June 26, 2026 Small Manufacturers Council: Workforce Resources

Description

Finding and keeping good people continues to be one of the toughest operational challenges for small manufacturers. This month’s Small Manufacturers Council meeting is focused on practical workforce resources and ideas that manufacturers in Illinois are actually using today — from apprenticeships and community college partnerships to pipeline development strategies that work in smaller organizations.

This is designed specifically for manufacturing companies with fewer than 150 employees, which changes the conversation. Less theory. More real-world discussion among people dealing with the same constraints, hiring pressures, and operational realities.

Sarah Hartwick, Senior Vice President of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Executive Director of the IMA Foundation, will lead a discussion on workforce programs and resources available to Illinois manufacturers. We’ll also leave time for open discussion among attendees to share what’s working, what isn’t, and where manufacturers are still struggling.

The session will be moderated by Nirel Inman, President of Chicago Glue & Machine and Chair of the Small Manufacturers Council. If you’ve joined us before, you know these conversations are lively and genuinely valuable - and if you haven’t, consider this your invitation!

What You’ll Leave With

• Workforce resources available right now in Illinois
• Ideas other small manufacturers are using successfully
• Practical approaches to apprenticeships and school partnerships
• Peer discussion with manufacturers facing similar challenges
• A no-pitch environment focused on operational conversations

Note: participation in the Small Manufacturers Council is open only to active IMA member companies who are manufacturers. B2B or Service partners are invited to submit an educational proposal for consideration for topics. As this is a benefit of membership, non-members can request to be connected to our membership team to discuss all that this IMA has to offer and invited to join us!