Ohio manufacturers helped build America. Now they’re helping shape its next chapter. A new video debuted Thursday at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum, bringing together industry leaders to reflect on the state’s manufacturing legacy, the people behind its success and the opportunities ahead as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.
From producing the equipment that helped win World War II to creating generations of middle-class opportunity, manufacturing has helped define Ohio’s economic history. In the video, manufacturers reflect on that legacy while making clear that the industry’s continued success depends on the same willingness to invest, innovate and adapt that shaped its past.
At the heart of that effort are people.
“Nothing is done without your people,” said Jack Schron, president and CEO at Jergens, Inc. “You’ve got to invest in their energy, their time, and their desire even to be in this sector.”
Manufacturers described opening their facilities to students, helping employees build lasting careers and expanding opportunities through second-chance employment and programs serving people with disabilities. Manufacturing’s continued success depends on making sure more Ohioans can see themselves as part of it.
The video also offers a look inside modern manufacturing, where lasers, 3D printing, advanced machinery and highly skilled employees are changing what happens on the factory floor. Beyond production, manufacturers highlighted careers in engineering, purchasing, human resources and other fields, challenging outdated perceptions of an industry that offers opportunities to learn, advance and lead.
That same commitment to progress extends beyond individual companies.
“We manufacturers have a responsibility to speak up for all manufacturers,” said Dale Foerster, owner and vice president at Starr Manufacturing Inc. “We are so interconnected and interdependent.”
Participants credited the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association with uniting the industry around shared priorities and providing expertise across advocacy, energy and workforce development. Foerster added, “When we all band together, our voice becomes so big and legislators listen.”
As the industry looks ahead, the video returns to a conviction shared by the manufacturers who helped tell its story. Ohio’s next chapter will be written by the people developing new technologies, preparing the next generation of workers and investing in the state’s manufacturing future.
“Ohio will lead the next 250 years of manufacturing because of the tenacity of the people here in the state of Ohio,” said Billy Vickers, president and CEO at Modular Assembly Innovations. 10/1/2026
