Leadership

Ohio’s manufacturing workforce strategy drew national attention this week as Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger participated in a workforce roundtable with Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, JobsOhio and state and business leaders in Columbus.

The discussion focused on how Ohio’s industry-led approach can help advance America’s Talent Strategy by making workforce systems more responsive to employer demand and expanding training and earn-and-learn opportunities that help manufacturers build the talent they need.

“Ohio already has the relationships, the infrastructure and the employer leadership to execute,” Augsburger said. “The opportunity now is to scale what works and show the country what an industry-led workforce system can deliver.”

The stakes are substantial. Ohio manufacturing needs an estimated 35,000 new entry-level operators and mid-level technicians each year to support continued investment and growth across the state. 8/17/2026

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman will meet with Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) members Sept. 30 for a Government Affairs Committee discussion on the policy and political issues shaping Ohio’s manufacturing economy.

The meeting gives members a direct opportunity to hear from one of the state’s most influential policymakers and engage on the issues likely to drive the months ahead. The OMA Public Policy team will also provide an update on key legislative and regulatory developments.

“Speaker Huffman is right in the middle of the decisions that will shape Ohio’s business climate for years to come,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services at the OMA. “This is a valuable opportunity for members to hear directly from him, ask questions and understand where the General Assembly may be headed next.”

The discussion kicks off the OMA’s Annual Forum experience, followed by the welcome reception at Hofbräuhaus Columbus and the Oct. 1 Forum featuring Whirlpool Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer and NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki.

Registration for the Annual Forum is open now. 8/21/2026

Predictability matters when businesses are making decisions that will shape Ohio’s economy for decades.

That was the message this week as the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) joined the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, NFIB Ohio, Ohio Business Roundtable and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation in supporting Justice Dan Hawkins and Colleen O’Donnell for the Ohio Supreme Court.

Court decisions can shape everything from contracts and taxes to workers’ compensation and regulation. OMA President Ryan Augsburger said Ohio needs judges who understand the importance of applying the law consistently and leaving policymaking to the legislature.

“Manufacturers make investments measured in decades, not election cycles,” Augsburger said. “Justice Dan Hawkins and Colleen O’Donnell understand that courts should provide certainty by applying the law as written, not creating new policy from the bench.”

That kind of judicial restraint matters to Ohio’s business climate. Long-term investment depends on knowing the rules will be applied consistently, not rewritten from the bench. 8/18/2026

Ohio’s global relationships were on display in Canton recently as ambassadors from nine southeast Asian nations met with business and economic development leaders to discuss investment, technology and opportunities for stronger ties with the state.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) was represented by Nick Miller, managing director of member services and policy engagement, and Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services, during a visit organized by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, which connects U.S. companies and leaders with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Ohio stop included a visit to OMA member Bitdeer’s Massillon operations and conversations about digital infrastructure, investment and the opportunities created when global companies connect with Ohio communities and businesses.

“It was a real privilege to welcome leaders from across southeast Asia to Ohio and spend time sharing what makes this state such a special place to live, work and build,” Miller said. “Ohio’s greatest strength has always been its people, and opportunities like this give us a chance to create new friendships, deepen relationships and open doors to partnerships that can benefit communities here and around the world.” 8/19/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Foxconn plans to expand manufacturing and R&D capabilities in Ohio next year as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to grow.

The company is transforming its Lordstown operation into a manufacturing hub for AI components and server racks and said Ohio is among several states where it expects to build up capabilities in 2027. Foxconn will remain at the 6.2 million-square-foot former General Motors plant as a contract manufacturer supporting the site’s continued development.

“Foxconn’s plans in Lordstown are exactly the kind of investment Ohio should be winning,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “This is advanced manufacturing, new technology and real production happening here in Ohio. That is a good story for the Mahoning Valley and for the state’s manufacturing economy.” 8/17/2026

Whirlpool Corporation Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer will take the stage as a co-headliner of the 2026 Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum on Thursday, Oct. 1, bringing the perspective of one of the country’s leading manufacturing executives to the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) signature fall event.

Bitzer has led Whirlpool through a period of major transformation in global manufacturing. His keynote will offer a CEO-level view of the forces reshaping the industry, from competitiveness and investment to technology and the future of American manufacturing.

