Manufacturing an American Century

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May 2026

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About the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC) AMCC is a non-profit organization assembled and led by a group of regional and national stakeholders dedicated to strengthening collaboration within and between regional manufacturing communities. AMCC works to achieve sustainable development in America through economic growth, improved environmental performance, and inclusive well-paid job creation to support the revitalization of American manufacturing. Born out of an interagency program, the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP), AMCC was created as a national organization of regional stakeholders to continue the important work of deepening connections and sharing best practices within community ecosystems and between manufacturing regions. AMCC has championed the bottom-up, community-driven model of building ecosystems of support to help manufacturers thrive, and was recently designated by the U.S. EDA as the nation’s manufacturing Community of Practice. AMCC supports regional consortia organized to strengthen manufacturing in any number of public/private initiatives to include federal agency community designation programs like IMCP, DOD’s DMCSP , the EDA’s BBBRC and their emerging Tech Hub program. About Manufacturing an American Century’s Host: Matt Bogoshian leads the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC) , a successor organization to the Obama Administration’s IMCP initiative he helped to lead as Senior Policy Counsel at the U.S. EPA. The work of IMCP and AMCC became a model for the Tech Hub program within the CHIPS and Science Act and other recently enacted federal interventions. His range of law experience includes time as a business litigator and general counsel, policy official at the California EPA, consumer and environmental prosecutor, and U.S. Navy JAG Corps Officer. His past work includes co-founding the Fourth Sector Group , service on educational and affordable housing boards, writing, podcasting , and teaching environmental law enforcement at Georgetown University Law Center and sustainability law at King Hall, University of California, Davis Law School where he also serves on the board of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center. He is the co-author with John Dernbach and Irma Russell of the 2022 book published by the American Bar Association, Sustainability Essentials: A Leadership Guide for Lawyers . Matt can be reached at matt.bogoshian@amccmail.org . ]]>

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May 22, 202638 min

Building Utah's Manufacturing Ecosystem: Jeff Edwards on Composites, Collaboration, and the Long Game

I had the opportunity to sit down with Jeff Edwards, Senior Advisor on Materials and Manufacturing at 47G, Utah's Aerospace and Defense Association, and one of the original regional leaders behind what became AMCC. Jeff and I go back more than a decade to the early days of the EDA Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) program, where he was doing the hard, unglamorous work of organizing Utah's advanced manufacturing ecosystem before most people knew what that meant.We start where Jeff is now at 47G and then dig into the remarkable backstory behind it. Jeff traces the origins of Utah's advanced composites industry from its roots in Cold War missile programs to now, through the patient, deliberate work of building the Utah advanced materials and manufacturing ecosystem from the ground up, one relationship and one data point at a time. It's a textbook case study in how a region can identify a niche, build an ecosystem of support around it, and turn it into a world-class cluster.We also talk about what IMCP meant for Utah and for the broader national network. Jeff shares examples of how peer learning across IMCP regions led directly to new programs back home, from carbon fiber recycling to succession planning for family-owned defense suppliers. And we dig into the broader case of why regions can't afford to race to the bottom or go it alone, and what it looks like in practice to build the collaborative, multi-stakeholder structures that can actually move the needle. Thanks to Jeff for a great conversation, give it a listen! Links to Learn More:Find Jeff on LinkedIn.Explore 47G’s body of work.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 1, 202643 min

Economic Development as a Team Sport: Dennis Alvord on Building Regional Economies That Endure

