• Jennifer Piercy, WVMA, Moderator
• Stephanie Riggs, US Methanol

Join industry leaders for a focused discussion on the experiences, achievements, and challenges of women working across our manufacturing sector. 

• Bill Bissett, WVMA, Moderator

A lobbyist, a reporter, and a legislator walk into a…

You won’t want to miss this discussion! Panelists will rehash the 2026 General Election results and its potential impact on the 2027 legislative session and the WVMA legislative agenda.

• Jenny McArdle, Ph.D.
• Heath Smooth

Get to know the WVMA’s newest member. 

Helsing, Europe's leading defense technology and AI company, is building autonomous mass at its first U.S. Resilience Factory in West Virginia. The factory will produce the HX-2 strike drone, which is combat-proven in Ukraine, where thousands of systems have been deployed to the front lines. Dr. Jennifer McArdle, General Manager of Helsing US, and Production Lead Heath Smooth will present on the company's software-first production philosophy and its roadmap for scaling American production in West Virginia.

• Marvin Woodie, Conn-Weld Industries, Moderator

Retaining employees is hard but some companies have the special sauce! This discussion focuses on the evolution of the modern workplace, and how some West Virginia companies have managed to foster long-lasting employer-employee relationships that recruit and retain multi-generation workers.

• Patrick Winkelman, Procter & Gamble, Moderator

Getting a new plant off the ground is no small feat. This panel will discuss the transition from pre-production prototype to full-scale mass manufacturing. Discussion topics will include how to navigate issues such as permitting, supply chain challenges and building a workforce from those currently managing their transition.

• Dr. Erienne Olesh, WVU

Presentation by WVU on the RETI grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), including establishing an industrial energy innovation hub focused on grid management, storage, cybersecurity, and reliability.  

The WVU Industrial Extension will provide an overview of programs and opportunities available.

• Rebecca McPhail, GO-WV, Moderator

A conversation bringing together leaders from the energy sector to discuss the impact of policy and public opinion regarding maintaining versus pursuing new markets. They’ll explore how an anti-growth attitude affects future development and economic growth here in West Virginia.