Tariffs 2025: A Strategic Inflection Point for U.S. Businesses
Learn how U.S. businesses can strategically respond to new tariffs in 2025. Gain insights on risk mitigation, supply chain strategy, and long-term resilience.
In today’s competitive landscape, efficiency isn’t just about cutting time and minimizing errors — it’s about increasing value at every stage of your operations. Join IMEC and Commerce Bank for a hands-on, half-day workshop that blends Lean manufacturing principles with financial workflow automation and risk mitigation to help you uncover hidden waste, boost cash flow, and make smarter decisions faster.
Through interactive sessions and real-world examples, you’ll learn how Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and Payment Cycle Reviews can spotlight inefficiencies and pave the way for automation. Then, hear how modern contract and financial tools — from purchase orders to capital tracking — can support your Lean goals and create measurable impact.
What to Expect:
Collaborative VSM Activity: Build a sample value stream map and identify improvement opportunities
Technology in Action: Explore tools that enhance the effectiveness of your finance and operations teams
Expert Guidance: Hear from Lean and finance automation experts with proven strategies
Actionable Takeaways: Leave with tools, insights, and support resources tailored to your business
This event is ideal for operational leaders, finance professionals, and anyone looking to align strategy, speed and savings across their organization.
Agenda:
7:30 AM – Registration + Coffee & Light Breakfast
8:00 AM – Welcome + Opening Remarks
8:10 AM – Session 1: Value Stream Mapping (Presented by IMEC)
8:55 AM – Session 2: Minimizing Negative Cash Cycle Impacts and Automating Financial Processes Workflows (Presented by Commerce Bank)
9:40 AM – Integrated Q&A + Group Discussion
10:00 AM – Wrap-Up + Resources & Support
Presenter
Jeremy Smith
Technical Specialist | IMEC
With more than 10 years of manufacturing experience in complex automotive electronics, I have gained a variety of skills and knowledge that I use to enable success. My experience working with and on teams across business divisions in multiple countries has broadened my perspective on how to achieve goals and coach teams toward success. My goal is to apply the right tools in the right way at the right time to enable that success.
By viewing manufacturing through a value stream lens, my expertise in leadership, continuous improvement, productivity management, zero defects culture, visual management, total productive maintenance, supplier management, and logistics provides a large “toolbox” of systems and approaches. Through experience and data analysis, I help manufacturers apply these tools in a way that maximizes the return on investment and ensures sustainability
Susan Aiello, C.T.P., A.A.P Senior Vice President, Treasury Management, Commerce Bank
Senior Vice President, Treasury Management, Commerce Bank
Susan Aiello has been actively engaged in commercial payments for more than 25 years, helping businesses maximize efficiency and security in payments processing and cash flow management.
Aiello joined Commerce Bank’s Treasury Management team in 2003, leading the East Region sales team for 15 years. Prior to joining Commerce Bank, she led the Treasury Services Division of Southwest Bank. Her experience includes operations management, product development, sales, and sales management of commercial payments solutions across the payments spectrum.
As the Commercial Payments and Treasury Advisor for the East Region, Aiello consults with the bank’s most sizeable and complex commercial, healthcare, and not-for-profit organizations, helping them identify opportunities to streamline processes and maximize their use of funds.
Aiello completed her undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley and earned a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis. She has achieved Certified Treasury Professional and Automated Clearing House Professional accreditations.
Aiello is an active member of the national Association of Financial Professionals and the St. Louis Treasury Management Association.