It was a real pleasure to sit down with Dennis Alvord, a nearly 30-year veteran of the federal civil service whose career at the Economic Development Administration and the OECD's Regional Development Policy Committee has made him one of the most experienced economic development practitioners in the country. Dennis and I first crossed paths about 15 years ago working to bring forward evidence on manufacturing's role as a cornerstone of regional economic development, and it was great to reconnect and dig into where we are today.We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. Dennis walks us through EDA's history as one of the federal government's more flexible and creative grant-making agencies, and how programs like IMCP and Tech Hubs have demonstrated the power of place-based, collaborative investment. We discuss what the US can learn from OECD member nations on sustained industrial policy, from Sweden and Japan's innovative approaches to offsite manufactured housing to the importance of consistent, structured federal investment in regional economic ecosystems.We also talk about the critical importance of civil servants as stewards of the public good, and Dennis shares his perspective on what it will take to build the structured, long-term regional investment frameworks that can truly move the needle on American prosperity. Thanks to Dennis for a great conversation, give it a listen!🔗 Links to Learn More:Find Dennis on LinkedIn.Explore OECD’s Regional Development Policy Committee.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us connect you with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

April 17, 202641 min

Turning Evidence into Action: ANL's Alison Peoples on Building Regional Manufacturing Ecosystems

It was a pleasure to welcome Alison Peoples from Argonne National Laboratory to the podcast. Alison is a statistician and economic development researcher whose career has taken her from the municipal bond trading desks of Boston to the Economic Development Districts of New Mexico — and ultimately to one of America's premier federal research institutions, where she We talk about the big challenge that has driven AMCC's work for over 15 years: how do regional leaders get organized around the best available data to assess their manufacturing ecosystem of support and craft smarter interventions? Alison walks us through Argonne's important work in this area, including the National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE) and the Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI). We discuss the need for building a clearer picture of siloed public data that regional leaders need but rarely have easy access to, in order for their decisions to be driven by the best available data..We also explore what it will take to close the gap between economic research and economic development practice and why Alison is genuinely hopeful about the next generation's ability to bridge the worlds of technology and humanity. Thanks to Alison for a great conversation, give it a listen! 🔗 Links to Learn More:Find Alison on LinkedIn.Explore Argonne's NERDE website.Check out the Economic Development Capacity Index.Download the AMCC Manufacturing Community Ecosystem Metrics Playbook.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us connect you with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

April 3, 202641 min

Can Legacy Manufacturing Regions Reinvent Themselves? Kenan Fikri on Dynamism and Place

Matt had the pleasure of sitting down with Kenan Fikri, Senior Fellow at the Economic Innovation Group, an economic think tank dedicated to tackling the deep, longstanding challenges facing the American economy.Kenan got into some of the core ideas driving EIG's work, starting with economic dynamism: the health, vitality, and innovative intensity of an economy. We unpacked what that really means on the ground: not just whether jobs are growing, but whether new firms are starting, workers are moving to better opportunities, and regions are generating the kind of productive churn that drives long-term prosperity. We also discuss Kenan’s research in agglomeration, why industries cluster in specific places, how those clusters become self-reinforcing engines of competitive advantage, and what the spillover effects mean for entire communities. From Cleveland's industrial legacy to Silicon Valley's startup culture, Kenan brought it all to life with real examples. Be sure to check out Kenan's recently released article, Does a legacy in manufacturing preclude a future in it? — it's essential reading that connects directly to everything we discussed. And if you want to go deeper on EIG's worldview, look up their Substack, Agglomerations, where Kenan and the team are publishing their latest thinking.🔗Links to Learn More:Find Kenan on LinkedIn.Subscribe to Agglomerations on Substack.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

March 19, 202629 min

Building a Manufacturing Movement That Lasts with Manufacturing Happy Hour’s Chris Luecke

