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CONFERENCE AGENDA

Our 2-day Trade Show & Conference features 3 Keynote Presentations, 25 Breakout Conference Sessions and a variety of additional networking and connecting opportunities! Session speakers and descriptions will be announced soon.

Monday, February 23rd

PRE-CONFERENCE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS!

5:30PM - 8:00PM

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Coolest Things Made in Missouri Awards

In partnership with Springfield Business Journal, we are excited to host this statewide celebration of Missouri Manufacturing, showcasing 16 innovative, creative, and flat-out cool products made right here in the Show Me State.

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Attendees to the Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference receive special pricing to attend this event!

Tuesday, February 24th

7:00AM - 5:00PM

9:00AM - 5:00PM

REGISTRATION OPEN

EXHIBIT HALL OPEN TO ATTENDEES

8:00 - 9:00AM

OPENING KEYNOTE: Brandon Dempsey

Be Part of the Story: Designing Growth You–and Others–Want to Live In

The best leaders don’t react — they design. Brandon Dempsey helps leaders intentionally craft their days, teams, and cultures around what drives purpose and performance. You’ll discover how to unlock your own potential while empowering others to do the same.

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Brandon Dempsey
Conflux Co-Learning & GBG Marketing

9:00 - 11:00AM

Trade Show Floor Open | Visit Exhibitors

11:00AM - 12:00PM

KEYNOTE SESSION: Mike Devereux and Cara Walton

The Forces Reshaping U.S. Manufacturing

Join industry experts Mike Devereux and Cara Walton for a dynamic session on the forces reshaping U.S. manufacturing—from sweeping tax reforms to global economic shifts. Mike will break down the key provisions of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed into law in 2025, and explain how its incentives—such as immediate expensing of domestic R&D, reinstated 100% bonus depreciation, expanded Section 179 limits, and credits for new facilities—can reduce tax burdens and drive growth for manufacturers. He’ll also highlight the top tax credits and incentives every manufacturer should consider.


Cara will decode the economic, geopolitical, and tariff trends impacting North American manufacturing, sharing actionable strategies to navigate trade policies, market volatility, and shifting consumer demand. Drawing on Wipfli’s latest Manufacturing Benchmarking Report, she’ll spotlight key indicators leadership teams must track to stay agile and mitigate external risks.


Together, this session equips manufacturers with practical insights to optimize tax strategy, anticipate market changes, and strengthen competitiveness in today’s evolving landscape.

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Mike Devereux
Partner & National Manufacturing Industry Leader, Wipfli
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Cara Walton
Director, Wipfli
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Mike Devereux

Mike Devereux currently serves as Wipfli’s National Manufacturing Industry Leader. In that role, he oversees a team of professionals nationally who provide audit, tax, and consulting services to the manufacturing sector. Mike’s role is primarily focused on organic growth, increasing Wipfli’s national presence and identifying value for manufacturing clients and prospective clients. He speaks regularly to various professional and industry trade associations on ways manufacturers can reduce their Federal and state tax liabilities, and he provides insights on recent and future legislation impacting the manufacturing sector. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Manufacturing Professional (CMP).

Cara Walton

As Director in organizational performance at Wipfli, Cara Walton leads the strategic direction and growth of the firm’s manufacturing intelligence tool; an industry-leading benchmarking resource powered by over eight years of trended data from thousands of companies. She oversees data acquisition and market intelligence efforts, delivering actionable insights into business and operational performance across the manufacturing sector. Walton’s team consistently publishes intelligence on manufacturing demand, macroeconomic health and tariff dynamics. She closely studies economic, trade and policy trends impacting manufacturers and consults with clients on how to interpret data and adjust business strategies accordingly. A recognized thought leader in manufacturing economics and tariff strategy, Walton is a frequent speaker at industry events and webinars, helping manufacturers better understand market forces and navigate change with confidence.

12:00 - 1:00PM

Lunch | Networking | Visit Exhibitors

Conference
Tracks

Track Sponsors

1:30 - 2:30PM

3:30 - 4:30PM

5:30 - 8:00PM

Reception, Dinner, Keynote Presentation & MO MFG Hall of Fame Ceremony
Happy Hour & Reception Sponsor
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Dinner Sponsors
Keynote Sponsor
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DINNER KEYNOTE

From Story to Strategy: Inspiring Culture and Connection in Leadership

Rob Alberino, Vice President of Content & Production for the Kansas City Chiefs, will share how powerful storytelling can build strong organizational culture and inspire leadership at every level. Whether you're leading a team of two or two hundred, this session will leave you motivated and equipped to engage your people in meaningful ways.

