker and a mentor for the Women in Engineering Technologies Institute.

Better Business: Scott A. Sollars, P.E., Mechanical Engineer, Crane Engineering, Inc.

Beyond OSHA: What Can Go Wrong When You Are In Compliance

Scott Sollars earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, and is a licensed professional engineer with consulting, project management and forensic experience. He has an extensive background in mechanical systems, machine design analysis, safety and hazard evaluation, machine guarding, combustion mechanics, and fuel gas systems and components. He is also an expert with automated testing techniques and data acquisition in an engineering environment.

Economics: Dr. Chris Kuehl, Economic Analyst for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International

Coming Out of the Recession: What to Look For in 2009

Chris Kuehl is the managing director of Armada Corporate Intelligence. As economic analyst for the FMA, he produces an economic e-newsletter specifically designed to aid the business decision-making by management and shop owners in the metal forming and fabricating industry. He also conducts workshops for FMA at major conferences and trade shows. He is editor and publisher of two daily e-publications, Business Intelligence Briefs and Strategic Global Intelligence. Chris is currently a senior faculty member for Keller Graduate School of Management, teaching international business, economics and finance. He holds a Ph.D. in political economics, a Masters in East Asian Studies and a Masters in Soviet and East European Studies.

Retooling Your Workforce: David C. Sansone, CAE, Executive Director, Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation

Industry and Education Best Practices

David C. Sansone is the Executive Director of the PMA Educational Foundation and Director of Training and Education at PMA. He has been in association management for 32 years, joining PMA in 1991. Prior to that, he was a high school and community college English teacher. Dave has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Communications from Ohio University, and has held the credential of Certified Association Executive (CAE) since 1988. He has been active with the National Institute for Metalworking Skills since its inception and serves on both its Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He has participated on the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Framework Committee and on the Student Summit Planning Committee for IMTS and has worked collaboratively with other manufacturing trade associations to create, promote and enhance workforce development tools

Retooling Your Workforce: Karen White, Director, Mfg and Applied Eng. Center of Excellence, Bemidji State University

Dream It! Do It!

Karen White is the Director of 360º Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, an organization of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities designed to address manufacturing’s workforce issues. 360º is housed at Bemidji State University, the lead institution, and includes 8 two-year technical and community college partners. 360º encompasses over 50 academic programs, seeking to strengthen Minnesota’s manufacturing industry by cultivating a future workforce through flexible educational opportunities and a seamless career pathway. Ms. White received a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1995 and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1997.
Upon completion of her graduate degree, Ms. White spent the next five years with Imation Corporation’s Wahpeton, North Dakota manufacturing site, where she held various engineering and management positions related to the production of data storage cartridges. Prior to joining Bemidji State University, Karen White held the position of Associate Director for Engineering Operations with the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering at North Dakota State University, where she led and coordinated large multi-disciplinary federal grants.

Better Business: Brian Lassiter, President, Minnesota Council for Quality

Achieving Excellence in These Challenging Time

Brian Lassiter was elected president of the Minnesota Council for Quality in the summer of 2001. Before his election, Brian held positions with the following organizations: Ian Alliott Consulting (Managing Director), Norstan Consulting (Principal Consultant), The St. Paul Companies (Corporate Quality Consultant), Price Waterhouse (Consultant), and Boatmen's National Bank (Quality Manager). In these roles, Brian has worked with dozens of rganizations in a variety of industries to help them improve their performance and competitiveness. Brian has served 11 years on the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (1998-2008), three as a Senior Examiner and the last five as an Alumni Examiner. He also served in the mid-90s as a Senior Evaluator for the Minnesota Quality Award (1996-97), served as a Judge for the Veteran's Administration Baldrige-based Carey Award (2004-06), and has served from 1995-2003 and 2004- on the Board of Directors for oodwill/Easter Seals of Minnesota, currently serving as Vice Chair. He is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Performance Excellence, the national consortium of all state/local quality awards.

Better Business: Dave Lechleitner, Sr. Product Specialist and Job Shop Evangelist, Exact Software

Extending Your Business Processes Beyond ERP

Dave Lechleitner is a Sr. Product Specialist and Job Shop Evangelist that speaks at association and job shop related business events. He has years of hands-on knowledge of how a job shop works. And though he an employee of Exact Software, his roll is to promote efficient, effective management of jobs shops, so you can be assured that his presentations - from webinars to half-day, full-day and multi-day seminars and workshops - are not sales pitches, but rather beneficial information. Your attendees will walk away with proven strategies, tactics, tips and techniques that they can put to work right away.
In 2008 Dave spoke at IMTS, Fabtech, APICS Chapter meeting, The Jobshop Lean Conference as well as hosting a number of business productivity and recession-proofing webinars. He is an entertaining, high-content speaker who delivers fresh, up-to-date material every time. You’ll never get a generic or “canned” program from Dave because he takes the time to customize and tailor every presentation to the specific needs of you and your attendees. In general, he is qualified to speak on the following topics: Automation of the front office; implementing activity-based costing; ERP implementation; CRM; selecting the right employees ; recession-proofing the business; quality and lean manufacturing.

Better Business: Ron Overton, Chairman, National Tooling and Manufacturing Association

Leadership in Uncertain Times

Ron is President of Qverton Industries a company he owns with his two brothers. Ron served as the president of the Indiana Chapter of NTMA and is a founding member of the Indiana Chapter of the American Mold Builders Association.