Bringing Together National Leaders in Education and Industry
Join the premier gathering of leaders in smart automation certification AUGUST 10-11, 2026 in Menomonie, Wisconsin!
Open to education and industry, the conference will bring together leaders in technical education, industrial innovation, workforce training, and certifications. With two full days of programming, attendees will learn about certification implementation strategies, new credential development, building industry-education partnerships, hiring and recruiting strategies, and more.
The conference will be officially held from 9 am - 4:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday with a networking event on Monday evening at Lucette's, less than a mile from UW-Stout.
Connect, learn, and grow with others from across the country.
Registration is now open!
Why Attend?
- Networking Opportunities
- Specialized Conference Tracks
- Certification Best Practices
- Exclusive Insights from Smart Automation Executives
Connect with leaders who are shaping the future of advanced manufacturing and technical education. The conference brings together educators, employers, workforce innovators, and certification experts from across the country, creating a rare space for meaningful conversations and new partnerships.
In addition to daytime sessions, attendees can continue building relationships at a dedicated off‑site networking dinner, designed to spark deeper dialogue and collaboration. Whether you’re looking to connect, recruit, or exchange ideas, you’ll leave with relationships that move your work forward.
With specialized conference tracks you’ll get a conference experience built around exactly what you need. Each track delivers targeted insights, hands‑on strategies, and real examples you can put to work immediately, whether you’re shaping high school pathways, strengthening college programs, aligning with employer needs, or staying ahead of national certification standards.
This structure lets you dive deep into the topics that matter most while still tapping into the energy and expertise of a nationwide community. It’s the kind of tailored, high‑impact learning you won’t find anywhere else.
Learn how institutions and companies nationwide are implementing smart, scalable certification models that strengthen workforce readiness. Sessions will highlight proven approaches to curriculum alignment, hands‑on assessment, credential stacking, and employer engagement.
Whether you’re launching certifications for the first time or refining an existing program, you’ll gain strategies that make your pathways stronger and more sustainable.
Each morning kicks off with a high‑impact keynote led by some of the most influential voices in smart automation and advanced manufacturing. These nationally-recognized leaders will share forward‑looking perspectives on technology, workforce transformation, and the innovations reshaping industry at every level.
Agenda
The Conference will feature two full days of speakers, panels, interactive sessions and networking opportunities.
Additional programming is available for students including a case competition and mock-interviews. Find the details here.
Optional: SACA Gold Proctoring - August 12th & 13th
In collaboration with UW-Stout and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) we are proud to offer two additional days of professional development including the opportunity to earn SACA Gold Certifications. Proctoring will be available on August 12 & 13.
Agenda - Click on a day to expand the agenda and preview all the sessions
8:00 AM: Doors open for registration and breakfast
9:00 AM: Welcome Address
9:15 AM: Keynote Presentation — Todd Wanek, Ashley Furniture Industries
10:15 AM: General Session — Benefits of SACA Membership Panel
- Logan Shultz, Amazon
- Jan Moore, Ogeechee Technical College
- Alex Eid, Whitehall School District
11:30 AM: Breakout Sessions
- Industry: Ashley Advanced Technology Maker Center
- Dena Olsen, Senior Manager, Talent Planning/Ashley Careers Program Manager, Ashley Furniture Industries
- Secondary: CTE Teachers Share How Industry Certifications Drive Student Engagement
- Maroun Nehme, former Director of Advanced Robotics, Buena Park High School (CA)
- Post-Secondary: Importance of Apprenticeships & Certifications That Come From Them
- Robert Head, Apprentice Program Manager, Endress+Hauser
- Jeffrey Marton, Vocational Education Trainer, Krones IOS North America
- Patrick Bolt, Apprentice Academy Manager, Bühler
- SACA Certification Update: Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufacturing
- Drew Coleman, Senior Director, MichAuto
12:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM: SACA Overview and Membership updates
2:45 PM: Breakout Sessions
- Industry: How HR Should Be Utilizing SACA in Hiring and Recruiting
- Rob Ferguson, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, Ashley Furniture Industries
- Robin Hegg, Director, Human Resources, Greenheck
- Phil Bush, Global Competency Programs Manager, Rockwell Automation
- Secondary: Integrating SACA Certifications into Secondary Manufacturing Programs
- Tristan Hays, CTE Coordinator, Clark County School District (NV)
- Post-Secondary: Using Grant Funding to Upgrade Post-Secondary Programs in Wisconsin
- Josh Gamer, Associate Vice President of Workforce Partnerships and Innovation, Western Technical College
- Rob Ecker, Associate Dean of Manufacturing and Engineering, Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Julie Sherman, Associate Dean of Apprenticeship, STEM & Trades, Chippewa Valley Technical College
- SACA Certification Update: Skills Needed in the Workforce to Execute the Smart Manufacturing Strategy
- Conrad Leiva, VP Ecosystem and Workforce Development, CESMII
3:45 PM: Breakout Sessions
- Industry: Utilizing SACA Certifications across Amazon Reliability and Maintenance Engineering (RME) Mechatronics and Robotics Apprenticeship (MRA) Program
- Logan Schultz, Senior Manager of Reliability & Maintenance Engineering, Amazon
- Secondary: Industry-Backed, SACA Aligned High School Programs in Michigan
- Laura Preuss, Director of Talent Initiatives, Michigan Manufacturers Association
