Modern Makers are individuals whose sense of purpose embodies the Manufacturing USA mission to secure the future of U.S. manufacturing through innovation, education, and collaboration. We celebrate their inspirational yet relatable stories from former high school teachers to executives, who are at work in our ecosystem at Manufacturing USA institutes and member companies.

Meet the Modern Makers

Meet the Modern Makers who were nominated by the institutes and their member companies and help power the Manufacturing USA ecosystem:

Graphic with bright green background, photo of Madison Maxey, her name in large white font, and the AFFOA logo
Graphic with an orange background, photo of Jim Owens, his name in large white font, and the AFFOA logo
Graphic with a teal background, a photo of Diana Mercado Gruber, her name in large white font, and the America Makes logo
Graphic with orange background and photo of Litsa Rubino with the America Makes logo
graphic with a green background, photo of Carley Mollica, her name in large white font, and the ARM Institute logo
Graphic with red background with photo of Matt Robinson and the ARM Institute logo
Graphic with teal background, photo of Josh Krug, his name in large white font, and the CESMII logo
Graphic with photo of Olivia Morales with her name in white font and the CESMII logo
Graphic with dark blue background with photo of Tambre Paster, her name in large white font, and the CyManII logo
graphic with a teal background, photo of Michael Gomez, his name in large white front, and the IACMI logo
Graphic of Sam Pankratz with a dark blue background and his name in large white font.
Graphic with red background and photo of Sam Moyer with his name in white font and the MxD logo
Graphic with a teal background, photo of Jackson Rambough, his name in large white font, and the NextFlex logo
Graphic with green background and Zach Kiehl's photo, his name in white font and the NextFlex logo
Graphic with dark green background with a photo of Oscar Ramirez, his name in large white font, and the NIIMBL logo
graphic with a bright green background, photo of Baratunde Cola, his name in large white font, and the PowerAmerica logo
Graphic with a red background and a photo of Glenn Cormack with his name in large white font and the RAPID logo.
Graphic with teal background with a photo of Alex Repucci, his name in large white font, and the RAPID logo

We hope Modern Makers' stories inspire you to consider a career in manufacturing. There is an estimated 4 million manufacturing positions to fill by 2030.

Infographic depicting the need to fill 1.9 million manufacturing jobs by 2033. Graphic provided by: Deloitte analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and estimates of private investments from Invest.gov

Pathways to Manufacturing Careers

Today's manufacturing jobs offer high-paying opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies in a wide range of fast-growing fields. Driven by a renewed investment in U.S. manufacturing innovation, the growth potential for these jobs is high – more than 1.3 million manufacturing jobs have been added to the U.S. economy over the past decade. These jobs require skills that many Americans already have and don't necessarily need a college or advanced degree to do, making it easier to upgrade to a manufacturing career than you might think.

Three Ways to Start a Career in Manufacturing:

Step 1

Learn More

Explore advanced manufacturing careers and resources through the institutes’ websites or others in your region.

Step 2

Find Training

Attend workshops, open houses, find courses, internships, apprenticeships, and more.
 

Step 3

Apply

Pursue a rewarding career in advanced manufacturing through countless open positions.
 

 

Hear from the Modern Makers

Graphic to click and play the IMTS SmartForce Student Summit 2024 Modern Makers panel. Blue background, white font, with black and white photos of Olivia Morales, Rodrigo Perez, Kim Lemay, and Cassondra Blasioli

At the IMTS SmartForce 2024 Student Summit Manufacturing USA's brought together three Modern Makers. Olivia Morales of CESMII, Rodrigo Perez of MxD, and Kim Lemay of BioFabUSA spoke to students about how they discovered advanced manufacturing as a career, what they wish they could tell their high school selves, and advice on skills needed for high-tech jobs of the future.

 

 

 

 

 

Go to Gen Z in Manufacturing: It’s Time to Redefine What It Means to Be ‘Qualified’

Gen Z in Manufacturing: It’s Time to Redefine What It Means to Be ‘Qualified’

| NIIMBL
Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing , a podcast that asks young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for... Read More
Graphic promoting Gen Z in Manufacturing Podcast with a photo of Modern Maker Oscar Ramirez
Go to Meet the Manufacturing USA ‘Modern Maker’ Who Got His Start with Pinewood Derby cars

Meet the Manufacturing USA ‘Modern Maker’ Who Got His Start with Pinewood Derby cars

| IACMI
Working in the manufacturing industry often requires problem-solving, ingenuity and curiosity – the same qualities needed to successfully build and race a Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby car. “There’s so... Read More
Photo of Michael Gomez at work explaining a machine.
Go to Did You Know How Many Types of Digital Twins There Are?

Did You Know How Many Types of Digital Twins There Are?

| MxD
Rodrigo Perez of MxD is here to explain this – along with the interesting elements of a career in manufacturing. Perez is a manufacturing systems integration engineer at MxD, the digital manufacturing... Read More
Graphic promoting Quality Magazine Podcast with photo of Rodrigo Perez and Modern Makers text in the background
Go to Celebrating 10 Years of Manufacturing USA

Celebrating 10 Years of Manufacturing USA

| CyManII
A catalyst for increasing U.S. manufacturing competitiveness by connecting people, ideas and technology A decade ago, policymakers responded to the need to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base with... Read More
Circuit board with US Flag

Learn more about advanced Manufacturing:

Image of a woman using soldering a chip to fabric.

Learn More:

Dr. Tony Schmitz, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Tennessee, showing students how almost everything we make in this world touches a machine tool.

Youth in Manufacturing