Breakfast Keynote

Inside Idaho Policy: How Decisions Get Made—and Why Manufacturers Should Care

Get an inside look at how public policy takes shape in Idaho and what it means for manufacturers. This candid conversation brings together four perspectives from the policymaking process—an association lobbyist, contract lobbyist, corporate government affairs professional, and Idaho legislator—to discuss how issues move from ideas to legislation, where industry voices fit into the process, and how manufacturers can engage effectively.

Manufacturing Trade Show

9:00 AM–4:00 PM |  Open to the Public

Explore the Show Floor All Day

The trade show floor is open continuously from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. Meet Idaho manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, and industry partners; discover new products and capabilities; and make connections across the manufacturing community.

Trade show admission is open to the public. Conference attendees can move between the show floor, breakout sessions, and other programming throughout the day.

Then, at the top of the agenda page, I’d add a quick distinction because you effectively have two experiences:

Two Ways to Experience the Event

• Trade Show: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Open to the Public
• All Access Conference: Breakfast panel, breakout sessions, luncheon keynote, trade show access + RECONNECT After-Party

Morning Breakout Sessions

Robotics in Action: Practical Automation for Today’s Manufacturer

Robotics aren’t just for the largest manufacturers. Explore how companies are putting robotics and automation to work, where they’re seeing results, and what manufacturers should consider when evaluating opportunities in their own operations.

Beyond Your Current Customers: Breaking Into New Markets

Hear directly from manufacturing peers who have successfully pursued new customers, industries, and markets. They’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and lessons learned along the way.

Great Employees Stay for a Reason: Proven Strategies for Engagement & Retention

Hiring great people is only half the challenge. Explore practical strategies manufacturers are using to strengthen engagement, improve retention, and create workplaces where good employees want to build their careers.

Luncheon Keynote

The Future of Manufacturing: What’s Next—and How to Prepare

What will manufacturing look like five, ten, or twenty years from now? Explore the forces reshaping the industry—from technology and workforce transformation to global competition, supply chains, and changing customer expectations—and what manufacturers can do today to prepare for what’s ahead.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

AI Implementation for Idaho Manufacturers: From Interest to a 30-Day First Step

Move beyond the AI hype and toward practical implementation. This session will help Idaho manufacturers identify realistic use cases, understand where to begin, and leave with a tangible first step they can put into motion within 30 days.

Funding Growth: Capital, Opportunity & Risk

Growth takes capital—but not all capital is created equal. Explore funding and expansion options available to manufacturers, including private equity and other sources of capital, while examining the risks, fraud considerations, and questions leaders should understand before making a deal.

The Generational Gear Shift: Rethinking How We Find Manufacturing Talent

The next generation of manufacturing talent may not come through traditional pipelines. Explore unconventional recruiting, hiring, and workforce strategies manufacturers can use to reach overlooked talent, rethink outdated requirements, and build the workforce they need for what’s next.

Conference After-Party

RECONNECT at HapHap Lounge @4:00

Sponsored by Columbia Bank

The conference may be over, but some of the best conversations are just getting started.

Join us at HapHap Lounge, just six minutes from Boise Centre, for drinks, food, and a relaxed evening with fellow attendees—and another opportunity to connect with the people you heard from throughout the day.

Conference speakers will be the featured guests, giving attendees a chance to continue the conversation, ask the question they didn’t get to ask during the session, and connect one-on-one in a casual setting.

And the night may not have to end there: attendees could have the chance to win tickets to see The Brothers Comatose at Treefort Music Hall later that evening.