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Join other finance and accounting colleagues and leaders at this unique virtual event designed to help address current benchmarks, best practices and current challenges facing the manufacturing industry today. This event will include presentations by experienced industry professionals, facilitated panels, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities with other manufacturing finance professionals to help deliver answers and solutions to some of the biggest questions and challenges in the industry. 

A Zoom link will be provided to attendees before the event, and the entire event will be recorded and made available to all registrants regardless of live attendance. 

Agenda (All times in EST)

November 13 

10:00 Welcome

10:05 Uncover the Funding Strategies Healthcare Giants - and Your Broker - Won't Share, Tyzer Evans, Captive Solutions & Options

Healthcare costs continue to rise annually at rates that are unsustainable for most businesses offering employee benefits. During this session, Tyzer Evans, Captive Solutions & Options, will help to educate and inform attendees by sharing: the current state of the healthcare marketplace and how it is impacting companies, a brief overview of the healthcare funding options, a method to transition from a fully insured to a self-insured platform, and how transitioning to a self-insured model provides more transparency and financial control. 

11:00 Get the Lead Out: Leveraging a Customer Rating System to Boost Your Growth  Mike Walter,  DEMGY Chicago  

In today’s resource-constrained environment, how do processors decide which customer requests to prioritize without compromising long-term goals? Often, it’s the "loudest" customers who receive immediate attention, but this approach can overlook customers that truly align with the organization’s strategy. Join Mike Walter as he unveils Demgy's customer rating system, a powerful tool designed to streamline resources toward high-value customers while reducing the impact of those that hinder growth. Learn how to optimize customer engagement, strategically allocate resources, and drive sustainable growth by focusing on the relationships that matter most.

11:30  AI at Work: Upskilling Employees and Boosting Productivity - Cognition Works 
Discover how AI is transforming the workplace by upskilling workers, automating routine tasks, and driving employee productivity to new heights. This presentation will explore real-world applications of AI that empower teams to work smarter, not harder, while enhancing job satisfaction. Learn how organizations are using AI to streamline operations, fill skills gaps, and improve efficiency—creating a more dynamic, forward-thinking workforce. Whether you're looking to automate tasks or elevate your team’s capabilities, this session will offer actionable insights to integrate AI into your workplace for long-term success.

12:10  BREAK

12:30 Leveraging Sustainability for Financial Resilience in Plastics Manufacturing – Impact Collective Group

Discover how strategic sustainability can strengthen financial resilience in plastics manufacturing. This session explores broad approaches for aligning sustainability with core financial goals, from supporting capital growth to optimizing daily operations. Learn how building a sustainability-focused strategy can unlock new financing options, enhance operational efficiencies, and foster stronger customer relationships. Leave with a clear pathway to integrate sustainability into your business model for long-term growth and alignment with investor expectations.

1:10 Empowering Business Owners: A Guide to Effective Transition Planning - Melissa Rood, Rehmann

This session explores innovative strategies designed to improve exit, succession, and transition planning specifically for manufacturing business owners. Participants will discover the critical importance of effective transition planning for achieving long-term success. A comprehensive overview of the business transition planning process will be provided, highlighting its role in facilitating smooth transitions for both owners and employees through a well-structured support system. The session will also identify the key stakeholders involved in the transition planning process and their respective roles. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable insights into the complexities of business transition planning and to understand how to navigate this critical phase effectively.

2:00 End of Day 

November 14th 

10:00 Welcome

                What takeaways did you have from yesterday?

10:15 The Price Battlefield: Winning Strategies for Securing Price Adjustments - Alan Rothenbuecher, Benesch
In this hard-hitting session, discover proven best practices for securing price increases—even when a contract or purchase order says otherwise. Gain valuable insights on how to implement strategies now that will maintain price adjustments in the future, without facing pushback from customers. Learn how to navigate challenging pricing conversations and, when necessary, gracefully exit unprofitable or draining customer relationships. Whether you’re negotiating in today’s tight market or planning for future success, this presentation will arm you with the tactical tips you need to emerge victorious on the price battlefield.

11:00 Unlocking Financial Efficiency: Navigating Tax Updates - Mike Devereux, Wipfli 

In today’s rapidly evolving tax landscape, staying informed is key to maximizing financial efficiency. This presentation will provide actionable insights into the latest developments in SG&A restructuring, beneficial ownership regulations, and impactful tax updates. Our expert speakers will dive into how these changes can affect your bottom line, sharing strategies for optimizing your SG&A allocations and preparing for the latest tax implications. Join us to ensure your organization is positioned to leverage every tax advantage and stay ahead in a competitive marketplace.

12:00 Break

12:10   Unlocking Data Efficiency: Best Practices for Dashboards - Kate Brown, Wipfli 
Join us for an insightful presentation where we dive into best practices for maximizing the power of dashboards using platforms like DelmiaWorks, Plex, and others. Learn how to access more data faster and explore techniques for efficiently slicing and dicing information to make informed, real-time decisions. Whether you're aiming to streamline operations or drive business growth, this session will equip you with practical strategies to enhance your data analytics capabilities.

1:00 Solving Finance Challenges with Virtual Peer Exchanges

Connect with finance professionals across the manufacturing industry in this 60-minute Virtual Peer Exchange, where members come together to discuss common challenges and share best practices. In this session, participants will explore pre-submitted questions on crucial finance topics, discovering innovative solutions and actionable ideas for daily obstacles.

Get insights into questions like:

• How are others optimizing cash flow management amid fluctuating costs?
• What strategies are working to improve financial forecasting accuracy?
• How can finance teams streamline reporting without sacrificing detail?

Join us to gain perspectives from peers and take away strategies that make a difference in today’s finance landscape.

2:00 End of Day 2

Registration

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