Emily Wilkins
Founder & CEO, Marketing Metal
Emily is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience helping small manufacturers reach their business goals through strategic branding, positioning, and marketing. Her philosophy is that Radical job shops need grit and courage because being adored by some often means being disliked by others; they stand against something just as much as they stand for something; they are rebellious and unafraid to show it which generates the type of fanatical following that can’t be bought.

Through her own Radical agency, Marketing Metal, Emily helps job shops make big profits and even bigger impact by building them a Radical brand and marketing machine in just a few days–and empowering them to use it. She believes that in order for manufacturers to be effective with their marketing, it needs to be stupid simple and laser focused.

Emily has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kettering University (formerly GMI) in Business Administration & Marketing, graduating with honors, along with a full term of study in LEAN manufacturing and management in Germany, plus 2.5 years of full-time work experience as a co-op student on a variety of marketing and R&D teams.

Living in the woods of Saugatuck, MI, Emily and her husband spend most of their free time outdoors–racing sailboats and swimming in the summer, and skiing and hiking in the winter. The rest of the time, they’re usually found cooking up something delicious in the kitchen while jamming to a wide variety of great music or spending time with their gigantic families.

Jacob Sanchez
Industrial Show Host at MSC Industrial Supply Co.

Jacob Sanchez only has the career he does today because the cooking class was full in high school. This manufacturing and automation leader only started his CNC machining journey in school because he was thrown into it. Since he was fifteen, he learned CAD CAM software for CNC machining. A skill that would further develop once he joined Titans of CNC academy as a founding member in high school! Creating one of California's top advanced manufacturing programs at his school before joining Titan Gilroy full-time to help develop what is now the academy! Six years as a 5-axis CNC mill programmer and machinist for aerospace and medical led to Jacob being an on-camera talent for many educational videos at the academy!

The automation bug bit him when the first robot arrived at their shop in Texas. After that, he knew it was something he needed to pursue! Fast forward to Jacob taking a job in Michigan as an application engineer for custom automation equipment, where he is again thrown into the unknown. During his two years as an engineer, he started his LinkedIn channel, which has grown to what you know and love now! With almost 7,000 followers and over 10 million views, Jacob has found a new mission to educate the world on what goes on in our industry. He is a public speaker at tradeshows, a podcast guest, and an advocate for Gen-Z to be respected and have a voice in our industry! His main focus? To get people out of their boxes, bring a burning excitement to the work we do every day, and help connect people with the right solutions for their challenges, no matter how big or small.

Eddie Saunders Jr.
Founder @ Speak Friend

Eddie Saunders Jr. is a passionate thought leader in the world of Content Strategy & Demand Generation. With 14+ years of experience in the field, he has proven himself to be an innovative and strategic thinker, consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the industry. Throughout his career, Eddie has built a reputation for his ability to create compelling and effective marketing campaigns that drive results. His expertise spans a wide range of areas, including branding, digital marketing, social media, and more.

What sets Eddie apart is his deep understanding of the customer journey and his ability to create experiences that resonate with audiences on a personal level. He is a firm believer in the power of empathy and uses this approach to connect with customers and build long-lasting relationships. Eddie's accomplishments speak for themselves. He has led successful marketing initiatives for some of the industry's largest and most well-known brands, and his work has been recognized across the industry. He is also a sought-after speaker and thought leader, regularly sharing his insights and expertise with audiences around the world.

Whether he's crafting a new campaign or sharing his knowledge with others, Eddie is driven by his passion for marketing and his commitment to delivering results. He is a true innovator in the industry and proud to help take Industrial Marketing to the next level.

Hallie Haupt
Social Media Manager, IQ Manufacturing

Hallie is the Director of Marketing at IQ Manufacturing. Her role encompasses key responsibilities such as marketing, purchasing, and overseeing certain operational tasks. Hallie leads the development of IQ's marketing strategies with a deep understanding of the manufacturing industry. These strategies not only highlight IQ's exceptional capabilities to potential and existing customers across diverse industries, but they also strive to bolster overall brand awareness within the sector. Through her efforts, Hallie aims to capture the interest of the next generation and encourage them to learn more within the manufacturing industry.

Beyond her duties at IQ Manufacturing, Hallie also serves as the Events Committee Chair for the Women of Aerospace Association of Michigan. In this role, she passionately advocates for the manufacturing and aerospace sectors, inspiring young girls to explore the opportunities within these fields.

Shae Eichele
Host of Manufacturing Muscle Podcast

Shae Eichele is the marketing coordinator and business development specialist at The HEH Group. Since joining The HEH Group in 2020, Eichele has been a part of planning and executing various events, tradeshows, digital marketing, and social media campaigns. The company's social media following has grown to over 8,000 followers as it continues to adapt with an aggressive marketing strategy across multiple channels. Recently, her role expanded to include prospecting and inside sales. She is also pursuing her MBA at Bowling Green State University.

In July of 2023, Eichele began the Manufacturing Muscle podcast to encourage educators and students to consider manufacturing as a career choice. Through this platform, she wants to connect more schools directly to the manufacturing industry and expose the next generation to opportunities in STEM and manufacturing fields.