Bitzer will co-headline the program with NBC News and NBC Sports Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki, who will bring his signature data-driven analysis to the political landscape just weeks before Election Day.

The Annual Forum kicks off Manufacturing Month and brings together manufacturing executives, policy leaders and partners from across Ohio for leadership insights, policy analysis, networking and recognition of outstanding manufacturers. Register now to join OMA on Oct. 1 at the Grand Event Center in Columbus. 8/12/2026

Ohio’s rise to the top of CNBC’s 2026 ranking reflects something economic development leaders have understood for years. The state’s manufacturing base is a major competitive advantage.

In a new Columbus Dispatch column, Rick Platt, president and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority, points to Ohio’s deep industrial base, infrastructure, energy resources, market access and business climate as the advantages that keep the state on the short list for major investment. He also notes that site selectors increasingly expect Ohio to be part of the conversation when companies are deciding where to grow.

“Manufacturing is not simply part of Ohio’s success story. It is the reason Ohio leads,” Platt writes, echoing the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s response to CNBC naming Ohio the No. 1 state for business in 2026.

The message is straightforward. Ohio’s manufacturing strength helped build this advantage, and keeping it will depend on protecting the conditions that make companies want to invest, expand and hire here. 8/10/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member PPG’s $280 million expansion in Delaware is officially moving from plan to construction. The coatings manufacturer has broken ground on a 100,000-square-foot expansion that will add 100 jobs to a site that already employs about 450 people.

The project will add advanced automation, digital manufacturing capabilities and more energy-efficient production as PPG increases automotive coatings capacity at the facility. Operations in the expanded space are expected to begin by 2028.

“This is what manufacturing growth looks like when it becomes real,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the OMA. “It is new capacity, new technology on the factory floor and another 100 people building careers in Ohio. PPG’s continued investment in Delaware says a lot about the strength of manufacturing in this state.” 8/11/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s Jessica Borza and Lindsey Short joined U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, acting U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling and northwest Ohio manufacturers Monday at Owens Community College to discuss the workforce challenge still limiting the industry’s growth.

The discussion centered on a persistent disconnect. Manufacturers have jobs, but too many people are still being steered toward education and training that do not connect directly to available careers. Participants focused on expanding apprenticeships and earn-and-learn programs, introducing students to manufacturing earlier and making the workforce system more responsive to the skills employers actually need.

“Sen. Husted understands that workforce policy has to begin with the jobs employers are actually trying to fill,” Short said. “The real test is whether people are gaining relevant skills, getting hired and building lasting careers in Ohio manufacturing.”

OMA continues to work with manufacturers, educators and regional partners to expand practical pathways into the industry and ensure workforce programs respond to actual employer demand. 8/4/2026

Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling got a firsthand look at how Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Whirlpool is building its manufacturing workforce during a visit Monday to the company’s Clyde plant with OMA’s Lindsey Short and Jessica Borza.

The visit also included Luke Harms, Whirlpool’s director of government relations and chair of the OMA Government Affairs Committee, and Kristin Day, an OMA board member and Whirlpool’s vice president of U.S. manufacturing operations. Sonderling toured the production floor, tried several of the same hands-on tasks new workers learn and heard directly from current apprentices and program graduates.

“The average registered apprenticeship, once you graduate, you earn $86,000, which is $20,000 more than going to a traditional four-year college, without any debt,” Sonderling said during the tour.

The visit highlighted the value of introducing students to manufacturing careers earlier and expanding apprenticeships that lead directly to good-paying jobs.

“Whirlpool is showing what works when manufacturers, schools and communities build clear pathways into the industry,” Borza said. “Young people need to see these careers earlier and understand that they can earn, learn and build a lasting career without taking on years of college debt.” 8/4/2026

U.S. manufacturing expanded for the seventh consecutive month in July and posted its strongest overall growth in more than four years.

New orders and production both increased, signaling stronger demand and busier factory floors. Four of the nation’s six largest manufacturing industries also reported growth.

Manufacturers added workers for the first time in nearly three years, another encouraging sign that the sector is entering the second half of 2026 with renewed confidence.

“Orders are up. Production is up. Hiring is up. American manufacturing is moving again,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. 8/3/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Kokosing is celebrating 75 years in business, growing from a small Fredericktown company into one of the largest family-owned construction companies in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

Today, the third-generation company employs about 4,000 people and works across industrial construction, transportation, pipelines, water and wastewater, marine, power and energy, asphalt and aggregates. Its ability to self-perform much of its work has helped Kokosing build a reputation for taking on complex projects and delivering them well.

Kokosing credits generations of employees for the company it has become and says its focus will remain where it has always been: on safety, its people and steady improvement.

“Kokosing has spent 75 years showing what can happen when an Ohio company takes care of its people, does the work the right way and keeps building for the long term,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “Ohio is stronger because Kokosing calls it home.” 8/6/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Political Action Committee (OMA-PAC) has endorsed Colleen O’Donnell and Justice Dan Hawkins for election to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The court’s decisions shape the rules governing taxes, contracts, workers’ compensation, product liability and regulation. Manufacturers making long-term investments need confidence that statutes will be applied as written, contracts will be enforced and legal principles will be applied consistently.

“Ohio manufacturers need a Supreme Court that understands its role and follows the law, regardless of the issue or the parties involved,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Colleen O’Donnell and Justice Dan Hawkins have the experience, judgment and discipline Ohioans should expect from their highest court.”

Both candidates thanked OMA-PAC for its support and emphasized their commitment to the rule of law. OMA-PAC’s endorsements reflect the importance of electing justices who will provide the consistency and predictability manufacturers need to invest, grow and create jobs in Ohio. 8/5/2026

NBC News and NBC Sports chief data analyst Steve Kornacki will headline the Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum on Thursday, Oct. 1, at The Grand Event Center in Columbus.

Known for his fast-paced “big board” breakdowns of elections, politics, culture and sports, Kornacki will bring timely political analysis, sharp data insights and plenty of energy to the stage as Ohio manufacturers look ahead to the 2026 election and the policy decisions that will shape the state’s economy.

The Annual Forum kicks off Manufacturing Month and brings together manufacturing executives, policy leaders and industry professionals from across Ohio for networking, recognition and an inside look at the forces shaping Ohio’s largest industry.

“Steve Kornacki has a rare ability to make complicated political and economic trends understandable, relevant and even fun,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “With a major election approaching and enormous policy decisions ahead, there could not be a better time to bring him before Ohio’s manufacturing leaders.”

The forum begins with a networking reception at 11 a.m., followed by the program from noon to 2 p.m. Registration is $150 for OMA members, $250 for non-members and $49 for government attendees.

The full experience begins Sept. 30 with OMA’s Government Affairs Committee meeting and the Annual Forum Welcome Reception at Hofbräuhaus Columbus Biergarten. 7/30/2026

Michigan may have experience stealing signs, but one of its leading policy groups now says the state should start copying Ohio’s economic strategy.

The Michigan-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy says Ohio is “eating our lunch,” pointing to lower unemployment, stronger economic performance and a more competitive tax and regulatory climate. Those advantages matter especially in manufacturing, where states compete directly for plants, expansions, workers and supply-chain investment.

The center credits Ohio’s lower income-tax rate, lighter occupational-licensing burden and recent efforts to cut unnecessary regulations. Its message to Michigan is straightforward. States that make it easier to build, hire and produce will win more investment.

“We are always happy to help Michigan with its homework, although its recent history suggests we may need to keep an eye on how the answers are obtained,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Ohio’s advantage is no mystery. Competitive tax and regulatory policies make it easier for manufacturers to invest, hire and grow.” 7/29/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) joined community leaders in Wilmington on Monday for the dedication of Clinton County’s new America 250-Ohio barn mural celebrating Ohio’s manufacturing heritage.

Dave O’Neil, director of communications for The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, delivered remarks during the ceremony on behalf of the OMA.

Painted by renowned barn artist Scott Hagan, the mural is the final barn mural commissioned by America 250-Ohio for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The barn previously served as Clinton County’s official Ohio Bicentennial Barn and now begins a new chapter as an America 250-Ohio landmark.

Visible from Interstate 71, the mural will be seen by millions of motorists for decades to come, offering a lasting reminder of the people and industries that have helped build Ohio.

“Ohio has always been a state that makes things,” O’Neil said at the event. “Manufacturing is a huge part of our history, but it is not some museum piece. It is still central to our economy, our communities and our future.”

The event was hosted by the America 250-Ohio Commission and the Clinton County History Center, with support from barn owner Sheri Kellogg and other community partners.

Because many of the barn’s original boards would have needed replacement, the mural was painted on a new steel surface.

“When an old Ohio barn needs a new surface, apparently we make that out of steel too,” O’Neil said. “That may be the most Ohio solution possible.” 7/27/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers has completed a $45 million expansion of its Columbus manufacturing and distribution facility, adding new jobs, advanced production equipment and more than 100,000 square feet of office and warehouse space.

The project expands the Milo-Grogan facility to 375,000 square feet and includes more than $17 million in new equipment and technology, including autonomous material-handling systems. The company now employs 661 people at the Columbus operation, where more than 50,000 cases of beverages move through the plant each day.

G&J Pepsi operates 14 locations across Ohio and Kentucky and is the largest independent bottler in the PepsiCo franchise system. Its Columbus facility, which opened roughly 60 years ago, produced its 2 billionth bottle in 2024.

“G&J Pepsi’s expansion is exactly the kind of investment Ohio should celebrate,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “The company is creating jobs, modernizing its operation and building for long-term growth. That is a win for Columbus and for Ohio manufacturing.” 7/27/2026

Seaman Corporation has completed a 10,200-square-foot expansion of its Wooster headquarters, supporting the creation of more than 50 jobs and increasing office capacity by 30%.

Seaman Corporation, a member of The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA), added offices, open workstations, a multipurpose gathering room and expanded parking. The project also puts Seaman products on display, including a Lightweight Structures canopy at the new entrance and more than 1,600 yards of FiberTite roofing membrane installed on the expansion.

Seaman has operated in Wayne County for more than 40 years and now employs about 600 people across facilities in Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. The company manufactures industrial coated fabrics used in roofing, water management, military, architectural and other industrial applications.

“Seaman Corporation has spent decades proving that Ohio manufacturers can lead specialized markets, serve customers around the world and still grow from home,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “This expansion is a strong vote of confidence in Wooster, its workforce and the future of manufacturing in Ohio.” 7/29/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) Political Action Committee endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor Wednesday during an event at Stamco Industries in Euclid.

Stamco founder Bill Sopko opened the event by crediting the employees who built the company through decades of precision, quality and pride.

“All the people here made it possible,” Sopko said.

OMA President Ryan Augsburger said the endorsement reflects the importance of electing a governor who understands Ohio’s product-based economy and the policies that determine whether companies invest, expand and create jobs.

“Ohio is not just a manufacturing state. Ohio is the manufacturing state,” Augsburger said. “This is an amazing state of makers and creators and innovators. But if we’re going to succeed in today’s globally competitive marketplace, we need government leadership that understands and supports the product-based economy.”

Augsburger said Ramaswamy’s business experience, market-based approach and ability to work with President Donald Trump’s administration make him best prepared to help Ohio win the next wave of reshored manufacturing.

Ramaswamy pledged to lower taxes, cut burdensome regulations and expand reliable, affordable energy.

“As governor, I’ll fight every day to make Ohio the nation’s leading state for manufacturing,” Ramaswamy said. “Together, we will create more high-paying jobs and better opportunities for this generation and the next.” 7/22/2026

Apparently, not everyone is thrilled about the conversations happening at this year’s Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) Energy Conference. We will take that as a sign the program is hitting the right nerves.

Perhaps the consultant class is worried that a room full of customers might hear something beyond the utility industry’s preferred narrative. Either way, skip the boycott and get the rest of the story on Ohio’s energy future Aug. 27 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown. Early-bird pricing ends Thursday, July 30.

“When the people paid to defend the status quo start grumbling, you know the conversation is worth having,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “Our members deserve more than polished talking points. They deserve the full story.” 7/24/2026