WiM WACA West Coast Bash- May 26-28

The Women in Manufacturing Washington and California Chapters, in partnership with Druven, are hosting a premier West Coast manufacturing conference designed to connect, support, and advance manufacturers across the region—and you won’t want to miss it.

As home to a significant share of the nation’s manufacturing base, the West Coast plays a vital role in shaping the future of the industry. This event will bring together industry leaders, decision-makers, and innovators for meaningful networking, high-level speakers, interactive sessions, and behind-the-scenes manufacturing tours that provide real insight into what’s next for our industry.

✔ Learn from influential voices shaping the future of manufacturing
✔ Participate in engaging, solutions-focused sessions
✔ Expand your network with peers and industry leaders
✔ Experience exclusive manufacturing tours
✔ Discover new partnerships, tools, and resources to support your growth

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WiM California

WiM Washington

6:00pm-9pm: Welcome Reception

Fun Activities:

• T-Shirts: Choose between two versions—“WA” and “CA”—as part of a fun, interactive element we’ve built into the experience.
• Exhibitors: Discover innovative companies, cutting-edge solutions, and connect with industry leaders throughout the event.
• All-Day Coffee / Tea Bar: Stay fueled and refreshed—coffee’s on us from morning to close
• AI-Photobooth: Strike a pose and capture the moment with fun, AI-powered photos you’ll keep forever.
• The Future Is You: The Manufacturing Story: Step into the spotlight! Be interviewed and share your journey in manufacturing. Want to participate? Reach out at [email protected]

8:00am: Breakfast & Networking

9:00am: Welcome Remarks

9:15am – 10:00am | Keynote Speaker: Karen Laos- “The Confidence Cocktail”

10:00am – 10:40am | Panel: Defying the Odds: Women Leading in Manufacturing (Sponsored by TeamSense)

Moderator: Sheila Stafford, CEO, TeamSense
Panelists:

• Debra Alley, Vice President of Program Management & Customer Service, Westfall Technik
• Emmanuelle Marcon, Supply Chain and Logistics Director, Louis Vuitton
• Patricia Mayer, 777-8F Superintendent of Manufacturing Operations, Boeing
• Kelly Harris, Arizona Area Manager, Air Products

10:40am - 11:00am | Meet the Speaker & Panelists break

11:00am -11:45am | Keynote Speaker: Reinventing the Wheel: Don't Get Left Behind: Kaitlyn Thorton, 4th Generation Orchardist and Content Creator

11:45pm - 12:45pm: Lunch, Meet the Speaker & Networking

12:45pm – 1:30pm | Keynote Speaker: Influence Where It Counts: A Stakeholder Advocacy Model for Manufacturing Leaders: Jeff Mayes, CEO, Druven

1:30pm - 1:40pm | Transition to Breakouts

1:40pm – 2:25pm | Breakout Sessions:

Panel: Men as Allies: Advancing Women and Building the Future Manufacturing Workforce

Panelists:

• Victor Coronado, Vice President of Manufacturing, Ventura Foods
• Luke Charpentier, California HyCO Line Manager, Air Products & Chemicals
• Neftali Torres, Co-Founder & CEO, People First Employment
• Chris Colizzi, President, Nikkiso Cryoquip

Panel: Thriving in Every Role: Women Leading at Work and at Home

Moderator: Susan Freeman, Stevie® Award-winning CEO & Founder
Panelists:

• Vanessa Vidal Forsyth, Vice President, QMP Inc.
• Christine Ngo, VP of Operations & Business Development, Silicon Valley Elite Manufacturing
• Clare Emerson, American Operations Process Safety, Air Products
• Andrea Hogue, Senior Director of Operational Excellence and Maintenance Reliability

Panel: From Curiosity to Capability: Implementing AI in Manufacturing

(Sponsored by Koru Risk Management)

2:25pm - 2:45pm | Break & Meet the Speaker & Panelists

2:45pm – 3:15pm | How California Manufacturers Can Enable Electrification While Cutting Energy Costs: Aura Vasquez, Director of Climate Solutions Acceleration, Permacity Foundation and CEO, Vasquez Impact Solutions

3:15pm – 4:00pm Panel | Kids' Chance of America: Hear powerful stories from scholarship recipients, their families, and board members as they share how workplace injuries impacted their lives—and how Kids’ Chance scholarships helped them pursue their goals and shape their futures.

4:00pm – 4:10pm | Break

4:10pm – 5:30pm: LA28 Olympics Segment: As we look ahead to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this year’s event will celebrate the shared values between elite athletics and manufacturing leadership — resilience, teamwork, discipline, and excellence.

Speaker: Kaleigh Gilchrist

Dual Athlete:

Professional Surfer

3x Olympian, 2x Gold Medalist with the US National Women's Water Polo Team

Kaleigh’s journey has taken her through many highs and lows, from Olympic podiums to a near death experience and accompanying life-changing injuries. She is grateful for these experiences, as they allow her to reflect and speak from the heart.

Speaker: Dr. Vivek Soham, Founder, Origin Health Center

Drawing from his experince as both an Olympic athlete and physician, Dr. Vivek introduces a new lense on performance: Nervous system health. In high-demand environments, this often overlooked factor drives focus, resilience, and decision-making-- on the world stage and on the manufactruing floor.

5:30pm: Closing Remarks

6:30am | Run / Walk Westin: Run or walk through downtown San Diego on a guided tour

7:00 am: Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:30 am | Workshop (hosted by: Tradewinds Leadership)

Title: From Small Talk to Strong Ties: The Networking Lab
• Make breaking the ice feel easy, human, and fun
• Ask better questions that invite depth and build rapport
• Use small words to make major energy shifts in the room

9:30 am - 10:00 am: Networking
10:30 am – 2:00 pm:

Manufacturing Tours:

• General Dynamics NASSCO
• General Atomics
• Rise Up Industries

Continue Networking: If you’re not participating in a tour, we invite you to continue networking, explore our exhibitors, and enjoy complimentary coffee and tea.

Guest room reservations must be completed by Sunday, April 26th, 2026 to receive the group rate. After this date, reservations will be taken based upon availability and at the prevailing rate.

Here is the reservation link:

Your guests can also book reservations by calling 1-888-627-8563 and mentioning the name of the event.

Interested in increasing your visibility and connecting directly with industry leaders?

We require all non-manufacturing organizations to participate at a minimum at the exhibitor level in order to attend. This approach helps us maintain a strong balance of attendees and ensures that manufacturers remain the primary focus of the event.

For questions regarding exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Sarah Johnson
[email protected]
(253) 880-2333

Join us in sunny California, May 26–28, for an energizing experience focused on collaboration, insight, and growth within the manufacturing community.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Info: Kick off three inspiring days at our Welcome Reception, where women in manufacturing come together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate. Join fellow industry professionals for an evening of networking, light refreshments, and meaningful conversations that set the tone for the days ahead. Whether you’re reconnecting with peers or making new connections, this relaxed and engaging gathering is the perfect way to start the event.

Info: Run or walk through downtown San Diego on a guided tour.

Info: • General Dynamics NASSCO
• General Atomics
• Rise Up Industries

Info: If you are not going on a tour, continue to network, visit exhibitors and enjoy the coffee/tea bar on us.

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Host or Publisher WiM California & Washington / powered by Druven