Join us for an exclusive opportunity to be part of a crucial conversation involving economic, industry, and community resources dedicated to helping manufacturers not just survive, but thrive.
This month’s interactive webinar will feature leadership from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, IMEC, and IMA. They will present the top 5 things you should be aware of this month, along with showcasing invaluable resources from our partner organizations to assist in addressing workforce gaps.
At the end of the session, there will be plenty of time for questions, feedback, and tailored answers to address your specific needs and circumstances. We encourage top-level leadership to attend and be the voice of Illinois manufacturers in this discussion.
Key takeaways from this interactive session include:
Examples of already available resources but also provide insights on how to access and utilize them effectively.
Address your specific needs, and that’s why we’ve set aside ample time for questions, feedback, and answers tailored to your concerns.
Opportunity to connect with peers, engage with stakeholders in the same industry.
Provide actionable steps for future opportunities.
Presenter
Lauro Arias
Assistant Director of the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment
Lauro Arias is assistant director of the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment, the arm of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that orchestrates export promotion and foreign direct investment. He brings a wealth of expertise in international trade to this position, including serving as director of an International Trade Center for the Illinois Small Business Development Center. A native of Uruguay, Arias studied in England where he obtained a M.Sc. in agriculture economics at the University of Reading.
David Boulay, PH.D
President, Ilinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
Dave Boulay bring a diverse blend of expertise in performance management, small business development, and organizational growth strategies to IMEC. HE has helped create and implement several initiatives to increase the flow of state and federal funding to manufacturers for projects, update worker skills, and help smaller manufacturers adopt new technology and business practices and to improve energy efficiency.
Annamarie Dorr
Regional Manager of the Office of Employment and Training at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Annamarie Dorr serves as a Regional Manager in the Office of Employment and Training at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). She has 20 years of experience in Illinois’ public workforce system, and currently works with Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIA’s) and partners throughout the Central Illinois region to administer federal workforce programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistant Act (TAA) along with other State of Illinois funded workforce initiatives. Annamarie has supported small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations to avert layoffs, worked directly with job seekers to provide employment and reemployment services and provided technical assistance and guidance to State of Illinois workforce grantees and partners. Prior to the public workforce system, Annamarie held various operations and training positions in the private sector with a focus on process improvement.
Norm Griffin
Business Service Representative, Career Link
As a Business Service Representative at Career Link, Norm Griffin leverages his expertise in workforce development to help businesses thrive in Central Illinois. With his certification as a Fellow of the Talent Pipeline Management Academy by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, he delivers customized solutions for hiring, training, and workforce development needs. Norm is committed to providing businesses with innovative solutions for sourcing and hiring top talent.
Sarah Hartwick
Workforce Policy and Executive Director, IMA Education Foundation for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Sarah Hartwick is Vice President Education & Workforce Policy and Executive Director, IMA Education Foundation for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. Prior to joining the IMA in 2021, Sarah was previously the Executive Director of ED-RED, a suburban public school district advocacy organization. Sarah has also served as the Co-Director for Legislative Affairs at the Illinois State Board of Education and has worked with education advocacy organizations including Advance Illinois and the Illinois Head Start Association. Sarah has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in political studies with minors in both communications and economics. Sarah has four children.
As a Business Service Representative at Career Link, Norm Griffin leverages his expertise in workforce development to help businesses thrive in Central Illinois. With his certification as a Fellow of the Talent Pipeline Management Academy by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, he delivers customized solutions for hiring, training, and workforce development needs. Norm is committed to providing businesses with innovative solutions for sourcing and hiring top talent
Kristy Johns
Vice President of Marketing, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
As the VP of Marketing at IMEC, I view our department at an extension of our talented field team. We provide tools and resources to help the team identify prospects, provide customer service, nurture accounts and spread the IMEC message.
With over 10 years of experience in strategic marketing, including project management, campaign development, digital marketing, graphic design, CRM integration and brand development, I have worked with clients across multiple industries, from small organizations to Fortune 500 companies. My expertise in strategic planning and implementation has helped them expand their markets and product offerings to a new or existing customer base. This also resulted in award-winning campaigns that helped to increase brand awareness. Ultimately, these organizations were able to increase efficiency and profitability through their sales channels.
Curt Rendall
Executive Director of Program Development and Innovation | Heartland Community College
Curt Rendall is the Executive Director, Program Development and Innovation at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois where he works with industry partners, community organizations, and colleagues to develop and expand programming aligned to high-wage, high-skill, in-demand careers. During his time at Heartland, he has helped secure $17 million in funding to drive innovation in Career Technical Education through flexible programming and embedded, wrap-around student supports centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Notably, Heartland was awarded a $7.5 million capital investment to establish an Electric Vehicle – Energy Storage (EVES) Manufacturing Training Academy and launch the nation’s first Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electric Vehicle Technolog
