20 Scenes from the 20th Anniversary of Rethink and the ML Awards Gala

David R. Brousell August 1, 2024

The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, hosted a record number of attendees at the 20th anniversary of Rethink, its signature event. Rethink continues to focus on helping manufacturing companies accelerate their digital manufacturing journeys. 

The Manufacturing Leadership Council hosted the 20th iteration of its signature Rethink event in early June at the JW Marriott hotel in Marco Island, Florida. Nearly 900 manufacturing executives, a record, participated in the event over the course of its three days, which consisted of MLC’s annual Council Day meeting, its two-day conference program, and the Manufacturing Leadership Awards gala.

The theme of the event was Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing. Speakers hailed from Johnson & Johnson, Saint-Gobain, Northrop Grumman, Eaton, Flex, Campbell Soup Co., Protolabs, and the World Economic Forum, among others.

A Women’s Manufacturing 4.0 Networking Luncheon and Panel Discussion, a first for the event, was held as was a session with leading industry analysts. EY gave an overview of economic trends affecting manufacturing. More than 20 technology and service providers demonstrated their innovations. And at the awards gala, more than 150 companies and individuals were honored for their achievements in digital manufacturing.

Following are selected scenes from the 20th anniversary Rethink event.

EY Chief Economist Gregory Daco talks about what’s ahead for the economy.
Manufacturing executives weigh in on how economic trends are affecting their businesses. (l to r) Panel moderator David R. Brousell of MLC, MLC Board Chair Dan Dwight of Cooley Group, Graphicast’s Val Zanchuk, Pratt Intermodal Chassis’ Bryan Van Itallie, and EY’s Gregory Daco.
“Developing a Thriving Manufacturing Culture for Women” was the subject of a panel discussion on the first day of Rethink (l to r) Panel moderator Penelope Brown of the MLC, 3M’s Wendy Bauer, PPG Industries’ Laura Harshberger, EY’s Hiral Rao, and Oracle’s Nancy Estell Zoder.
MLC Board Chair Dan Dwight of Cooley Group opens the annual Council Day meeting.
Council members debate MLC’s Critical Issues agenda for the coming year.
MLC Founder David R. Brousell opens the 20th anniversary Rethink conference with a talk entitled “What’s Next?”
The World Economic Forum’s Kiva Allgood urges manufacturers to undertake business model transformation.
Protolabs’ Robert Bodor describes the “triumphs and pitfalls” of his company’s 25-year digital journey.
Saint-Gobain’s Regan Gallo explains how her company is deploying a unified digital strategy across the organization.
Rethink emcee Lauren Bisset of the NAM welcomes AT&T’s robot dog to the stage.
MLC’s Penelope Brown interviews Flex’s Becky Sidelinger about megatrends shaping manufacturing.
MLC’s David R. Brousell (l) moderates a panel on the “Past, Present and Future of Digital Manufacturing” with industry analysts. From l to r: LNS Research’s Allison Kuhn, IDC’s Jeffrey Hojlo, Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser, and ARC Advisory Group’s Andy Chatha.
MLC’s Penelope Brown (l) talks with next generation manufacturing leaders Jonathan Miller of Saint-Gobain, Marlon Alberto Gonzalez Martinez of IBM, Megan McCarthy of GM, and Angela Accurso of MxD.
Campbell Soup Company’s Craig Slavtcheff outlines how Campbell’s is using AI and machine learning to drive innovation.
Award trophies await their recipients.
MLC Founder David R. Brousell accepts an award recognizing the 20th anniversary of Rethink and the awards program. (l to r) Daughter Alison Wheeler, wife Irene Brousell, MLC Board Chair Dan Dwight of Cooley Group, and MLC’s Penelope Brown and Jeff Puma.

Award finalists gather on stage with their trophies.

Award gala attendees take photos of the winners on stage.
IPG’s Peter C. Durelle accepts the Manufacturer of the Year Award/Large Enterprise.
Cooley Group’s Dan Dwight accepts the Manufacturer of the Year Award/Small Enterprise. Dwight was also named Manufacturing Leader of the Year.