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May 13, 2026 | Mill 19, Hazelwood Green

 

CATALYZE 2026 brings manufacturers together for a focused day of peer learning, shared experience, and practical insight.

This symposium is designed for small- and mid-sized manufacturers who want to see how others in the region are solving real problems, building capability, and strengthening their operations.

 

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What You'll Gain:

PEER-DRIVEN INSIGHT

Hear directly from manufacturers facing similar workforce, technology, and growth challenges. Practical lessons. Candid discussion. Real outcomes.

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS

Breakout conversations focus on decisions manufacturers are making now across people, technology, operations, and business growth. Expect examples you can apply, not theory.

VISIBILITY FOR YOUR WORK

The Manufacturing Showcase highlights manufacturers telling their own stories. Processes improved. Technologies adopted. Results achieved.

AWARENESS OF SUPPORT PATHWAYS

Learn how manufacturers are approaching funding, assessments, and improvement projects, including how grant opportunities are being used to reduce risk and move faster.

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Keynote Speaker

Tricia Breeger
President, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.

Tricia Breeger is the Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. (MEPPI), a role she assumed in April 2023 after serving as President since 2022. She is the first woman to serve as CEO across the Mitsubishi Electric Group Companies. In her role, Breeger leads the company’s overall business strategy, growth, and long-term direction, with a focus on advancing digitization and decarbonization initiatives. MEPPI supports the North American power systems, critical power, and rail transportation markets with a portfolio of electrical and electronic products, systems, and services.

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Elements of the Day

Firefly_Photorealistic wide-format image inspired by the interior of Mill 19. Open steel trus 374201

Catalyst Conversations

Interactive, small-group sessions focused on shared challenges manufacturers are navigating right now. These discussions create space to compare approaches, surface patterns across companies, and explore how peers are making decisions across people, technology, operations, and business growth.

Manufacturing Showcase

A structured spotlight on completed work and tangible outcomes. Manufacturers walk through specific initiatives, investments, or improvements they have implemented, highlighting what changed, why it mattered, and what they would do differently. The focus is on results, not theory.

CATALYZE Awards

Recognition of manufacturers demonstrating meaningful impact.

CATALYZE 2026 Agenda

Click each individual time slot below to expand for additional information.

8:00 - 9:00 AM - Registration, Breakfast and Networking

Mill 19, Hazelwood Green 
Building A, Second Floor 

9:00 - 9:30 AM - Welcome

Dave Rea, Managing Director of Organizational Development, Catalyst Connection

Petra Mitchell, President & CEO, Catalyst Connection

9:30 - 10:00 AM - Keynote: Tricia Breeger, President, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products

Tricia Breeger is the Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. (MEPPI), a role she assumed in April 2023 after serving as President since 2022. She is the first woman to serve as CEO across the Mitsubishi Electric Group Companies. In her role, Breeger leads the company’s overall business strategy, growth, and long-term direction, with a focus on advancing digitization and decarbonization initiatives. MEPPI supports the North American power systems, critical power, and rail transportation markets with a portfolio of electrical and electronic products, systems, and services.

10:00 - 10:30 AM - Networking Break
An opportunity to exchange insights, make connections, and build relationships across the room.
10:30 - 11:30 AM - Catalyst Conversations

Breakout sessions:

  • Organizational Development and Business Growth: fireside chat with a regional manufacturer to share opportunities, challenges, insights, perspectives, etc. alongside the themes of Organizational Development and Business Growth.

    • Chris Massetti, Donwill

 

  • Operations & Technology: fireside chat with a regional manufacturer to share opportunities, challenges, insights, perspectives, etc. alongside the themes of Operations & Technology.

    • John Ciora, Schroeder Industries
    • Ralph Hart, Belleville International
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Networking Break

An opportunity to exchange insights, make connections, and build relationships across the room.

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch

Lunch will be held in various breakout rooms.

1:00 - 3:00 PM - Manufacturing Showcase

Focused 10-minute presentations by manufacturers showcasing real-world projects they implemented, what changed, and what they learned.

Topics will include:

  • Organizational Development
  • Business Growth
  • Operations
  • Technology

Presentations by:

  • BEA

  • Coherent

  • DMI Companies

  • EBARA Elliott Energy

  • KOBOLD Instruments

  • Mancini's Bakery

There will be time for interactive discussion and Q&A.

3:00 - 3:30 PM - Awards Ceremony & Closing Remarks

Chosen by attendees from the participating showcase manufacturers and recognized for measurable impact, disciplined execution, and industry leadership. 

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Check Back Soon - More Info to Come!