Northern Michigan Manufacturing Summit 2026

Description

Join Us at the Northern Michigan Manufacturing Summit!

The Grand Traverse Area Manufacturing Council invites you to the Northern Michigan Manufacturing Summit, the premier gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and professionals shaping the future of manufacturing. Taking place on Monday, April 13th at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City, this full-day conference will deliver cutting-edge insights, expert-led discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

This year’s summit will focus on three key areas critical to the future of manufacturing:
Manufacturing Economic & Labor Outlook
Gain insight into the economic trends shaping Michigan’s manufacturing sector, including wage pressures, talent shortages, and workforce dynamics. This session will connect broader trends to the real-world challenges facing manufacturers in Northern Michigan.

Smart Manufacturing & Industrial AI
Move beyond the hype to explore how manufacturers are actually implementing advanced technologies on the shop floor. Learn from real-world applications of AI and what it takes to successfully adopt and scale innovation.

Collaboration & Policy
Discover how industry, government, and education partners can work together to strengthen Michigan’s manufacturing ecosystem. This conversation will focus on aligning policy, talent development, and economic strategy to support long-term growth.

Attendees will gain practical, actionable insights and explore the latest innovations through interactive vendor showcases. Whether you're a manufacturer, engineer, entrepreneur, or educator, this is your opportunity to connect with key players, discover new strategies, and stay ahead in an evolving industry.

Connect with Northern Michigan manufacturers and decision-makers.
View available sponsorship opportunities here.
 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
RICK DAUCH

Richard (Rick) F. Dauch
During complementary corporate and military careers, Dauch has amassed 43 years of cumulative management and P&L leadership experience across a broad range of disciplines, including operations, sales & marketing, labor relations, strategic planning, finance, and investor relations. He has been the CEO & President of three Tier 1 automotive supplier companies and an EV start-up company:

• Workhorse, a commercial truck EV start-up focused on “last mile” delivery which was sold to MOTIV in 2025.
•  Delphi Technologies, a $5B/yr automotive parts supplier of both ICE and EV powertrain systems.  He led the turnaround of that business and its strategic merger with BorgWarner in the fall of 2020.
• Accuride Corporation, reshaping it from a $800m/yr North American supplier of commercial vehicle parts into a $1.4B/yr wheel-end systems supplier to the global transportation and agricultural industries from 2011-18. 
• Acument Global Technologies, where he was responsible for leading the restructuring of the largest global fastening solutions company in the world on behalf of Platinum Equity during the 2008-2010 global recession. 

Prior to joining Acument, Dauch served in varied capacities during a 13-year tenure with American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. (AAM), a $3.8B/yr supplier of driveline, drivetrain and chassis systems and related metallic components based in Detroit, Michigan, where he completed his career as EVP, Global Operations responsible for 18 operating sites.  Prior to AAM, Dauch worked at the Carrier Corporation (UTC), where he led the specialty packaged products (SPP) business consisting of four product lines produced in Korea, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, and in several plants across the USA. Prior to that assignment, he was both the site materials and manufacturing manager in Tyler, TX.
 
Dauch’s corporate career was preceded by his service as an officer in the U.S. Army beginning in 1983, concluding with his assignment as a Light Infantry Company Commander with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. Dauch was qualified as an Airborne-Ranger, Air Assault and expert infantryman.
Dauch earned dual Master of Science degrees in Management and Engineering and is a graduate of the “Leaders for Manufacturing” program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was a four-year football letterman. 

Dauch is the owner and Chairman of Century, LLC, and Tactical Kinetics, LLC. He is also a minority owner of the West Point Optical Group and serves on the Board of Directors of American Residential Housing Trust and previously served on the Boards at the SHYFT Group, Koch Enterprises, the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), and Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). He also serves on the Board of Directors and is a past president of the Army Football Club.  He is married with seven children, 16 grandchildren and is an avid military historian and sports enthusiast.