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As 2026 approaches, manufacturers face a landscape defined by change, innovation, and opportunity. Join us for an exclusive morning event where we’ll explore the trends shaping the year ahead — from policy and economic shifts to workforce and technology transformations.
You’ll hear insights from thought leaders and industry experts on:
Politics & Policy: Navigating regulations, tariffs, and budgets.
Economics: What the 2026 outlook means for manufacturing.
Social Dynamics: Managing the “Grey Wave” and succession planning.
Technology: Harnessing AI, automation, and emerging tools to drive growth.
The morning will conclude with networking among leaders from across the region’s manufacturing community.
Confirmed Speakers
Gus Faucher
Chief Economist, The PNC Financial Services Group
Augustine (Gus) Faucher is senior vice president and chief economist at The PNC Financial Services Group, where he serves as the company’s lead spokesperson on economic issues. Before joining PNC, he spent a decade at Moody’s Analytics and six years at the U.S. Treasury Department, specializing in U.S. economic modeling, policy analysis, and forecasting. A frequent contributor to major media outlets, Faucher holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in economics from Cornell University.
Jonathan Spanier
Hess Family Chair Professor Engineering and Physics & Head, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University
Professor Spanier is a materials scientist whose research explores light–matter interactions and the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of emergent solid-state materials to advance energy-efficient technologies. His work spans ferroelectric and multiferroic systems, with applications in sensors, communications, and power systems. A Fellow of the AAAS and APS, Spanier has led multiple academic and research initiatives at Drexel University, where he has served as Department Head of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics since 2020.