Anton Thomas
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Anton Thomas, Director, Transformation, Michelin North America, Inc
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Anton Thomas, Director, Transformation, Michelin North America, Inc
SOUTHEAST Session: This Executive Perspectives Keynote Series session will begin with a keynote focused on Michelin North America’s workforce development strategies including the company’s unique Talent Campus program. The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion with workforce development leaders from the state of South Carolina, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), and Industrial Motor Service, Inc. Moderated by: Andy Carr, SC MEP
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Taylor Powell, Chief Operating Officer, Industrial Motor Service inc.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Robin Blackburn, Director of The Talent Campus, Michelin North America, Inc
SOUTHEAST Session: Understand the essential steps for achieving CMMC compliance in this essential session. Colin Gilchrist will provide a comprehensive guide for organizations looking to bridge the gap between cybersecurity requirements and business growth, ensuring a strong compliance foundation.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Sherry Bolds, Plant Controller, Dimontonate USA
SOUTHEAST Session: Sponsored by: UiPath Moderated by: Paul Boris
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session: Most manufacturers begin their AI journey with high expectations, yet research shows that 95 percent of GenAI projects fail to create real business value. A common trap is the shiny object syndrome, where leaders and empowered employees chase trendy tools that look impressive but do little to address core operational challenges. This is why only 5 percent of enterprise-built AI tools ever make it into production. The companies that succeed take a different path. They delve into the business itself, uncovering where AI can make the most significant difference. Predictive maintenance that prevents costly downtime, quality control that reduces waste, and supply chain optimization that improves resilience are just a few areas where measurable impact becomes possible. What often separates success from failure is expertise. Internal teams, no matter how skilled, can be limited by organizational bias, resource gaps, and familiar ways of thinking. That is why internal builds succeed only a third of the time. Third-party AI experts, on the other hand, bring fresh perspectives that identify blind spots, challenge assumptions, and apply proven frameworks that raise the success rate to nearly 70 percent. With the proper guidance, AI stops being an expensive experiment and becomes a powerful, revenue-generating asset. For manufacturers, this shift marks the difference between falling behind and building a sustainable competitive edge.