- Post-Secondary: Utilizing SACA Certifications in Non-Credit Post-Secondary Programs
- Jan Moore, Vice President for Economic Development, Ogeechee Technical College
- SACA Certification Update: Certified Industry 4.0 Semiconductor Operations Specialist
- Jack Judy, Deputy Director for Workforce Development, Florida Semiconductor Institute
4:30 PM: Sessions Conclude
6:00 PM: Networking Dinner at Lucette's Brewing
8:00 AM: Doors open for registration and breakfast
9:00 AM: Welcome
9:15 AM: Keynote Presentation — Rod Copes, Slate Auto
10:15 AM: General Session — How University of Wisconsin - Stout Developed the Automation Leadership Degree Program
- Dr. Katherine Frank, Chancellor UW- Stout
- Dr. Johannes Britz, Senior VP, Academic and Student Affairs, Universities of Wisconsin
- Dr. David Ding, Interim Dean, UW-Stout
11:30 AM: Breakout Sessions
- Industry: Rockwell Automation Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM) Program
- Phil Bush,
- Secondary: SACA Certifications in Urban Schools – Charter, Public, Private
- Dale Kooyenga, President & CEO Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
- Abby Andrietsch, CEO, St. Augustine Preparatory Academy
- Post-Secondary:
- Darren Ackley, COO, Northcentral Technical College
- SACA Certification Updates: Process Control and Instrumentation
- Andrew Castner, Workforce Development Partner, Endress+Hauser
12:30 PM: Lunch
- The winning team from the Student Case Competition will be presenting their project during lunch
1:30 PM: Breakout Sessions
- Industry: Student Case Competition Mock Interviews
- Sign ups will be available to interview and meet the students involved in the Case Competition
- Secondary: The Challenges of Establishing an Industry 4.0 Program in a Small Rural High School
- Jim Savage, Smart Manufacturing Instructor, Angola High School (IN)
- Post-Secondary: Best Practices on Offering Gold Level Certifications
- Debbie Dawson-Gunther, Associate Professor School of Engineering and Computing Technology, Ferris State University
- SACA Certification Updates: MxD Curriculum and Pathways Integrating Technology and Learning
- Sue Smith, Executive Program Director, Smart Automation Certification Alliance
2:45 PM: Breakout Sessions
- Industry: Student Case Competition Mock Interviews
- Sign ups will be available to interview and meet the students involved in the Case Competition
- Secondary: From the Students Perspective
- Bahr Martin, Senior, Brookfield High School (OH)
- Toby Gibson, Superintendent, Brookfield Local Schools
- Post-Secondary: Bridging Workforce Training and Education: Integrating SACA at Texas State Technical College
- Alicia Cruz, Associate Program Lead, Texas State Technical College
- Clayton Christensen, Instructor, Texas State Technical College
- SACA Certification Updates: Collaborative Robot System Operations Certification
- Sue Smith, Executive Program Director, Smart Automation Certification Alliance
3:45 PM: General Session — Closing Remarks
In collaboration with UW-Stout and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) we are proud to offer two additional days of professional development. These days will be designated to obtain gold-level certifications.
25 certification options are available. An individual may register for no more than 4 per day. If interested in more than 4 certifications, please be sure to add both days to your conference registration. Each day will be an additional $200.
Todd Wanek became President and Chief Operations Officer of Ashley Furniture Industries in 1996, taking charge of the company’s worldwide operations during a period of rapid expansion. In 2002, he succeeded his father as Chief Executive Officer, a role in which he has guided Ashley’s continued growth and positioned it as the world's largest furniture manufacturer.
Under Todd’s leadership, the company has strengthened its international footprint, advanced its operational capabilities, and deepened its commitment to continuous improvement—an approach that continues to shape Ashley’s strategy and performance today.
Rod Copes is a globally recognized executive leader with more than 30 years of experience driving transformation, operational excellence, and growth across the automotive, electrification, and clean technology sectors.
Most recently, Rod served as Executive Chair of Slate Auto, where he joined as Employee #1 and helped establish the company's vision, governance structure, product strategy, manufacturing strategy, and go-to-market approach. Previously, Rod served as Rivian Automotive's first Chief Operating Officer, leading one of the most significant scaling efforts in the electric vehicle industry. During his tenure, he helped grow the organization from approximately 1,500 to more than 10,000 employees while leading the launch of Rivian's first three production vehicles and maintaining a “fast, frugal and scrappy” culture.
Wisconsin is where American manufacturing heritage meets the future of advanced technology. As a state with one of the nation’s strongest concentrations of manufacturing employers, Wisconsin offers a living laboratory for Industry 4.0 innovation.
Hosting the SACA National Conference at UW–Stout places attendees in the heart of a region that understands skills, values hands‑on learning, and actively invests in the next generation of technical talent.
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Bronze Sponsors
Student Case Competition Sponsored By
Registration is now open!
Learn about our host
About University of Wisconsin-Stout
At UW-Stout, students do more than earn a degree - they do on day one. From hands-on applied learning and research to career-focused experiences, we connect tomorrow's learners with the opportunities and employers to shape the future of engineering, technology, design, management, and more. More than your average four-year university, we're technology-forward, industry-informed, and people-focused. Our labs and studios outnumber traditional classrooms by three to one, and 99% of our graduates are employed within six months of graduation. Founded in 1891, we are Wisconsin's Polytechnic University.
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