Conference Track Sponsor
MARKETING TRACK
Day 1, Tuesday, February 24th
1:30 – 2:30PM
Where Purpose Meets Production: Marketing Breakthroughs for Manufacturers
When purpose meets production, your brand becomes more than a product — it becomes a promise. In this session, Maria Berra of Spoke Marketing will show manufacturers how to connect their “why” to their “what,” using strategies proven to drive sales, attract talent, and build long-term loyalty.
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By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
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Define their purpose and understand why it’s a business driver (not just a tagline).
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Differentiate their brand with messaging that connects to customers, employees, and community values.
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Leverage low-cost, high-impact marketing strategies that actually work for manufacturers.
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Use storytelling to humanize their company — showing the “faces behind the factory.”
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Identify key marketing metrics to measure what’s working (and stop wasting money on what’s not).
Maria Berra | Account Executive, Spoke Marketing
Maria Berra is an Account Executive at Spoke Marketing. She earned two master’s degrees from Fontbonne University in Fine Art and Graphic Design. Before moving into marketing, Maria taught Art and Design at St. Louis Community College – Meramec, ITT Technical Institute, and Ursuline Academy. She later transitioned into corporate design and marketing roles, where she combined her creativity with a talent for building strong client relationships. That experience led her to account management at Spoke, where she works alongside a team of creative professionals helping clients bring their ideas to life.
3:30 – 4:30PM
Be the Answer, Not the Link: Competing in an AI-First Search Landscape
AI is changing how customers find suppliers, and most searches now end without a single click. This session shows Midwest manufacturers how to stay visible when AI tools choose the answers for buyers. Learn how to position your company so you’re the trusted result, not buried below it.
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Attendees will learn to:
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Understand how AI-driven search picks winners.
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Become the “answer” customers receive in zero-click results.
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Strengthen authority and trust signals AI engines reward.
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Create simple, problem-focused content that AI favors.
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Protect and grow visibility in an AI-first marketplace.
Speaker coming soon.
Speaker bio coming soon.
Day 2, Wednesday, February 25th
9:00 – 10:00AM
The Sales Multiplier: AI Tools that Actually Move Revenue
In this session, Brandon Dempsey will cut through the AI-hype and show how small and medium sized manufacturers are using practical AI solutions to bring in real business. This session breaks down simple tools that boost lead quality, shorten sales cycles, and strengthen customer relationships. Attendees will leave with clear examples and ready to use tactics that can help their teams win more work.
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Brandon Dempsey | VP of Sales, GBG Marketing
Brandon spends his time riding motorcycles, playing with his daughters, and adventuring with his wife and family around the globe. To pay for that fun, he oversees GBG, a marketing firm for manufacturing and distribution companies looking to leverage marketing for growth. For over 20 years Brandon has run his own company cold-calling his way into Fortune 100 companies and working at kitchen tables with new entrepreneurs. Today he oversees a growing firm that serves industrial companies across the globe with a presence in the US market.
9:00 – 10:00AM
The Power of Owning & Sharing YOUR Story
Every manufacturer has a story, but too many don't share it. Is your company the "the best kept secret" in your area? In this session, you'll learn why owning and sharing your company’s story isn’t abstract marketing, it’s a strategic advantage that sets Midwest manufacturers apart in a crowded market. We’ll break down how to turn real operational grit, people, and purpose into messages that sell, recruit, and build trust. Walk away with practical tools to communicate your story clearly, consistently, and confidently, both internally and externally.
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Chris Luecke | Host, Manufacturing Happy Hour Podcast
Chris Luecke is a Podcaster, Marketer, and Content Creator in the manufacturing industry and the host of the top-ranked podcast Manufacturing Happy Hour. Described as "TEDx meets 'How It's Made," Manufacturing Happy Hour goes beyond the buzzwords and dissects real-life applications and success stories through candid interviews with executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. To date, Chris has interviewed over 200 leaders in the industrial sector in an effort to simplify and explore the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers.