Leadership

After a day spent questioning forecasts, costs and who ultimately gets stuck with the bill, attendees at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Energy Conference left with one more takeaway.

A red DENIED stamp.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) handed one to every attendee as a reminder that not every forecast, assumption or cost shift deserves an automatic yes.

“We considered something more subtle, but subtle isn’t really our style,” said Dave O’Neil, director of communications for the OMA.

The message behind the stamp was simple. When the numbers do not add up, when the risk gets pushed onto existing customers or when “because the forecast says so” becomes the justification, manufacturers should be ready to push back.

Now they have the stamp to prove it. 8/27/2026

State Sen. Mark Romanchuk was honored Thursday with the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) Dan French Legacy Award, recognizing his leadership, service and commitment to Ohio manufacturing.

Romanchuk, a manufacturer himself at PR Machine Works, brings something especially valuable to the Statehouse. He knows firsthand what policy decisions look like once they reach the plant floor. He understands the pressure of rising costs, the need to stay competitive and the consequences when government gets the details wrong.

His leadership has been especially important on energy policy. Romanchuk is the co-sponsor of Senate Bill 457, the Electricity Forecast Integrity Act, which would bring greater independent review, transparency and accountability to the load forecasts driving billions of dollars in grid investment and customer costs.

“Mark does not just accept the numbers he is handed,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services for the OMA. “He asks who checked the math, who bears the risk and who gets stuck with the bill if the forecast is wrong. That kind of scrutiny is exactly what Ohio energy policy needs.”

The Dan French Legacy Award honors individuals who demonstrate exemplary service and leadership on behalf of Ohio’s manufacturing community. 8/27/2026

After a standing-room-only crowd at yesterday’s Ohio Manufacturers’ Energy Conference, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is already looking ahead to the next big one.

The 2026 Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum is set for Oct. 1, headlined by Whirlpool Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer and NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki.

Bitzer will bring the perspective of a global manufacturing leader navigating investment, innovation and workforce challenges. Kornacki will break down the political landscape just weeks before Election Day, giving attendees a data-driven look at the races and trends shaping 2026.

“The OMA has apparently forgot how to host small events,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for the OMA. “After packing the room for Energy Conference, we figured we might as well keep going. Bitzer and Kornacki on the same program is a pretty good way to do it.”

Our Energy Conference packed the room. The Annual Forum should do it again. Register today. 8/28/2026

Cleveland-Cliffs is putting $1 billion behind Middletown Works, with Washington picking up half the tab.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $500 million award to support a $1 billion modernization project at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works facility. Vice President JD Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited the plant this past Friday to highlight the investment, which is expected to protect 2,300 jobs and strengthen domestic steel production.

The project will rebuild and upgrade Middletown Works’ main blast furnace, deploy artificial intelligence to improve furnace operations and energy efficiency, and build an on-site facility to convert steel mill process gases into electricity. Cleveland-Cliffs also plans follow-on investments that would turn industrial byproducts into materials used in concrete.

“A billion-dollar investment tells you everything you need to know about Cleveland-Cliffs’ commitment to Middletown,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “This is not some press release promise. It is real capital going into a real Ohio plant, supporting thousands of jobs and strengthening one of the most important pieces of the American manufacturing supply chain.”

Cleveland-Cliffs, an OMA member, is the nation’s largest flat-rolled steel producer, and Middletown Works supplies steel used by the automotive, HVAC, appliance and steel-distribution industries. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks. 8/24/2026

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