Three-day conference in Dallas, Texas, gave opportunities for networking, learning from other chapters and hub organizations
Exchanging insights and strategies with chapters from across the country, seven Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) Cumberlands Chapter representatives recently attended the FAME National Conference in Dallas, Texas, joining a record-breaking crowd of more than 200 participants.
That crowd included the largest contingent of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) students in FAME USA conference history, four of whom represented Somerset Community College and the KY FAME Cumberlands Chapter. Representatives — employers, college partners, and community supporters — attended the conference from more than 30 chapters, representing 15 states.
KY FAME, a state organization of FAME USA, is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement career pathway, apprenticeship-style educational programs that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers. KY FAME has 12 chapters, each affiliated with the Kentucky Community and Technical College and industry partners in their respective areas.
For the Cumberlands region, that includes Somerset Community College and more than 20 employers in the region.
The 2024 FAME National Conference offered attendees opportunities for professional growth and student engagement. This included student sessions, networking opportunities, peer support for educators, sharing of best practices across chapters, and access to expert technical assistance. It served as a platform for fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals in the advanced manufacturing industry.
Cumberlands Chapter President Michael Morgan said local members quickly learned their chapter is being used as a model for others across the country. He said the group participated in invaluable conversations with chapter representatives from other states and came away with ideas to implement locally.
“FAMEUSA National Conference is a great way for the Cumberlands Chapter to grow and learn,” Morgan said. “It is always wonderful to network with some of the superstars in the manufacturing industry and to see that here in the Lake Cumberland region, we stand pretty tall with them. I am proud of the AMTs that were able to attend. They represented our area well.”
The Cumberlands Chapter recently restructured, with the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) stepping in to serve as the hub entity to take pressure off of participating businesses who were finding it difficult to maintain operations and run the KY FAME program at the same time. Chapter representatives spent a great deal of time at the conference answering questions about the organization’s structure and how it is working locally, Morgan said.
SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said he was thrilled this group of local FAME leaders was able and willing to attend the national conference to learn best practices and ways to improve an already thriving program.
“I was encouraged to hear that our organizational structure is being used as a model for other FAME chapters,” Girdler said. “At SPEDA, we are committed to helping existing businesses and in the manufacturing industry, this was one way we could step in, improve operational efficiency for Kentucky FAME, support our local manufacturers, and enhance an educational program that helps build our local workforce. It was a win-win, and we are proud to continue to support the Cumberlands Chapter as they grow and learn.”