It was a pleasure to welcome Chris Luecke to the podcast. Chris is a podcast himself, as founder and host of the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast, one of the most recognizable shows in the industry, with nearly 300 episodes exploring the people, ideas, and leadership shaping modern manufacturing. With a background at Rockwell Automation and experience spanning industries from oil and gas to semiconductors, Chris brings his experience and a sharp understanding of how to communicate manufacturing’s value in a rapidly changing world.In our conversation, we dig into the evolution of manufacturing storytelling and how it’s starting to change. We explore the importance of meeting people where they are, elevating peer voices, and creating relatable pathways into manufacturing careers, especially for the next generation. Chris also reflects on the diversity of perspectives across the manufacturing ecosystem, all the different roles needed to make it work, and why that range is essential for driving both innovation and resilience.We close with a message for manufacturers and ecosystem leaders alike: this moment calls for both courage and agility. Courage to adopt new technologies, share stories, and lead from the front—and agility to navigate uncertainty while building businesses that can endure across generations. Chris makes a compelling case that the future of manufacturing depends not just on policy or capital, but on people stepping up to tell the story of what they’re building and why it matters. Thanks to Chris for the energy, insight, and inspiration, and congratulations to 10 years of Manufacturing Happy Hour!🔗Links to Learn More:Find Chris on LinkedIn.Listen to Manufacturing Happy Hour on your favorite platforms.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us connect you with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

January 16, 202641 min

Building Manufacturing Ecosystems to Succeed in an Uncertain World with Dr. Nikhil Kalathil

It was a real pleasure to welcome Dr. Nikhil Kalathil to the Manufacturing in the American Century podcast. Nikhil earned his PhD from Carnegie Mellon in Engineering and Public Policy, and serves as a Senior Advisor of Ecosystem Assessment to AMCC. He brings a rare combination of engineering background and policy focus to the challenge of rebuilding U.S. manufacturing capacity. His work focuses on understanding regional manufacturing ecosystems and why certain places succeed in producing priority products that are critical to economic resilience and national security.In our conversation, we dig into what makes manufacturing uniquely well-positioned for deep federal policy and ecosystem-building activities: it has measurable inputs and outputs, requires coordination across complex systems, and generates powerful spillover benefits for workers, firms, and regions. Nikhil walks through the core elements of healthy manufacturing ecosystems, including workforce, innovation, infrastructure, supply chains, trade, and capital access, and explains how agglomeration, visibility, and regional fit shape real-world outcomes.Our conversation ended with Nkhil giving a grounded but hopeful charge for the field. In a moment defined by uncertainty, the smartest path forward for regions is to make bets that reduce risk by aligning state leadership, federal support, manufacturers, suppliers, universities, and startups around clear, mission-driven goals. When regions coalesce around shared conviction and a belief in what they are building, the noise of shifting markets matters less. Technologies, policies, and signals will always change, but building tangible things that improve people’s lives endures. Thanks, Nikhil, for all your work and contributions to the field!🔗Links to Learn More:Find Nikhil on LinkedIn.Read Nikhil’s recent publications.Learn about CMU’s Critical Technology InitiativeFollow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

December 19, 202541 min

Access, Trust, and Talent: Building Workforce Pathways That Work with The Machinists Institute’s Shana Peschek

In this episode, I’m joined by Shana Peschek, Executive Director of the Machinists Institute, for a timely conversation about what it really takes to build a manufacturing workforce that can meet the moment. Workforce is one of the AMCC “Big Six” pillars of a functioning regional manufacturing ecosystem, and across the country, we’re falling short. Shana brings a practitioner’s lens to this challenge, drawing on her experience building apprenticeship and training models to support advanced manufacturing talent pipelines.We talk about how the Machinists Institute was founded by IAM District 751 to serve aerospace, manufacturing, and industrial trades; how Shana scaled the organization from an idea into a statewide—and now national—workforce platform; and why apprenticeship is fundamentally an educational modality, not a niche labor program. Along the way, she breaks down persistent myths around apprenticeship, explains how employer-driven curriculum keeps training relevant, and shares how the Institute partners with unions, non-union employers, community colleges, workforce boards, and community-based organizations without duplicating efforts.If you care about reindustrialization, aerospace and defense manufacturing, apprenticeships, or how regions can build real workforce capacity,this is a must-listen. Shana’s work shows what systems leadership looks like in practice, and why workforce development can’t be siloed from economic development if we’re serious about competing globally, way to go Shana!🔗Links to Learn More:Find Shana on LinkedIn.Learn more about The Machinists InstituteFollow the Machinists Institute on LinkedIn and FacebookFollow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

