AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the owner and producer of IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, has announced a new collaboration with the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) to further strengthen the manufacturing technology community. As part of this partnership, the two organizations will jointly present IMTS ELEVATE, a half-day conference and networking reception designed to bring together industry professionals for discussions, insights and collaboration.
The inaugural IMTS ELEVATE event will debut during IMTS 2026, scheduled to take place from September 14–19 at McCormick Place. Powered by AMT and WiM, the event will focus on building connections and supporting initiatives that advance the manufacturing technology workforce.
The event is designed to unite professionals across every sector of manufacturing technology, including engineers, technicians, executives, educators, and entrepreneurs.
“This partnership is a great example of how AMT and the Women in Manufacturing Association can bring together some of the brightest minds in manufacturing to share ideas, spark collaboration, grow leaders, and enhance representation and workforce development within the industry,” says Bonnie T. Gurney, vice president, strategic partnerships and industry relations, AMT.
ELEVATE is open to manufacturing professionals nationwide, with a special emphasis on Chicago’s manufacturing community and the more than 86,000 visitors IMTS attracts, from global manufacturers to exhibitors, who come to experience the show firsthand and build meaningful connections with innovators, peers, and emerging leaders. The program builds on successful IMTS 2022 and 2024 events that highlighted women in manufacturing, featuring conversations on leadership, innovation, and the growing influence of women across the manufacturing technology sector.
“We are thrilled to partner with AMT to bring ELEVATE to life at IMTS 2026,” says Allison Roberts Grealis, president and founder of WiM. “This collaboration enhances our shared commitment to supporting and advancing all women in the manufacturing technology community. By uniting professionals from every corner of the industry, ELEVATE will spark meaningful conversations, foster new connections, and empower attendees to drive innovation and positive change within their organizations and across the sector.”
Highlights include opening remarks from WiM and AMT leaders, an inspiring keynote on resilience and authentic leadership, and a panel of women driving transformation across engineering, operations, and manufacturing technology. During a fireside chat, Grealis and a prominent industry leader will explore career pivots and the future of women in advanced manufacturing. The event concludes with closing remarks and a networking reception to connect attendees and continue the dialogue. A full speaker list will be released in spring 2026.
“I’m a mechanical engineer by trade, and I love listening to powerful women who can articulate what it means to have diversity in their organizations,” says IMTS 2024 attendee Susan Ipri-Brown, founder of Empowerment Levers Consulting, former engineering educator, and a former president of ASME. “It’s inspiring and reminds us of all of the value of the work that everybody’s doing and how it permeates organizations.”
The IMTS ELEVATE Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from 1-4:30 p.m., followed by an exclusive on-site networking reception from 4:30-6 p.m. at McCormick Place. Registration is now open.
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