Chris Luecke
Host of Manufacturing Happy Hour

Chris Luecke is a Podcaster, Marketer, and Content Creator in the manufacturing industry and the host of the top-ranked podcast Manufacturing Happy Hour. Described as "TEDx meets 'How It's Made," Manufacturing Happy Hour goes beyond the buzzwords and dissects real-life applications and success stories through candid interviews with executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. To date, Chris has interviewed over 200 leaders in the industrial sector in an effort to simplify and explore the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers.

Ed Dernulc
Director of the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation at Fabricators and Manufacturing Association

Ed Dernulc joined Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs in March 2018 as director of the foundation. Prior to joining NBT, Ed had a 22-year career in banking and wealth management for Chicagoland banks such as Northern Trust, LaSalle Bank, Harris Bank, and Amcore. In 2007, he went into the fund-raising arena, joining Alexian Brothers Hospital Foundation where he served for six years. He also served as the executive director of the Norwegian American Hospital Foundation before joining NBT.

Ed has an M.B.A in Business Administration from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois where he was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He has a B.S. in Finance from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He currently serves on the operating board for Lutheran General Hospital, the advisory council for Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business, and is a board member for the Backyard Experience in Schaumburg, Illinois. He and his wife Donna have lived in Park Ridge, Illinois for over 25 years along with their son Andrew.

Danielle Schneider
Applications Engineer at Pridgeon & Clay
Women in Manufacturing:
– National Association Vice Chair
– Education Foundation Board of Directors
– Western Michigan Chapter Past Chair

Danielle Schneider is an Applications Engineer at Pridgeon & Clay, Inc. and has held numerous roles at P&C over the last ten years. In her current position, Danielle drives sales by creating working relationships with customer engineering teams and turning concepts into products that can be successfully launched in a manufacturing environment. Danielle received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2008, with a minor in product design. She continued her passion for learning and in 2010 received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Throughout Danielle's years of experience in the automotive industry, she has become an ally to women in manufacturing and has worked hard to encourage young women who have joined the industry. This passion led her to organize the group of women that launched the Western Michigan chapter of Women in Manufacturing (WiM). The West Michigan chapter is about to celebrate 5 years of growth in 2024! WiM promotes, inspires, and supports women and their male allies who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. Because of her dedication to WiM's mission, Danielle was named as a director on the National Association Board of Women in Manufacturing. She was recently appointed to the position of Vice Chair as well as a director on WiM's Education Foundation board for the 2024 fiscal year.

Dynamic Machines offers over 200 years of combined machine tool and manufacturing experience. They are uniquely qualified to sell and service CNC machine tools from single, stand-alone units to complex, multimachine turnkey systems. Check them out at Booth #900!

DVF 5000 5-axis machining centers are designed for component manufacturers looking to machine high-precision, complex parts in one hit. Equipped with leading-edge technology and supplied ‘automation-ready', these machines will take your productivity and performance to a whole new level.

Metric

• Max. Spindle Speed: 18000 r/min

• X-Axis Travel Distance: 625 mm

• Y-Axis Travel Distance: 450 mm

Imperial

• Max. Spindle Speed: 18000 RPM

• X-Axis Travel Distance: 25-inch

• Y-Axis Travel Distance: 18-inch

Solutions for complex shapes

• 12000 / 18000 r/min high-speed spindle

• 2-axis tilting table from Ø400 mm to Ø800

• Table turning function: DVF 6500T / DVF 8000T

• High torque spindle of 426 N.m: DVF 8000T/50

Vander Ziel Machinery Sales Inc. buys and sells a variety of new and used machinery, from ironworkers to welding equipment. As a member of the MDNA, they ensure the reliability and integrity of their products. Check them out at booth #614!

• Clausing 8" x 18" Hand Surface Grinder

• Scotchman 50-ton Expo

• Siegmund 28 Welding Table Expo

• And More!

MEGATEL CNC Solutions Inc. is proud to showcase our star attractions: 5-axis Gantry VMC (APEC G800-TR) and 3-axis High-Speed VMC (HURON RDX 30).

Explore MEGATEL CNC, a top-tier metalworking MEGATEL CNC SOLUTIONS INC solutions provider in North America. With 45 years of refined expertise, we proudly announce our expansion into the United States, with our inaugural Michigan office opening in early 2025.

With an unparalleled 45 years of expertise in the North American metalworking industry, MEGATEL CNC brings innovation and reliability to the forefront. Our unique approach to service and application engineering is powered by a dynamic team of 25 in-house field technicians and application engineers strategically stationed across eastern Canada. Rest assured, your service inquiries are met with lightning-fast response times, guaranteed within 24 hours!

Spanning a sprawling expanse of over 70,000 square feet across three pivotal
manufacturing sectors in Canada, our state-of-the-art showrooms and workshops showcase an extensive range of machinery, technology, and spare parts. This infrastructure not only facilitates expedited machine deliveries but also ensures swift parts deployment, empowering your operations with efficiency and agility.

Join us at booth #1122 and witness firsthand the future of metalworking!

DeVos Place® is a premier convention center located in beautiful downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s within perfect walking distance to staple bars and restaurants with a variety of cuisines. Plus, being alongside the Grand River, it features a killer view.

 There are several free public parking options within the surrounding area for AME attendees and there’s easy access to the local major highway systems.