2026 NFFS Industry Executive Conference

     
The New Congress and White House and their 2025 Priorities

Omar Nashashibi, Inside Beltway
Saturday, February 22 • 8:30–9:30 a.m.

As the dust settles from the November 2024 elections, join Omar S. Nashashibi, a seasoned expert with over twenty-five years of experience lobbying in Washington, D.C., for a deep dive into the new political landscape and its implications for downstream manufacturing businesses. Mr. Nashashibi, founder of the nonpartisan lobbying and consulting firm Inside Beltway, will provide an insightful analysis of the newly elected Congress and the White House's priorities for 2025. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how the election results will shape policy directions on critical issues such as trade, taxes, environmental and workplace regulations, and workforce development. With his extensive background in strategic consulting and lobbying for manufacturers, Mr. Nashashibi will also highlight opportunities for businesses to engage with the new administration and Congress on important issues affecting non-ferrous foundries.

Economic Outlook 2026: Insights and Strategies for a Changing Industrial Landscape

Michael Feuz, ITR Economics
Saturday, February 22 • 9:30–11:00 a.m.

Back by popular demand, Michael Feuz of ITR Economics returns to deliver another dynamic and data-driven look at the economy shaping the future of metalcasting. In this in-depth session, Michael will examine both short- and long-term economic forecasts, highlighting trends in the U.S. and global economies most relevant to non-ferrous foundries and the broader metalcasting industry.

Attendees will gain practical insight into ITR Economics’ Management Objectives, learn to identify their company’s position within the Business Cycle Phases, and discover key leading economic indicators that signal where opportunities and challenges lie ahead. The presentation will also address the latest developments in inflation, interest rates, and tax policy, and explore how current events and market conditions are influencing industrial demand, investment, and workforce dynamics.

As always, Michael will provide actionable strategies to help business leaders make informed decisions, anticipate change, and position their organizations for sustained success—combining serious economic insight with a relaxing "island style" delivery.

Sales ≠ Marketing

Alexandria Trusov, Alpha Resources LLC
Saturday, February 22 • 11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Marketing and sales are not the same functions. The two business fields vary enough to require different knowledge and skill sets for success. Combining them is like combining Accounting and Customer Service – it doesn’t make sense. However, in manufacturing we sometimes must embrace the resources we have. If your sales leadership is currently heading up strategy for your company’s marketing, join this session presented by Alexandria Trusov, Global Marketing Director for Alpha Resources LLC, for insights and tips into ways to make your marketing strategy an investment that pays long-term dividends for your foundry.

Casting the Future: Empowering Your Foundry to Inspire Tomorrow's Talent

Josh Cramer, BlueForge Alliance
Michelle Kerns, Foundry Educational Foundation
Toni Neary, SME
Sunday, February 22 • 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

By 2030, the U.S. foundry industry is projected to face a staggering 383,000 unfilled jobs. The challenge is clear, but so is the opportunity. Foundries that take the lead in cultivating local workforce pipelines will not only secure their future talent but also strengthen their role as community anchors.

In this dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Bill Padnos, NFFS Director of Workforce Development, top workforce development experts will share proven strategies for engaging students, forging lasting partnerships with schools and training programs, and leveraging community outreach and social media to showcase the exciting opportunities in metalcasting.

Participants will gain practical tools, real-world success stories, and scalable models they can apply immediately to attract and inspire the next generation of workers. Walk away with fresh ideas and actionable steps to ensure your foundry stays competitive, resilient, and ready for the future.

Building Your Future: Strengthening Workforce Development through the NFFS Talent Pipeline Program

Joe Barto, TMG Inc. & Bill Padnos, Non-Ferrous Founders' Society
Sunday, February 22 • 3:00–3:45 p.m.

During this session, we will introduce the Navy Talent Pipeline Program (TPP) and explore how it addresses the critical need for workforce development strategies within the non-ferrous foundry industry. Attendees will gain insights into the TPP’s mission, its focus on building sustainable talent pipelines, and how it equips foundries with practical tools for recruiting, training, and retaining a skilled workforce. We will discuss the key benefits of participating in the program, including access to in-plant consulting, hands-on coaching, and proven best practices in talent acquisition and retention. The session will also feature success stories and key outcomes from companies already engaged in the program.

Maximizing R&D Tax Credits for Your Foundry Operations

Rick Lazio, alliantgroup
Saturday, February 22 • 4:00–5:00 p.m.

In today's rapidly evolving foundry industry, businesses must adopt strategic approaches to maintain competitiveness, enhance ROI, and retain skilled workers. Our industry experts will lead an engaging discussion on current trends and provide practical advice that foundries can implement immediately to stay ahead of the curve. A key focus of our discussion will be the critical role of Research and Development Credits (R&D) in the foundry sector. With technological advancements and increasing demands for precision and efficiency, the R&D credit has become more crucial than ever. We'll explore how foundries can leverage R&D to innovate their processes, improve product quality, and reduce costs. Importantly, we'll address the new documentation requirements for R&D activities in foundries. Even if your foundry is already claiming R&D credits, it's essential to take a second look at your documentation practices. Recent changes in regulations mean that many foundries may be missing out on valuable tax incentives or risk non-compliance. Our experts will guide you through these new requirements, ensuring you're maximizing your benefits while staying fully compliant.

Mastering Regulatory Challenges: Advanced OSHA and EPA Compliance for Foundries

Martha and Skip Guimond, Joseph A. Guimond & Associates
Sunday, February 23 • 8:30–9:45 a.m.

Join us for a high-energy session with Skip and Martha Guimond as they delve into the latest OSHA and EPA issues impacting foundries. Gain expert insights into recent enforcement trends and receive targeted guidance on the most effective compliance strategies for foundries. Skip and Martha's straightforward approach demystifies the regulations, providing you with clear, actionable information to enhance your company’s compliance and safety programs.

Closing the Gap Between Vision and Reality

Michael Watkins & Dave Capkovitz, EBITDA Growth Systems
Sunday, February 23 • 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Entrepreneurs start their businesses with a vision for success, growth and profitability. In their own minds, the opportunity for substantial wealth will be worth the trade-off from the safety and stability of working for someone else. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that most businesses are simply surviving. They are a far cry from generating substantial wealth for their owners. It doesn’t have to be that way. Particularly not for manufacturers. Michael Watkins and Dave Capkovitz, the profitability experts at EBITDA Growth Systems (EGS), will introduce a coaching framework and approach that is so powerful that they have the following brand promise – “We will double the value of your business in three years or give you your money back”.  

Based upon industry best practices and traditional methods that have served major corporations for decades, "Closing the Gap Between Vision and Reality," is a 55-minute session aimed at equipping NFFS member companies with practical strategies to enhance revenue and profitability. The presentation introduces two foundational tools: the EGS equation and the EGS CM2™ Capability Maturity Model. EGS coaches use these tools to provide a structured approach to moving manufacturers from ad hoc processes to optimized operational maturity and financial success.

Manufacturing Money: Grants to Support Your Company’s Growth

Micki Vandeloo, Lakeview Consulting Inc.
Sunday, February 23 • 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

You have never heard this session before, and you will not want to miss this presentation on how to find and leverage grants to improve your foundry operations. This session will inform participants of the why, what and how of manufacturing grants. Micki Vandeloo, President of Lakeview Consulting, Inc., the only manufacturing focused grant consultancy in the country, will discuss what manufacturing grants are, why manufacturers should pursue grant funding, and how manufacturers can access these grants. Micki will provide examples of companies who have received grants to fund their success and will highlight grant opportunities conference participants can pursue upon return to their offices to help support their growth.