Schedule-at-a-Glance
Click the session title to view description and speaker details.
Please note: This was the 2025 program, please use this as a general reference for the 2026 program.
6:00 pm
VMA Board of Directors Dinner (Invitation only.)
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
VMA Board of Directors Meeting (Invitation only.)
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
VRC Board of Directors Meeting (Invitation only.)
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Registration Open
Sponsored by: 
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Welcome & Opening Remarks & Anti-Trust Briefing
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
The Tech Energy Transition
Program Session
The Tech Energy Transition
This session will explore how new technologies and a new administration are impacting the energy landscape. Specifically, it will focus on how artificial intelligence, Big Tech, and the explosion in data center development are shaping investments and the regulatory regimes for various energy technologies. The types of energy best suited to meet this increased demand, as well as some of the opportunities and challenges of available energy options will also be discussed.
Speaker Info
Amy L. Stein, JD, Cone Wagner Professor of Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Government Affairs Policy: Insights & Impacts
Program Session
Government Affairs Policy: Insights & Impacts
The start of the second Trump administration began with a flurry of Executive Orders, and has not slowed down. With policy shifts on tariffs, taxes and many regulatory areas, there is a lot for companies to digest. This session will provide a review of federal activities to date, and will also look forward on what could be forthcoming. We’ll also discuss the interplay between all three branches of government and the states to help explain the landscape and issues to be watching – from PFAS to energy and others – for our industry.
Speaker Info
Eric McClafferty, Partner, International Trade, Kelley Drye LLC
Omar Nashashibi, Owner, Inside Beltway
Lindsey Roskopf, Special Counsel, Kelley Drye LLC
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Networking Break
Sponsored by: 
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Spouse/Guest Program
Special Event
Spouse/Guest Program
Join other spouses and guest for a meet and greet on the North Pool deck. Enjoy light refreshments and catch up with friends, and meet new attendees, as you look forward to your time at the VMA/VRC Annual Meeting.
Click here for more information.
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm
VMA’s Response: PFAS, Trade, Taxes & More
Program Session
VMA’s Response: PFAS, Trade, Taxes & More
VMA has been active in making our known to policy makers on PFAS, tax, workforce, trade policy, and manufacturing this year. This session will provide a brief review of those activities, the tax implications from the new tax bill, and have a panel discussion with our expert government affairs and tax speakers.
Speaker Info
Heather Rhoderick, President, VMA
4:15 pm – 4:55 pm
Unlocking Profit & Knowledge with Real-Time Data and AI
Program Session
Unlocking Profit & Knowledge with Real-Time Data and AI
As manufacturers strive for greater profitability and efficiency, real-time data and AI are becoming essential tools. Yet, 70% of manufacturers still rely on manual data entry, according to NAM’s Manufacturing Leadership Council. This session explores how leading companies are leveraging smart manufacturing technologies and automated data collection to gain clearer insights into operations and margins. Learn how AI and real-time data can help identify costly downtime, optimize pricing, forecast production, and evaluate machine utilization. Discover how deeper analytics—by customer, part, or process—can improve contribution margins and support more strategic decisions. This session offers practical, proven approaches to turn data into actionable intelligence that drives growth and operational performance.
Speaker Info
Michael J. Devereux II, Partner, National Manufacturing Industry Leader, Wipfli LLP
4:55 pm – 5:00 pm
Closing Remarks
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
New Member & First-Time Attendee Reception
Special Event
New Member & First-Time Attendee Reception
New to VMA or attending your first Annual Meeting? Join VMA leadership and fellow first-timers for a dedicated welcome reception. Make new connections and learn how to get the most from your membership.
Dress Code: Resort casual
Sponsored by: 
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Welcome Reception & Dinner
Special Event
Welcome Reception & Dinner
Enjoy a casual beachside evening with colleagues as the sun sets over the Gulf. This relaxed dinner features local flavors and food stations in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Dress Code: Resort casual
Sponsored by:
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
Sponsored by: 
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Valve Repair Council (VRC) Business Meeting
VRC members are encouraged to attend this session for updates on key initiatives and council direction for the year ahead.
