Education Series| Automation Solutions & Funding mechanisms

2024 Education Series: Automation Solutions & Funding mechanisms

About the Program

12:30 pm Welcome - Deb Reinbold , Executive Director, Thrive Economic Development

12:35 pm Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity Manufacturing Report

Speaker: Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director/CEO at Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity

Buckley Brinkman - Leading the organization since June 2011, Brinkman brought more than 25 years of transformational manufacturing leadership to WCMP, with a breadth of experience in helping companies drive growth, world-class competitiveness and performance excellence. Experienced in Lean, Six Sigma, supply chain management and turnaround planning, he led efforts to save dozens of operations in the U.S. by finding new ways for them to compete.

Presentation

12:50 pm Manufacturing needs automation to address the workforce gap.

The MOC brings clarity to the technology hype. Learn about a high-level planning service that provides a roadmap of automation options for your local company’s specific needs.

Speaker: Ronald Thomas, Senior Management Engineer UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center

Ron Thomas of UW-Stout’s Manufacturing Outreach Center is our presenter for today’s Automation Advisor overview. From growing up on a family farm to automotive service to advanced manufacturing, Ron has worked in numerous industries at nearly all levels for over 30 yrs. Ron excels at helping small manufacturers transform by seeing their business’s future differently. Embracing automation today takes a willingness to look at your business differently and invest in a new vision of the future.

Ron has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Madison, two master’s degrees from UW Platteville, and recently completed his doctorate at UW-Stout in Career and Technical Education Leadership. He lives in Central Wisconsin with his family and several golden doodles.

Presentation

1:20 pm Financing Automation Solutions

You are ready to automate or upgrade your business. How and what are your options to finance? Learn about the spectrum of options from traditional financing to RaaS: Robots as a Service.

Speakers: Ron Roehl, Owner, CNC solutions

& Kyle Kuntz, Vice President & Loan Officer, WBD

Kyle Kuntz is a Vice President & Loan Officer and the Northeast WI Team Lead for WBD. Kyle has worked with SBA loan solutions for nearly 14 years and joined WBD in 2010. In his current role, Kyle helps lenders and their borrowers gain access to long-term fixed rate financing on owner occupied commercial real estate and equipment through the SBA 504 loan program.

WBD Video

WBD Presentation