In October 2023, the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber launched its first Leadership Accelerator Forum, setting the stage for dynamic discussions among manufacturing executives at a complementary event tied to our Manufacturing Matters Awards Dinner.
This forum provided a rare opportunity for CEOs and industry leaders from companies like Wagstaff, Kaiser, and Fabtech to tackle pressing issues head-on, from workforce shortages to the integration of automation, in a candid and open environment.
A Platform for Open Dialogue
The Leadership Accelerator Forum was designed with a clear mission: to create a space where CEOs and key leaders could engage in candid discussions about the pressing issues shaping their businesses in today’s dynamic manufacturing sector.
The event underscored the critical challenge of finding skilled labor, a concern amplified by demographic shifts and changing industry demands. Leaders explored solutions including advanced training and succession planning, highlighting the forum’s role in not just discussing problems but actively seeking out solutions.
The forum also delved into the transformative potential of automation. While automation promises to revolutionize manufacturing processes, it also brings challenges that each business must navigate, such as how to prepare to balance automation with human labor and what those implications mean for their workforce.
Industry Partners and Collaboration
The involvement of industry partners NIMA (Northwest I-90 Manufacturing Alliance) and Impact WA amplified the success of the Leadership Accelerator Forum. These organizations played a critical role in shaping the discussions and providing valuable resources and perspectives.
The collaboration between Custom Fabrication Design and Fabtech emerged as a tangible success story, demonstrating the forum’s effectiveness in fostering practical outcomes through dialogue and networking.
During a discussion about workforce issues, Bobby Wiese, the CEO of Custom Fabrication Design, shared his organization’s struggle with finding skilled workers. Matt Lynch, the CEO of Fabtech, shared his positive experience with the AJAC advanced manufacturing apprenticeship program. Fabtech had successfully integrated multiple apprentices from AJAC, who had proven to be valuable assets to the company. Inspired by this, Bobby reached out to AJAC and was able to quickly hire a skilled worker, addressing one of his critical workforce challenges.
Moving Forward
The forum’s success has led to it becoming a triannual event, proving the value of open dialogue and collaboration among our regional manufacturing leaders to navigate market complexities and drive innovation.
One distinctive feature of the Leadership Accelerator Forum is that it offers executives in the Greater Spokane Valley a unique space to help everyone improve their business through shared challenges and collaborative solutions. Rather than leading the conversation, we rely on our manufacturing partners to guide the discussions that are most relevant to their business. This allows us to delve into a wider range of topics in each meeting based on the feedback we receive.