8:30 am – 9:15 am
Market Trends & Forecasts - Water
Program Session
Water/Wastewater Industry Outlook
The water and wastewater market has joyously experienced a multi-year period of resounding double-digit growth fueled primarily by both the compelling need to upgrade aging facilities and equipment and by an influx of federal fiscal support via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and other funding legislation. Will this momentum continue? Will it moderate? Or will it decline when the IIJA reaches its termination date in 2026? We’ll explore responses to these questions, and we’ll delve into how water and wastewater investment will likely be apportioned in the years ahead. We’ll also examine other funding sources, impending regulatory drivers, as well as how the overall economy and construction labor availability will impact business prospects and project performance. Finally, we’ll pull it all together and take a look ahead at the near-term future and what we can expect.
Speaker Info
Tom Decker, Owner, Thomas E. Decker Consulting
9:15 am – 10:00 am
Market Trends & Forecasts - Data Centers
Program Session
Data Centers Industry Outlook
The growth of data centers is driving demand for both energy and water, and our industry’s products. Is this growth sustainable, are there other implications, what does the global viewpoint look like? This session will delve into those topics and more.
Speaker Info
Shane Mullins, VP of Product Development & Research, Industrial Info Resources
Britt Burt, Senior VP of Research for Power Industry, Industrial Info Resources
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Networking Break
Sponsored by: 
10:15 am – 11:05 pm
Supply Chain: Insights & Implications for Future Planning
Program Session
Supply Chain: Insights & Implications for Future Planning
The world has been plagued with geopolitical, cyber, and supply chain risks, propelling supply chain issues to dominate the discussion in boardrooms. As supply chains continue to evolve at a rapid pace and advanced technologies accelerate, the companies that stay ahead of critical trends and changing business conditions will dominate their industries. Join us to learn about the latest trends and opportunities in the supply chain. And, more importantly, what that will mean for the future and how to position your company to mitigate risks and take advantage of the opportunities to thrive in the next decade.
Speaker Info
Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD, Owner, LMA Consulting Group
11:05 am – 11:50 am
U.S. Foundries: Capacity, Tariffs, and the Future of Castings
Program Session
U.S Foundries: Capacity, Tariffs, and the Future of Castings
With shifting trade policies and ongoing tariffs on China and India, U.S. foundries are at a pivotal point. This session explores current and future capacity, the resurgence of vertically integrated models, and how domestic operations are adapting. We’ll examine trends in casting technologies—from traditional sand to investment and centrifugal—and discuss how foundries are planning for growth amid political and economic uncertainty. Discover what’s next for the U.S. casting landscape.
Speaker Info
Ben Yates, VP of Business Development, American Foundry Society
11:50 am – 12:00 pm
Closing Remarks
12:00 pm
Lunch on Your Own
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Optional Networking Activities
Spend your free afternoon networking in a more casual setting. Explore the local area, try something new, or join a friendly competition while connecting with fellow leaders. Spouse/guest participation welcome. Separate registration required for all. Click here for more networking activity information and associated costs.
- Golf Tournament
- Backwater Fishing
- Airboat Swamp Adventure
5:00 pm
Evening on Your Own
7:30 am – 8:00 am
Breakfast
Sponsored by: ![]()
8:00 am – 9:00 am
VMA Business Meeting
An important update on VMA’s strategic plans, member programs, and future goals. Open to all VMA members.
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Spouse/Guest Program
Walking Tour of the Naples Historic District. Click here for a full description and cost.
