Nurturing relationships required for manufacturing to thrive

It was my great honor to lead SME during our 90th year. As my colleagues and I on the SME Board of Directors worked to build on my predecessors’ successes, we centered our focus on workforce development. To support the growing need for personnel in all aspects of manufacturing, we leveraged all of SME’s offerings toward the preparation of a grounded, inspired workforce and named a chief workforce development officer.

Throughout this 2022 Annual Report, you have seen our outreach and our work to retain and increase the manufacturing industry’s talent base. When I look back at SME’s impact in 2022, I think of a quote from James Comer of No Child Left Behind: “No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship.” For SME, and for manufacturing itself, that relationship prompts learning about our technologies and their roles in improving quality of life for all.

Since SME’s beginnings in 1932, our organization remains the sole international professional association that represents and convenes individuals from all facets of manufacturing across the U.S. and in 15 other countries. As we look ahead to our next 90 years, we see that SME is positioned to form and nurture the relationships required for manufacturing to thrive.

I thank you for the privilege of leadership and look forward to seeing all of you at SME events.

Sincerely,