The future isn’t coming- it’s already here.
The question is: Are we shaping it, or are we struggling to keep pace?
I’d like to personally invite you to join me and fellow manufacturing leaders for the AME 2026 C-Suite Roundtable Summit at the University of New Haven. This is a unique opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, have candid conversations with peers, challenge assumptions, and focus on the solutions that can help move our organizations, and our industry, forward.
We’ll tackle the forces already redefining competitiveness: rapid technology adoption, a changing workforce, and a manufacturing support ecosystem that sometimes creates more friction than momentum.
A Few Fun Facts to Get You Thinking...
- AI and advanced technology aren't "the future." They're already changing how factories operate today - from predictive maintenance and digital twins to automation and data-driven decision-making
- Your future workforce has a voice. We'll hear directly from University of New Haven students studying engineering, business, and applied technology about what they expect from their future employers - and what they want leaders to understand
- Sometimes, the problem isn't a lack of resources - it's too many disconnected resources. We'll have an honest conversation about what CEOs really need from consultants, technology providers, universities, workforce organizations, associations, and other partners
- The skills gap isn't standing still. As digital transformation and AI accelerate, our approach to up-skilling and re-skilling must accelerate with it
Four C-Suite Roundtable Conversations
We'll move beyond simply talking about challenges and focus on solutions, shared insights, and action:
- The Future Has Already Happened: Why technology adoption must be an imperative for manufacturing in America
- Bridging Student Expectations with Executive Realities: A candid conversation between University of New Haven students and manufacturing C-suite leaders
- Why the Manufacturing Support Ecosystem Is Broken and What CEOs Actually Need Instead
- Up-skilling and Re-skilling in the Age of Digital Change and Artificial Intelligence
This won't be a theoretical conference. It will be a candid discussion about what's working, what's not, and what we can do differently.
Paul Lavoie, VP, Innovation & Applied Technology at the University of New Haven and former Chief Manufacturing Officer for Connecticut, appointed by the Governor, shares "Manufacturing leaders can no longer afford to talk about the future as something that is coming someday. The future is already here. This summit brings together CEOs, educators, and industry leaders for an honest conversation about technology adoption, workforce transformation, and the actions required to remain competitive. The plan is that every executive leaves with new relationships, practical insights, and a renewed sense of urgency to lead change."
Brian Hirschfeld, Asahi/America, Continuous Improvement added, “There are few things AME does better than events like this C-Suite Roundtable Summit to enable those with shared experiences to share, learn, & grow alongside their peers. Including students from the University of New Haven adds the unique perspective of those who will quite literally shape the future.”
Tony Laraia, former Vice President, Operations at Aerco International and past AME Hall of Fame and 2008 Mac McCulloch Lifetime Achievement Award recipient shares, “Is your vision for the business going to thrive or struggle to survive in this rapidly evolving landscape. Changes in technology, education, the workforce, and competition are coming at ever increasing rates, solutions, and obstacles in a chaotic mix. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to join with peers to frankly discuss challenges and solutions and gain valuable new insights and perspectives.”
Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with other CEOs and senior leaders - connections that can continue well beyond the roundtable.
And, of course, breakfast and lunch are on us!
AME 2026 C-Suite Roundtable Summit
University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516
- AME Members: $645
- Non-Members: $795
- Group pricing is available.
I hope you'll join us for what I believe will be a very different kind of leadership conversation, one where we come together not just to discuss the challenges ahead, but to share, learn, grow, and take action together.
Thank you to Tony Laraia, Brian Hirschfeld, and Paul Lavoie for making this happen. I look forward to seeing you there!
Also, please join us at the AME Milwaukee 2026 International Conference | October 26–29 where we will connect with our amazing membership.
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.
