January 30, 2024 by Sheronda L. Carr, Vice President, SME Membership SME Membership works hard to deliver the resources members need to stay informed about manufacturing issues and new products, develop management and leadership skills, and build an expansive network. The three pillars of SME membership – learn, engage, and advance – are the basis for a meaningful experience. Contributions to the manufacturing industry as an SME Member are valued. During 2023, we significantly enhanced our Membership activities and engagement opportunities to help members with their professional development, career navigation, and industry network expansion. Our SME Members are the lifeblood of our organization, and we appreciate their ongoing support and investment. Following are some of the areas where efforts yielded success: Membership Grows with the Creation/Revitalization of 3 Professional Chapters and 15 Student Chapters SME chapters are important because they allow members to regularly convene on a local level to build community, discuss industry issues, learn from one another, and network for the benefit and business success of all involved. In the last year, Membership, working with local members, was able to introduce three professional chapters and revitalize 15 student chapters. Locations in the Greenville/Spartanburg area of South Carolina, a chapter in North Texas, and one in Grand Rapids all benefitted, as did student chapters at Auburn-Tuskegee Universities (a joint chapter), Montana State University, East Carolina University, Cal State Sacramento, Purdue University, the University of Memphis, and Drexel University. Career Support and Engagement Increased Through the Launch of the Bright Minds Student Mentorship Program and six New Virtual Professional Development Series Announced in September, SME Membership facilitates the SME Bright Minds Student Mentorship Program in collaboration with the SME Education Foundation. This program provides a structured environment that helps select Foundation scholarship recipients navigate college and student life, gain different perspectives on industry-related topics, expand their network, and ultimately launch a manufacturing career. New virtual professional development opportunities in 2023 included Membership Wednesdays webinars, Chapter Tuesday sessions exclusively for chapter officers, Manufacturing Industry Coffee Chats, Emerging Professional Coffee Chats, Additive Manufacturing Coffee Chats, an SME Career Café and our Fireside Chat, where members and guests can explore manufacturing leaders' journeys, projects, and industry trends through engaging conversations and discussions. The series will continue in 2024. Volunteer Participation by 400+ Leaders Moved SME’s Mission Forward SME supports and works closely with professionals, companies, educators, high schools, universities, and communities to share knowledge and resources that generate solutions to manufacturing industry challenges. Members serve in a variety of volunteer capacities, from the local chapter level to participation in SME’s Technical Communities, editorial and events committees, in workforce development and training facilitation, and on the SME Member Council, and SME Board of Directors. In all of those roles, SME members promote advanced manufacturing, support the current workforce, and prepare for the next generation of manufacturers. Inaugural Membership Appreciation Week Recognized Members with Exclusive Giveaways Membership kicked off Member Appreciation Week in September with several member-focused activities that included a Meeting of the Members, featuring an extended session with senior leadership who shared SME’s latest strategies, initiatives, and progress made by the organization. Also offered were a social media engagement campaign and download opportunities, plus exclusive member discounts. The 2023 SME College of Fellows and Distinguished Faculty Advisors were also announced during this week, honoring those members who have made outstanding contributions to the social, technological and educational and research aspects of the manufacturing profession.Live Shop Talk Virtual Meetings Highlighted Solutions for the Labor Shortage, including Workforce Diversity SME declared October of last year Manufacturing Month and SME Membership stepped up to offer five special programs in the form of Shop Talk sessions, a Coffee Chat, and a special Manufacturing Day webinar “Empowering Diversity – Tackling Labor Shortages in Manufacturing.” The latter was a remarkable conversation that featured a dynamic panel, including Drew Crowe, who shares his journey through incarceration and teenage parenthood to becoming an industry advocate inspiring a new generation of skilled professionals, Dajon Battle, an expert in workforce development promoting diversity and inclusion, Meghan Ziemba, a technical writer and champion for women in manufacturing, and Jamie Goettler, a leader in industrial distribution focusing on technology for competitiveness. Launched Member Exclusive Newsletters to Keep Members Informed About Strategic Initiatives and Membership Offerings Three new member-focused publications came to life, including SME Engage, a monthly update on activities designed to enhance the SME Membership experience and help members learn, engage, and advance their careers. Also published monthly is the SME Member Corner, which highlights various SME announcements, engagement opportunities, and chapter activities, and spotlights new and active members, as well as their accomplishments. Our Chapter Officer Connection is a publication for volunteer leaders at the local level that highlights leadership best practices, events, nominations, and resources for the benefit of chapters across North America. On-site Member Engagement and Career Development Opportunities Connected Attendees at nearly a Dozen SME-related Events Many of SME Membership’s engagement and career development activities are in-person activities conducted in conjunction with SME’s annual and biannual events which draws 100,000 manufacturing professionals, including some of the biggest thinkers and doers in the industry – from innovators and researchers to key decision-makers. Most of them spend time with our members and student members at activities that include Cookies, Coffee and Conversation networking activities, our Bright Minds College Experience for career development, career forums and career coaching that offer tips for job hunting and strategies for career pathways, as well as other activities that support SME membership growth. Looking Forward to 2024 Exciting engagement and professional development opportunities are in the SME Membership pipeline. Using 2023 as a foundation, we are looking forward to building upon these successes for growth and additional engagement, inspired by the breadth of our members’ backgrounds, expertise, and passion for the industry. Stay tuned for details. If you have programming suggestions, reach out to us at membership@sme.org.