- Walking Tour of Naples Historic District
9:00 am – 9:15 am
Networking Break
Sponsored by: ![]()
9:15 am – 10:30 am
Building an Effective Talent Strategy
Program Session
Economic, Labor Market, and Talent Strategy Update – What to Expect in 2026
Despite all the uncertainty and volatility around US trade and tax policy, the economy proved to be resilient in the first half of 2025. Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been signed into law and President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on America’s trade partners are in effect, can a similar performance be expected in the future? Given these macro headwinds, a significant factor for company success is labor, and the competition for talent remains fierce. Some companies are able to attract, hire and retain high performing impact players in their industry, and others companies are not. This presentation will assess the current macroeconomic landscape, deliver key insights designed to help business leaders and decision makers elevate their talent-focused activities, and provide practical and actionable advice designed to help industry leaders plan for future operating conditions.
Speaker Info
Alex Chausovsky, Director of Analytics, Bundy Group
9:45 am – 10:30 am
Strategic Outlook 2025: Geopolitics, Policy, and Economic Headwinds
Program Session
Strategic Outlook 2025: Geopolitics, Policy, and Economic Headwinds
The world is undergoing major shifts in 2025—from new administrations in North America and Europe to an emboldened China reshaping global dynamics. In the U.S., unilateral trade actions and tariff threats have created widespread uncertainty, impacting consumer confidence and business optimism. Meanwhile, mixed economic signals—strong retail and industrial data alongside weak sentiment—are fueling debate over the risk of recession. This session will offer timely insights into global flashpoints, shifting alliances, and economic implications. From war and trade barriers to supply chain risk and scenario planning, you’ll gain a clear understanding of today’s geopolitical forces—and practical guidance to help your organization respond with agility and confidence. Attendees will gain practical insights on how to navigate the current economic climate, assess potential risks and opportunities, and plan for future operating conditions. Designed for business leaders, this presentation will equip you with tactical guidance and tools to make confident, forward-looking decisions in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Speaker Info
Alex Chausovsky, Director of Analytics, Bundy Group
Eugene Chausovsky, Senior Director, New Lines Institute
10:30 am – 10:45 am
Networking Break
Sponsored by: ![]()
10:45 am – 12:15 pm
Strategic Simulation & Scenario Planning: Global Conflict & Supply Chain Risk
Program Session
Impact of Geopolitics on Your Business – Simulation & Scenario Planning in an Era of Global Conflict & Supply Chain Risk
The world of geopolitics is constantly changing, often with significant ramifications. As we transition to a multipolar world, there are shifting global alliances and multiple hot spots around the world, some of which have the potential to turn into full-out war. All of this impacts your business – sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly. There are financial, operational, strategic, and market implications that business leaders and key decision makers must be aware of to successfully navigate the evolving geopolitical environment.
This session will explore the motivations, driving factors, and consequences of recent events, putting them into context relative to the broader world and helping you understand why the governments of countries act the way they do.
To help demonstrate possible implications of Middle East and Indo-Pacific activities and conflicts, our speakers will walk through examples of how country, company, and AI player-actors could react to these geopolitical developments – by presenting case studies and examples from scenario planning exercises they have conducted. You’ll learn key aspects of scenario planning to apply in your business, while gaining critical insight into how geopolitical events shape business strategy and operational risk.
Speaker Info
Alex Chausovsky, Director of Analytics, Bundy Group
Eugene Chausovsky, Senior Director, New Lines Institute
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm
Closing Remarks
12:30 pm
Lunch on Your Own
1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Optional Networking Activities
Spend your free afternoon networking in a more casual setting. Explore the local area, try something new, or join a friendly competition while connecting with fellow leaders. Spouse/guest participation welcome. Separate registration required for all. Click here for more networking activity information and associated costs.
- Go Cat Boats Eco Tour
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
VMA Member Awards Ceremony, Reception & Gala Dinner
Special Event
VMA Member Awards Ceremony, Reception & Gala Dinner
Close out the Annual Meeting with a celebratory evening of recognition and connection. Enjoy a festive reception, awards presentation, and a lively evening with a DJ.
Dress Code: Resort elegant
Sponsored by: 
Sessions
More information coming soon.
