Manufacturing the Workforce of Tomorrow

How can the manufacturing industry attract more women, develop future leaders, and create workplaces where talent can thrive?

In this episode, Toni Neary sits down with Allison Grealis, founder of the Women in Manufacturing Association, to discuss the organization's 16-year journey building a community for women across the industry. With 35,000 members and a growing network of corporate partners and chapters, Women in Manufacturing is helping create connections, elevate career opportunities, and advance women's leadership.

Allison shares why showcasing women's stories is essential to attracting the next generation of manufacturing talent, how professional development and meaningful feedback support career advancement, and why workplace flexibility and allyship are critical to retaining skilled employees. She also explains how manufacturers can take practical steps to build more inclusive workplaces where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow.

Whether you're a manufacturing leader, workforce development professional, or industry advocate, this conversation offers actionable insights into building a stronger, more diverse manufacturing workforce.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why representation and visibility matter in manufacturing recruitment.
• How professional development, feedback, and mentorship support career advancement.
• What manufacturers can do to improve retention and support employees through different life stages.
• Why allyship and collaboration are essential to advancing women in manufacturing.
• How sharing career stories can inspire the next generation of manufacturing professionals.

Learn more about Women in Manufacturing and explore opportunities to get involved through its network of members, chapters, and corporate partners.

Manufacturers are facing a persistent challenge: finding and retaining the skilled workers they need. But what if some of the talent manufacturers are looking for is already in their communities—just being overlooked?

In this episode, we sit down with Regan Brewer Johnson, CEO of Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), and Adonis Summerville, JARC's Director of Advanced Manufacturing, to explore a different approach to building the manufacturing workforce.

JARC connects people with careers in advanced manufacturing while addressing the barriers that can make traditional employment difficult. From technical training and work-readiness skills to transportation, childcare, housing, financial coaching, and other wraparound services, JARC focuses on serving the whole person, not just the worker.

Summerville shares his own powerful journey from JARC student to manufacturing leader, including how CNC training helped him build a career after incarceration despite significant transportation and financial challenges.

The conversation explores:

• How manufacturers can tap into overlooked and untapped talent pools
• Why skills-first hiring can open doors for justice-impacted individuals
• The importance of wraparound support in helping employees succeed
• How employers can rethink policies that may unintentionally exclude qualified talent
• Why workplace culture matters just as much as recruitment
• How manufacturers, workforce organizations, educators, and community partners can work together to strengthen communities

The future of manufacturing may depend on more than finding workers. It may depend on finding the workers we haven't been looking for—and creating the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

What does it take to build the next generation of skilled talent?

In this episode, Toni Neary sits down with Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA, to discuss the growing importance of career and technical education, workforce readiness, and the changing perception of skilled trades careers.

Drawing on more than two decades of leadership in education and workforce development, Travis shares her personal journey from growing up in a CTE family to leading one of the nation's largest workforce development organizations for students. The conversation explores how SkillsUSA helps students develop not only technical expertise, but also the professional and leadership skills employers are seeking today.

Toni and Chelle discuss the impact of the SkillsUSA Framework, the value of industry partnerships, and the role employers can play in supporting local workforce pipelines. They also take a closer look at the National Leadership & Skills Conference, the largest showcase of skilled trades and technical talent in the country, where thousands of students compete, connect with industry leaders, and demonstrate career-ready skills.

Whether you're an educator, manufacturer, workforce leader, parent, or industry partner, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of skilled trades and the students helping shape it.

Topics discussed:

• The SkillsUSA difference and why employers value SkillsUSA students
• The growing demand for skilled trades talent
• Workforce readiness beyond technical skills
• The National Leadership & Skills Conference
• Industry engagement and talent pipeline development
• Changing perceptions of career and technical education

Learn how SkillsUSA is helping students build confidence, leadership, and the skills needed to succeed in today's workforce.