2023 Breakout Sessions

“We have a 3D printer!!” …So what? Is 3D printing still considered an advanced innovative tool in 2023 like it was 10 years ago?  Let’s face it, we have all seen cool gadgets and projects made from a 3D printer, but how is this technology really used in a manufacturing environment? Walk through the process of fixturing, tooling, inspection, and 5S with Acutec's engineering team to see how 3D printing technology is being used in new and interesting ways in today's workplace.

 Kyle Astor has been at Acutec Precision Aerospace for 14 years and is responsible for managing the manufacturing engineering team. He also is responsible for designing fixturing and tooling for machining applications. Kyle has had several years of experience in Manufacturing prior to his career at Acutec. 

Justin Sobieski has been working for Acutec Precision Aerospace for 5 years, and is responsible for designing machine, CMM, and post process fixturing for various industrial applications. Justin worked as a machinist for 8 years before moving into an engineering role at Acutec.

Jessica Wachowiak is a Penn State Behrend Mechanical Engineering graduate who has been employed as a Manufacturing Engineer at Acutec Precision Aerospace for 6 ½ years. She is responsible for creating machining process drawings as well as designing fixtures.

Get a behind the scenes look at how Parker Lord creates rubber and component parts for use in virtually everything that moves or requires control in the aerospace industry. For more than 100 years, Parker Lord has engineered the success of its customers in a wide range of markets. The speakers, a chemical engineer and a mechanical engineer, will also tell their unique story that has let them to be a key player on the team that makes these products.

Christopher Denison is the HCL Elastomer Technical Lead and Supervisor at Parker Lord. Christopher has a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Penn State University Behrend Campus. He has been in his current position for the past 2 years and in his current position he works with the production team members and the production planners to ensure smooth running operation of the Elastomer mixing department, the HCL Elastomer Calendering process and metallic shim forming departments along with handling technical responsibility for the elastomer processing for the facility. Previously Chris spent 10 years in the Materials and process engineering team working on developing of new elastomers and working with the production team on scaling up new recipes into production.

 Ben Ryan-Lorei is the Tool Room Manager at Parker LORD in Erie. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton. He started his career as a Manufacturing Engineer in 2016. He has grown to be a leader in manufacturability focused on CNC Machining, Inspection, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing. His current team is instrumental in meeting customer delivery and quality requirements. He will be presenting on aerospace machining and tool manufacturing, tying into its larger role, supporting Parker LORD Noise, Vibration, and Harshness division. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insight into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in the manufacturing sector. Join Genna Mucci, Hope Cicero, and Taylor Smith as they share their personal stories, offer advice, and answer questions about choosing a career path, developing skills, and breaking down barriers. This panel discussion is a must-attend event for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the manufacturing industry.   

Genna Mucci is a Project Manager at JV Manufacturing, a single-source supplier of high-speed, high-production carbide progressive stamping dies in a wide range of industries. Throughout her education, she has received a BS degree in Business Management, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, and Project Management (PMP) Certification. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Western Pennsylvania branch of Women in Manufacturing (WiM) as a step to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Genna has a passion for Operational Excellence and loves finding new ways to strive towards achieving it. She demonstrates experience, knowledge, and performance in achieving an organizational objective through defining and overseeing projects and resources. 

Hope Cicero is a Project Engineer at Channellock, Inc., a manufacturer of American made pliers in Meadville, PA. Hope earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Grove City College in 2021 and obtained her Engineering in Training (EIT) certificate as she was completing her education. While in college, Hope completed an internship at Channellock Inc. which is one of the many experiences that led her to her current position as a Project Engineer. Hope is currently the Membership and Sponsorship Co-Chair for the Western Pennsylvania branch of Women in Manufacturing (WiM) and is a part of other boards in Western PA.

Taylor Smith is a marketing creative with a passion for manufacturing with over five years of experience in the primary metals industry. Her outgoing personality is highlighted in her career as a Technical Sales and Marketing Specialist at PSNERGY, a leading combustion partner for global steel and aluminum companies. Taylor earned her BA in Communication Arts (Public Relations and Advertising) during her time spent in Brooklyn, NY as a Division I Student-Athlete. She also serves as the Marketing Director for the Western Pennsylvania branch of Women in Manufacturing (WiM) to help empower and bring together women in the manufacturing sector. 

Ever wonder how to build a robot? Have you built a robot but want to make it cooler and more innovative? Learn from current engineering students first hand about the tools, software, and overall design process they use today when building robots as a club. You will be amazed as this team of students demonstrates some of the newer and more innovative robot projects completed by their club!! Behrend Robotics Club mission is to design, engineer, and build new and innovative robots. These robots will be designed to meet specific design or competition criteria to compete in national robotics competitions. These competitions can be held in state and out of state. The long-term goal of this club is to create/host a robotics competition on campus. The short term goals of this club are to design and build robots for national competitions.

Behrend Robotics Club mission is to design, engineer, and build new and innovative robots. These robots will be designed to meet specific design or competition criteria to compete in national robotics competitions. These competitions can be held in state and out of state. The long-term goal of this club is to create/host a robotics competition on campus. The short term goals of this club are to design and build robots for national competitions. 

Join us in exploration of robotics' evolution in this presentation, tracing its origins and diverse forms, from basic automation to cutting-edge technology. Dive into the current impact of robots on daily life, revolutionizing industries, social interactions, and production methods, revealing their profound influence on society. Join us in the captivating journey of robots, unveiling their past, understanding their present, and envisioning the limitless potential they bring to our future.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Corey Adams has nearly 10 years in industrial automation industry experience. He has worked in business development with Universal Robots for two years, and now specializes in Education as the educational program manager. Prior to joining Universal Robots, Corey worked in project management and technical sales for an industrial manufacturing distributor and robot integrator. He served honorably in the U.S. Coast Guard and holds MBA Degrees from Keller University in Finance and Marketing.

HANDS ON is the key component to this break out session!! Students will actively participate in a catapult building activity that encourages the creative thinking and teamwork skills needed by future engineers.  The presenters will also describe resources available through the Manufacturing Assistance Center and possible career paths through the programs offered.

Nathan Lucas is the Workforce Readiness and Recruitment Coordinator of the University of Pittsburgh’s Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC). He has been with the MAC for 6 years and has a Bachelors in Business Administration and some experience in operating HAAS CNC Mills.