November 21, 202545 min

Hyper-Local, High Impact: How to Build Manufacturing Talent Fast with the CNC Career Network

On this edition of Manufacturing an American Century, I sat down with Daniel Wierman, founder of CNC Career Network, to discuss His work builds bridges between workforce developers, manufacturers, and local nonprofits to strengthen the talent pipeline in advanced manufacturing. Daniel brings a powerful mix of industry insight, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit to the conversation, matched only by his humility and eagerness to learn, test, iterate and apply his knowledge to help young people and adults get the training support they need for lifelong, meaningful careers in manufacturing.Daniel shares how his early experiences trying to recruit CNC operators exposed deeper issues of retention, training, and a lack of clear advancement paths. From launching registered apprenticeships with Goodwill Southern California to developing tools and training guides through CNC Career Network, Daniel has stayed focused on helping workers see a future for themselves in manufacturing. His insights on softening the transitions between nonprofits, educators, and employers are a must-hear for anyone working to rebuild America's manufacturing base at speed and scale. Thanks to Daniel for joining us and for the work he’s doing to grow and sustain a stronger, more connected manufacturing workforce ecosystem!🔗Links to Learn More:Find Daniel on LinkedIn.Learn more about the CNC Career Network.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

October 18, 202537 min

From Passion to Pathways: How ASME is Building the Next Generation of Makers

It was a real pleasure to welcome Kathleen Kosmoski, Director of Workforce Development at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), to Manufacturing an American Century. Kathleen leads national efforts to strengthen the engineering talent pipeline and is helping connect community colleges, manufacturers, and engineering societies in new ways to close the skills gap.Kathleen shares how ASME is engaging the next generation of engineers through its Community College Engineering Pathways and Mechanical Engineering Technology Apprenticeship programs, both designed to make engineering education more accessible and aligned with industry needs. She discusses how these initiatives are helping students enter the engineering profession as technicians and advance through hands-on learning and employer partnerships.We also talk about the unique role of professional societies in rebuilding America’s manufacturing base, ASME’s collaborations with other engineering associations, and Kathleen’s vision for a more connected and inclusive technical workforce. Her experience leading workforce initiatives and her passion for solving complex challenges shine through as she describes how trust, local partnerships, and persistence are key to lasting impact. Thanks to Kathleen for joining us and for the incredible work she’s doing to build the next generation of American engineers!🔗Links to Learn More:Find Kathleen on LinkedIn.Learn more about ASME programs:Community College Engineering PathwaysMechanical Engineering Technology ApprenticeshipFollow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

October 3, 202550 min

The Infrastructure Behind the Industry: How Connex Marketplace is Connecting U.S. Manufacturing with Alan Davis and James Duncan

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome James Duncan, President of Connex Marketplace, and Alan Davis, President and CEO of i5 Services, to Manufacturing an American Century. Jim and Alan are two private-sector leaders who’ve rolled up their sleeves to tackle two of the biggest challenges facing small and midsize manufacturers today: access to capital and supply chain visibility. They describe how Connex is helping manufacturers find the capital they need, and share how their tools make it easier for business owners to understand their options. Alan gives us the big picture on how Connex Marketplace is reconnecting the U.S. industrial base, helping manufacturers find each other by capability – not just geography or keywords – in a way that connects them while safeguarding their competitive edge.We also discuss the trust they've established with manufacturers over more than a decade and why that trust is more important now than ever, given rising concerns about capital access, trade, and supply chain restructuring. Thanks to Alan and Jim for coming on the podcast!🔗Links to Learn More:Find Alan Davis on Linkedin.Find James Duncan on LinkedinLearn more about the Connex Marketplace.Read about Connex’s work on small business lending support with the SBA.Follow AMCC on Linkedin.Find Matt on Linkedin.Visit our website.AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.