Stronger Together: The Next Era of Metal Manufacturing: Collaboration, Innovation, and Additive Technologies for Casting & Forging Companies
Continental breakfast and Expo
Opening remarks setting the mission and objectives for the day and reinforcing Illinois’ role in the national defense industrial base.
So you want to partner with the Department of War? How to Embark and Succeed on this Great Adventure
With a trillion and a half projected budget for the Department of War, a supply chain crunch, and a focus on domestic companies, this is the time to partner. But it’s not as easy as it seems. Elana Broitman, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy, will share opportunities, obstacles, and pathways to engagement, particularly for great midwestern companies.
Strengthening the Defense Supply Chain in Illinois and the Midwest
This session will kick off by connecting national defense priorities with the Midwest’s growing role in strengthening the defense industrial base. As the need for resilient, domestic manufacturing continues to rise, it is more important than ever for states, industry leaders, and support organizations to work collaboratively to build strong regional supply chains. We can no longer think about competing state by state. It is time to band together to rebuild our industrial base and position the Midwest as a connected and competitive defense manufacturing region.
Panelists will discuss the opportunities that exist to create a stronger regional defense sector, how manufacturers can identify key resources and strategic partnerships, and ways companies can better position themselves within the defense ecosystem. The conversation will also explore how collaboration across states and organizations can help manufacturers connect with primes, strengthen capabilities, and support evolving national defense priorities.
Illinois and the broader Midwest manufacturing base are well positioned to support the growing demand for resilient, domestic defense manufacturing. Building on the conversation around regional collaboration, this session will focus on the practical resources, partnerships, and support systems helping manufacturers strengthen their role within the defense industrial base.
Attendees will hear perspectives from ecosystem partners and industry leaders on how manufacturers can begin positioning themselves for future defense opportunities through access to funding, technical assistance, supplier development programs, and strategic industry connections. The discussion will provide a high-level overview of the organizations, capabilities, and collaborative efforts advancing defense manufacturing across the region while helping companies better understand how to navigate and engage within the defense supply chain ecosystem.
Lunch and Learn with Jyoti Malhotra from NIST
What You Need to Do Now to Stay Eligible for DoD Work
CMMC is no longer a future requirement. It’s quickly becoming a condition for winning and keeping Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. For small and mid-sized manufacturers, the risk isn’t just compliance, it’s being left out of the supply chain entirely.
This session breaks down CMMC in clear, practical terms, with a focus on what smaller organizations need to do right now. We’ll cover what’s changing, who it applies to, and how those requirements translate into real-world actions you can take right away.
You’ll learn where most small manufacturers are falling behind, common mistakes that delay progress, and how to take focused, manageable steps toward readiness, regardless of if you have a large internal team or not. Whether you’re just starting on your CMMC journey or already working toward compliance, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of what’s at stake, and a realistic plan to move forward before requirements impact your business.
Using Federal Procurement Tools to Grow Your Manufacturing Business
Practical training on SAM.gov, DLA DIBBS, SBA Small Business Search, and USAspending.gov.
SBA Financing and Other Resources for Manufacturers.
