Conference Track Sponsor
MARKETING TRACK
Day 1, Tuesday, February 24th
1:30 – 2:30PM
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.
_JPG.jpg)
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.
3:30 – 4:30PM
Make Selling Effortless and Supercharge Your SEO: Unlock the Hidden Power of FAQs with AI
What if every sales rep could instantly access your company's best answers to the toughest questions? What if prospects found YOU when they search for solutions at midnight? This workshop reveals how manufacturers can use AI-powered FAQ libraries to onboard reps faster, win more deals, and dominate search rankings—without hiring a content team. You'll leave with templates, tools, and a plan to build your own library starting today
Steph Cummings | Creative Director, GBG Marketing
Steph leads GBG's creative team with 11 years of evolution from copywriter to strategic visionary. She's pioneered AI-enhanced content strategies that bring enterprise-level sophistication to industrial clients—fast. From product naming to full campaigns, she translates complex technical stories into high-performing content. A speaker at industry events like MDMC, she's known for strategic workshops and an infectious laugh. When not crafting strategies, she's solving crosswords, exploring outer space with her two boys, and birdwatching.
Nicole Turner | President, GBG Marketing
Nicole has spent 12+ years leading GBG's evolution into a human-centric, AI-powered content marketing company. Spending half her time in sales gives her unique insight into what manufacturers actually need to grow. She's passionate about making enterprise marketing tools accessible to small and mid-sized industrial companies at a fraction of traditional agency costs. Her leadership blends operational excellence with creative ambition and relentless curiosity. A mom of two kids, Nicole pursues a life of meaningful presence and joy where all things spicy and pickled are mandatory.
Day 2, Wednesday, February 25th
9:30 – 10:30AM
Be the Answer, Not the Link: Competing in an AI-First Search Landscape
In this session, industrial marketing experts Allen Fennewald and Erik Schlosser from Gorilla 76 will help Midwest manufacturers understand how AI tools like ChatGPT are changing buyer behavior. They'll give you practical strategies to ensure your company shows up when prospects search for a solution.
​
Attendees will leave with a clear framework to audit their current visibility and actionable steps to create content that positions them as THE answer, not just another link.
Allen Fennewald | Associate Content Director, Gorilla 76
Allen Fennewald is the Associate Content Director at Gorilla 76, specializing in product development and conversion copy. Before joining the marketing industry, he oversaw multiple local newspapers as regional editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune. He also reported for news outlets in cities such as Washington D.C., Jefferson City and St. Louis. Allen graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s in English, creative writing, followed by a master’s in journalism. He grew up on a farm in rural Audrain County, Missouri, and currently lives in St. Louis with his wife, Lia; dog, Dawson; and cat, Nixina. In his off time, Allen enjoys playing Halo with his wife, making music with his friends and writing creative fiction.
Erik Schlosser | Strategist, Gorilla 76
Erik Schlosser is a Demand Generation Strategist at with an analytics background at Gorilla 76. He follows detailed data stories to chart the clearest path forward for clients. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in digital marketing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Before joining Gorilla, he worked for both in-house marketing departments and at agencies. He built highly targeted ad campaigns using detailed customer data and audience segmentation across a range of industries, from franchising to hospitality to construction. Outside of work, Erik enjoys all things outdoors. You can find him on his bike, trail running or camping with his partner Hannah – and sometimes even with their two leash trained cats, Owl and Duck. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri but also roams trails of our national parks whenever he can.
11:00AM – 12:00PM
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.
​
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
-
Define their purpose and understand why it’s a business driver (not just a tagline).
-
Differentiate their brand with messaging that connects to customers, employees, and community values.
-
Leverage low-cost, high-impact marketing strategies that actually work for manufacturers.
-
Use storytelling to humanize their company — showing the “faces behind the factory.”
-
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.