2025 in Photos at the MLC
It was a year for top-flight plant tours, a record-setting Rethink, and a glittering awards gala.
United Scrap Tour
The Manufacturing Leadership Council hosted four plant tours in 2025, including this one August 12-13 at United Scrap Metal in Cicero, IL. More than 70 Council members toured the company’s 50-acre headquarters site, where millions of tons of recycled scrap metal is processed into usable commodity materials for mills, foundries, and casting.
United Scrap Tour
In addition to making stops at key operational locations at United Scrap Metal’s site, attendees also took part in breakouts that covered digital systems, company culture, and safety and sustainability practices.
General Motors Tour
In September, MLC members took the Cadillac of plant tours – literally, at General Motors’ Spring Hill, TN, plant, where Cadillac’s electric LYRIQ and VISTIQ and internal combustion XT5 and XT6 vehicles are produced.
General Motors Tour
The Spring Hill factory has a long history within the GM portfolio, originating as a Saturn plant from 1990 to 2007. It has also produced models from Chevrolet and GMC in more recent times and will begin production of the Chevy Blazer in 2027.
Rethink
Emmanuel Boullay, Senior Vice President, Operations, at Intertape Polymer Group, was on the main stage at Rethink 2025 to share how IPG created an M4.0 foundation that has scaled to create data-first operations. IPG was the 2024 Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year for the Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
Rethink
MLC Founder David Brousell (left) moderates Handicapping the Global Digital Transformation Race, a panel at Rethink 2025 with leading industry analysts, including (from left) Bob Parker, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Research at IDC; Craig Resnick, Vice President at ARC Advisory Group; Matthew Littlefield, Co-Founder, President and Research Lead at LNS Research; and Julie Fraser, Vice President of Research, Manufacturing and Operations at Tech-Clarity.
Rethink
Will Bonifant, Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering at The Hershey Company and a member of MLC’s Board of Governors, leads a case study session at Rethink 2025 titled Hershey’s Digital Factory – How Hershey is Driving Manufacturing Excellence. Bonifant shared how Hershey digitally upgraded its production, utilizing automation and advanced analytics alongside frontline teams to drive world-class results.
Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala
Merck & Co. Senior Vice President, Digital Manufacturing and Chief Digital and Technology Officer Besu Alemayehu, right, was named the Manufacturing Leader of the Year at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, which took place on June 17 in Marco Island, FL. From left, David Brousell, MLC Founder, Vice President, and Executive Director, and National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons look on during Alemayehu’s acceptance speech.
Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala
The Pure & Gentle team, including Lea Green, center, and Darin Klaehn, left, react with joy to hearing their company announced as the Transformational Business Cultures winner in the Manufacturing Leadership Awards. More than 400 attendees gathered at the 2025 gala, with 116 projects and 49 individuals recognized as finalists.
About the author:
Penelope Brown is the Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council