KCMN Manufacturing SWOT Summit | October 2024 Sessions

As Workforce Development Manager at Tooling U-SME, Greg is responsible for leading the team that supports Tooling U-SMEs 1,000+ partner network, to include: • Manufacturing Extension Partnerships • Career & Technical High Schools • Community & Technical Colleges • Universities • Manufacturing Associations • Workforce & Economic Development Agencies • Community Based Organizations This partner network collaborates to provide learning solutions that addresses the skills gap in manufacturing by filling the talent pipeline and continuing to develop the incumbent workforce. Greg has over 27 years of workforce development experience as a top performer at New Horizons CLC, Cuyahoga Community College, Contract Training Edge LLC, & Tooling U-SME. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and a Certified DiSC Facilitator and serves on the Board of Directors at the Uniquely Abled Project/Academy. Greg is passionate about helping both individuals and manufacturers succeed by bringing stakeholders together to create local talent ecosystems.

With a career spanning various industries and continents, Christina is a dynamic thought leader and speaker known for driving innovation, cultural transformation, and process improvement. She uniquely can turn complex business challenges into focused growth solutions by seamlessly integrating people, processes, and technology. Christina has consistently contributed to organizational missions and objectives as an innovative business strategist. Her approach combines entrepreneurial thinking with intellectual curiosity, making her a true business partner in solving complex organizational problems. She excels at aligning leadership, talent, and business goals with technology solutions, resulting in process improvements, competitive advantages, and bottom-line gains. Christina brings a wealth of executive competencies, including expertise in Organizational Change Management, Project Portfolio Solutions, Six Sigma/Lean Principles, and Strategic Change Management. She has a proven track record of implementing risk management strategies, driving process improvements, and optimizing financial planning and analysis. Christina's expertise extends to cultural transformation, life coaching, process improvement, business optimization, and emotional intelligence. As a professional life coach and accountability partner, she assists leaders and individuals in achieving personal and professional goals. Her passion lies in helping others improve their lives, enhancing success, and achieving fulfillment.

Breandan is a seasoned professional in the world of sales development, with a unique and unwavering focus on building meaningful relationships. Unlike many in the field who prioritize transaction numbers and deal sizes, Breandan's passion lies in fostering connections, both with existing clients and those yet to come, along with strategic partners. Throughout her career, Breandan has had the privilege of working with a diverse array of industries, ranging from high-tech sales to plumbing to construction. Her expertise transcends boundaries, as she shares a common objective with her clients across these sectors: the cultivation of outstanding client relationships that inevitably pave the way for new and exciting opportunities. Breandan's true affinity, however, lies with highly skilled technical professionals who grapple with the challenge of setting themselves apart from their average competitors. She has lent her guidance and expertise to attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, bankers, and more, helping them harness their individual strengths to carve out unique positions in their respective fields.

Craig VanWey serves as the Manager of In-State Business Development for the Kansas Department of Commerce. He joined the Department in January of 2004. In addition to supervising a staff of seven business development managers around the state, Craig also covers a 19-county region of southeast Kansas. The primary focus for Craig and his team are in working with businesses, economic development professionals and city & county officials in facilitating business expansion and retention. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Craig spent five years as a consultant for the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University. Previous work experience involved positions with both private sector companies and public sector organizations. These included the mortgage and transportation industries as well as the Resolution Trust Corporation. Craig is a native of southeast Kansas, having lived in both Fort Scott and Parsons. He is a graduate of Parsons High School, attended Labette Community College and then graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1991 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. Craig and his wife Jill have two grown daughters and reside in Pittsburg.

Donna Porch is the Program Director of the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC). The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) is a federal grant program funded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The program assists U.S. manufacturers by paying a portion of professional consultant expenses and industry-specific expert services to improve their business competitiveness. TAAF partners with manufacturers by offering matching funds from $30,000 (75/25 cost share) up to $150,000 (50/50 cost share) to implement strategic projects that are focused on improving a firm’s internal operations and competitive abilities. The TAAF program is implemented by 11 TAAC centers. Mid-America TAAC serves the states of MO, KS, NE & IA. Donna has been on the KCMN Advisory Board since 2017.

