NFFS to Present at AFS Metalcasting Congress

NFFS to Present “Hire for Fit, Train for Skill” 
at the AFS 2026 Metalcasting Congress

Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society (NFFS) is pleased to announce that Bill Padnos, Director of Workforce Development, and Bruce Warner, Frontier Flag Lead for the Talent Pipeline Program (TPP), will present the paper Hire for Fit, Train for Skill: Building Effective, Motivated Teams in Today’s Foundry Workforce at the AFS 2026 Metalcasting Congress. The session is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 8:00 am at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This presentation will address one of the most urgent issues affecting the metalcasting sector: the growing shortage of skilled labor and its impact on productivity, quality, and competitiveness. Padnos and Warner will outline a practical, proven model for building stronger foundry teams through intentional workforce development. Attendees will learn how to move beyond the traditional “post and hope” hiring model and adopt a structured approach that attracts, develops, and retains the right people. The session will highlight real case studies from foundries that improved performance, reduced turnover, and strengthened culture through their involvement in the NFFS Talent Pipeline Program.

“Workforce development is not an HR responsibility; it is a business strategy,” Padnos said.
“Foundries that invest in people see direct results in engagement, safety, and throughput.
When you hire for fit, train for skill, and retain for life, everything else improves.”

No Need to Wait Until April: Start Today

NFFS members do not need to wait for the Metalcasting Congress to learn about these strategies or begin implementing them. Workforce challenges are urgent, and solutions are available now.

NFFS TPP Cohort is actively supporting foundries nationwide as they adopt modern approaches to hiring, onboarding, and retention. Members can engage with the TPP today to begin strengthening their workforce systems, connect with qualified candidates, and access tools that make immediate operational impact. Whether a foundry wants help improving supervisor engagement, reducing early turnover, creating better career pathways, or building partnerships with schools and community organizations, the TPP offers guidance backed by real results.

Foundries that get involved early gain a competitive advantage. They start to fill their talent pipeline with better-fit applicants, build more consistent onboarding systems, and create stable, engaged teams long before the challenges of peak production seasons arrive. Many NFFS members see improvements within weeks, not years.

Why Attend the Session

The upcoming AFS Congress presentation will give attendees a deeper look at the strategy, the data, and the real-world practices behind Hire for Fit, Train for Skill, Retain for Life. Padnos and Warner will walk through the three pillars of the model, highlight examples of what works in foundries of different sizes, and share practical steps leaders can take to build a high-performing workforce.

Attendees will walk away with:

• Immediate actions to improve hiring and onboarding
• Tools to strengthen supervisor accountability and employee engagement
• Examples of measurable results from TPP partner foundries
• A clear roadmap for aligning workforce development with production goals

Join Us in Grand Rapids

The AFS Metalcasting Congress remains the industry’s leading event for innovation, education, and networking. NFFS encourages members and industry partners to attend this important workforce-focused session and bring back strategies to strengthen their teams and support long-term success.

To learn about the Talent Pipeline Program or schedule a meeting before the conference, visit www.nffs.org/tpp or contact bill@nffs.org.