Conference Track Sponsor
LEADERSHIP TRACK
Day 1, Tuesday, February 24th
1:30 – 2:30PM
Quality Time Remaining: Leading with Purpose in a Demanding Industry
Your 90-day blueprint to discover who you are, what you want, and how to get it in the time you have left.
​
In this session, Steve Baker, author of Quality Time Remaining, will help manufacturing leaders step back from the daily grind and refocus on what truly moves the needle. Drawing from his Quality Time Remaining™ framework, Steve will show how to reclaim clarity, strengthen accountability, and create a 90-day plan that drives both professional performance and personal purpose. Attendees will leave with practical tools to lead with intention and make their remaining time count where it matters most.
Steve Baker | Vice President, The Great Game of Business, Inc.
Steve Baker is vice president of The Great Game of Business, Inc. Steve coauthored Get in the Game as well as the update of the number one bestseller, The Great Game of Business—20th Anniversary Edition. Known for his engaging and irreverent style, Steve is a top-rated, sought-after speaker and coach on open-book management, strategy and execution, leadership, and employee engagement. His audiences range from Harvard University to the Department of Defense, and he is a regular at Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 Conference. He has served on the Board of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and SRC Holding’s Ownership Culture Initiative. Steve is an award-winning artist and lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife, JoAnn, and three children.
3:30 – 4:30PM
Unleashing Your Company's Growth Potential: From Operational to Market Driven
Many well-run companies face the frustrating reality that operational excellence doesn’t always lead to growth. This presentation provides a powerful, research-backed framework designed to help CEOs and business leaders shift from an operational focus to a market-driven approach. Drawing from the evidence-based Growth Gears model and insights from a Mid-Market CEO research study conducted with the University of Texas McCombs School of Business, this session will help you unlock sustainable organic growth potential by aligning your strategy with market insights and leveraging AI to supercharge execution.
Rob Godlewski | Area Managing Partner & CMO, Chief Outsiders
A growth-oriented, process driven senior level executive, Rob offers progressive global leadership experience and commercial awareness across all aspects of business operations. With a track record of accomplishments in Corporate Strategy, Business Growth and Organizational Excellence, he creates processes and procedures that drive profitability, improve productivity, focus on continuous improvement, and decrease costs. Demonstrating dedication to the highest level of professional ethics and excellence, Rob brings exceptional communication and people skills and intuitive business judgment.
David Austin | CSO, Chief Outsiders
With extensive experience in sales leadership and key account management, David leads all aspects of commercial business operations. Bringing expertise in solution selling a broad portfolio of products and services, he develops territory growth strategies and navigates complex sales cycles in highly matrixed environments to exceed revenue and profitability targets. With a deep understanding of the competitive landscape and an ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders, he drives implementation through plans, processes and actions that are measurable, sustainable and transparent.
Day 2, Wednesday, February 25th
9:00 – 10:00AM
Leading Through the Numbers – Turning Data into a Culture of Accountability
Session description coming soon.
Mike Payne | President, Hill Manufacturing
With a background spanning software development and private equity, Mike Payne has been involved in over 100 business acquisitions across various industries. In 2018, he acquired Hill Manufacturing, aiming to revitalize the company through technological advancements and operational efficiencies.
10:30 – 11:30AM
CMMC Go Live & the Impact on Midwest Manufacturers
Join NTMA and MAM partner and DoD contractor SSE for an in-depth discussion of CMMC, that took affect Q4 2025...
​
• What does this mean for Midwest manufacturers supporting DoD contracts?
• Successful compliance planning for small-medium sized businesses
• Learn from SSE’s own CMMC certification experience
• Risks and best practices for Midwest manufacturers
Robert "Bob" Duffey | Chief Operating Officer, SSE, Inc.
Bob Duffey joined SSE in July 2020 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In his current role as COO he oversees network operations and cybersecurity services, along with leading SSE’s client engagement and business development efforts. Bob brings over 20 years of sales leadership and experience in developing client relationships and revenue growth across multiple industries to the SSE leadership team. Prior to joining SSE, Bob was Director of National Sales for Gannett where he was responsible for new business development across a network of 100+ local media properties and USA TODAY. Bob is a graduate of Truman State University and serves on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Crisis Nursery.