Harrison Hall, Kansas City Regional Manager – Missouri Department of Economic Development Harrison Hall is currently the Kansas City Regional Manager for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, bringing with him a Master’s degree in Public Administration and certifications as City/County Management and Performance Management from the University of Kansas. Since beginning his role with the State of Missouri in February, Harrison Has acted as a facilitator, connector, and liaison, nurturing vital relationships with businesses and communities in his region. With prior experience at the public finance law firm, Gilmore & Bell and his role as the Chairman of the Gardner, Kansas Economic Development Advisory Committee, Harrison is a dedicated leader driving economic growth in Kansas City.

Timothy Jackson, Kansas City Project Manager – Missouri Department of Economic Development Timothy Jackson is a dedicated Project Manager in the Kansas City Region for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, boasting over nine years of diverse experience. His expertise spans business relations, economic and workforce development, partnering assistance, and human resources. Timothy excels in program management, team coordination, mentoring, and fostering diversity and inclusion initiatives. He is well-versed in federal contracting, talent acquisition, business incentives negotiation, and project coordination. Additionally, he actively promotes workplace diversity and inclusion, having served as a valuable member of the Vocational Rehabilitation team under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Timothy’s contributions extend to his role as the former Chair of the Greater Kansas City Employment NEXUS and his pivotal involvement in establishing new NEXUS locations across Missouri.

As the Continuous Improvement Specialist for Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, Micaela Marshall is responsible for the development and delivery of Continuous Improvement programs to our clients throughout Kansas. She plays a pivotal role in identifying and implementing process enhancements for manufacturers that lead to increased productivity, cost savings, and overall operational excellence.

As the Director of Strategy & Solutions, Monica Stewart is responsible for the development and delivery of programs to support small and medium sized manufacturers aiming to improve their business model and achieve future growth and success. Monica is a dynamic facilitator with a reputation for supporting change management and improving organizational health. With over 15 years of professional experience in skilled training, project management, strategic planning and business development Monica brings a wealth of knowledge and a positive, engaging, and inclusive mindset to the table. An early riser and an avid reader, Monica is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner. She holds bachelor’s degrees from Kansas State University and Newman University, and a master’s degree from Pittsburg State University. In 2017, Monica earned her doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University.

As VP with Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS), Danica Rome is responsible for developing, growing and strengthening programs and partnerships across the state that have a shared interest in helping create growth for Kansas manufacturing and the ecosystem that supports these companies. Prior to joining the KMS team, Danica consulted on federal, state and county workforce programming for approximately 15 years, concentrating on businesses affiliated with the manufacturing industry. She led economic development efforts as Senior Director of Business Expansion/Retention and Workforce Solutions, helping Wyandotte County businesses sustain and grow while nurturing partnerships with investors, training providers and community organizations. Danica studied Communications at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri and is enthusiastic about connecting and supporting industry and economic development partnerships. Danica helped to spearhead the development of the first Kansas FAME Chapter and looks forward to adding more chapters in the State of Kansas.

Julie Wondra, CPA is a partner at Adams Brown and a leading advisor in providing consulting services to clients in the manufacturing industry. She leads the firm’s manufacturing industry team and services clients across all Adams Brown offices. She specializes in business tax, succession planning and other management consulting and advisory services. Wondra is also an active member of her professional community, serving on the Kansas Board of Accountancy, McPherson United Way Allocations Committee, McPherson Industrial Development Commission, Leadership McPherson Board, and BDO Manufacturing Roundtable Committee.

Bert Benton is currently Chief Operating Officer for SOR Controls Group. He is also an adjunct professor in continuing education, business skills development at Johnson County Community College. Prior to his current position he was CEO for Kustom Signals and prior to that he held various operational leadership roles with Thales, Honeywell, and L3Harris Corporation. In addition Bert is a member of the advisory board for the Kansas City Manufactures Network. He holds a MS Industrial Engineering and BS Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.