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Rob Alberino

VP of Content & Production, Kansas City Chiefs
Missouri Manufacturers Hall of Fame

Class of 2026 Induction Ceremony

The Class of 2026 Inductees will be announced soon!

Wednesday, February 25th

7:30AM - 1:30PM

8:00AM - 1:30PM

REGISTRATION OPEN

EXHIBIT HALL OPEN TO ATTENDEES

8:00 - 8:45AM

KEYNOTE SESSION: Matuschka Briggs and Jeremy Hill

Brewing Insights: What Manufacturers Are Saying Before the Coffee Kicks In

In this session, Matuschka Lindo Briggs (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) and Jeremy Hill (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City) will provide a brief overview of the Federal Reserve’s role in the economy, highlighting the importance of the Federal Reserve independence and staying closely connected with firms and regional conditions, including Midwest manufacturing. They will share a snapshot of current manufacturing conditions, drawing on regional survey results and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help set a stage of recent trends. Lindo Briggs and Hill will speak on timely issues impacting manufacturers; those topics could include shifts in supply chains, labor productivity, capital investment, and technology integration. Throughout the discussion, audience participation is highly encouraged and desired in order to focus on relevant conditions impacting Midwest manufacturers.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Matuschka Lindo Briggs

Matuschka Lindo Briggs is senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In this role, she supports the Bank’s mission of promoting a healthy economy, financial stability and community development by building durable, two-way relationships with business and community leaders across the state of Arkansas to help the St. Louis Fed gain a real-time, on-the-ground understanding of economic conditions on all corners of Main Street. Throughout her career with the St. Louis Fed, Lindo Briggs has held key roles in Community Development, Public Affairs and as part of the Bank’s team that supports the fiscal agent responsibilities for the U.S. Treasury. She is a champion of strategies, programs and initiatives that advance economic equity, financial capability and community development. An accomplished communicator, negotiator and influencer, Lindo Briggs builds cross-functional collaborations and partnerships to advance change. Prior to the Fed, Lindo Briggs was a general assignment, health and political reporter, and TV/radio host with NBC and ESPN affiliates. She also served as a national moderator and political campaign press secretary. Lindo Briggs holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from William Woods University. She is active in the community and has played a key role on numerous nonprofit boards, currently serving on the Mercy Health Hospital East Communities Board, Mercy Hospital Patient Experience Board, Economics Arkansas Board and Goodwill Industries of Arkansas Board. She is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class XVII and is a member of the Little Rock Rotary Club 99. She is a voting member of the Screen Actors Guild and an avid traveler. Lindo Briggs and her husband enjoy fishing and visiting their adult children.

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Matuschka Lindo Briggs
SVP & Regional Executive,
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Jeremy Hill
AVP & Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Jeremy Hill

Jeremy Hill is assistant vice president and regional executive. In this role, Hill, based at the Bank’s head office in Kansas City, serves as the Bank’s regional economist for Kansas and Missouri, leading regional research initiatives regarding key industries and community issues across both states’ economies. He also coordinates strategic outreach initiatives to enhance the Bank’s connections throughout the two states. Hill joined the Bank in 2024 from the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University, where he served as director since 2009. In that role, he engaged with a variety of stakeholders, including economic developers, community and civic leaders, business leaders and others on a wide range of economic issues affecting Kansas. His work at Wichita State included creating and managing indexes, developing economic forecasts, and leading outreach events with a diverse set of participants. Prior to 2009, Jeremy served in roles of increasing responsibility at the Coastal Rivers Water Planning & Policy Center and the Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development, both in Statesboro, Georgia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University. As the regional headquarters of the nation’s central bank, the Kansas City Fed and its branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha serve the seven states of the Tenth District: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.

Conference
Tracks

Leadership
Economic Playbook
Workforce/HR
Operations & Innovation
Marketing

9:30 - 10:30AM

11AM - 12PM

12:00 - 1:30PM

Lunch | Networking | Exhibitor Giveaways

Session times, topics and speakers are subject to change.

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 1329 E. REPUBLIC RD. SUITE J

SPRINGFIELD, MO  65804

PHONE: 417-863-7262

The Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference is an annual event hosted by the Missouri Association of Manufacturers with a goal of connecting Midwest manufacturers, suppliers, resources and technologies to strengthen the overall industry throughout the Midwest.

 

To learn more about the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, please visit our website at www.MAMstrong.org.

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