Idaho Manufacturing Trade Show & Conference 2026

Agenda

• 9:00 am

  Breakfast Keynote: Inside Idaho Policy: How Decisions Get Made–and Why Manufacturers Should Care

  Get an inside look at how public policy takes shape in Idaho and what it means for manufacturers. This candid conversation brings together four perspectives from the policymaking process—an association lobbyist, contract lobbyist, corporate government affairs professional, and Idaho legislator—to discuss how issues move from ideas to legislation, where industry voices fit into the process, and how manufacturers can engage effectively

• 10:30 am

  Morning Breakout Sessions

  Robotics in Action: Practical Automation for Today’s Manufacturer Robotics aren’t just for the largest manufacturers. Explore how companies are putting robotics and automation to work, where they’re seeing results, and what manufacturers should consider when evaluating opportunities in their own operations. Beyond Your Current Customers: Breaking Into New Markets Hear directly from manufacturing peers who have successfully pursued new customers, industries, and markets. They’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and lessons learned along the way. Great Employees Stay for a Reason: Proven Strategies for Engagement & Retention Hiring great people is only half the challenge. Explore practical strategies manufacturers are using to strengthen engagement, improve retention, and create workplaces where good employees want to build their careers.

• 12:30 pm

  Luncheon Keynote: The Future of Manufacturing: What’s Next—and How to Prepare Sponsored by Folio

  What will manufacturing look like five, ten, or twenty years from now? Explore the forces reshaping the industry—from technology and workforce transformation to global competition, supply chains, and changing customer expectations—and what manufacturers can do today to prepare for what’s ahead.

• Afternoon Breakout Sessions

  AI Implementation for Idaho Manufacturers: From Interest to a 30-Day First Step Move beyond the AI hype and toward practical implementation. This session will help Idaho manufacturers identify realistic use cases, understand where to begin, and leave with a tangible first step they can put into motion within 30 days. Funding Growth: Capital, Opportunity & Risk Growth takes capital—but not all capital is created equal. Explore funding and expansion options available to manufacturers, including private equity and other sources of capital, while examining the risks, fraud considerations, and questions leaders should understand before making a deal. The Generational Gear Shift: Rethinking How We Find Manufacturing Talent The next generation of manufacturing talent may not come through traditional pipelines. Explore unconventional recruiting, hiring, and workforce strategies manufacturers can use to reach overlooked talent, rethink outdated requirements, and build the workforce they need for what’s next.

• 4:00 pm

  Conference After-Party RECONNECT at HapHap Lounge @4:00 Sponsored by Columbia Bank

  Conference After-Party RECONNECT at HapHap Lounge @4:00 Sponsored by Columbia Bank The conference may be over, but some of the best conversations are just getting started. Join us at HapHap Lounge, just six minutes from Boise Centre, for drinks, food, and a relaxed evening with fellow attendees—and another opportunity to connect with the people you heard from throughout the day. Conference speakers will be the featured guests, giving attendees a chance to continue the conversation, ask the question they didn’t get to ask during the session, and connect one-on-one in a casual setting. And the night may not have to end there: attendees could have the chance to win tickets to see The Brothers Comatose at Treefort Music Hall later that evening.