The Midwest Manufacturing Competimates is a networking event designed for people who may be wary of traditional networking.
Held in eastern Iowa, the CIRAS-hosted one-day event turns manufacturing competitors into collaborators—and removes the awkwardness that often accompanies networking. Attendance is capped at 100, allowing participants to meet everyone in the room. Connections and conversations are structured.
As a value-add, the event includes regional exhibitors such as the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Prison Industries, and others who serve manufacturers.
But the heart of the event is connecting people in manufacturing with one another.
“We don’t just put people together and hope they’ll connect,” said Melissa Burant, Competimates coordinator. “We create opportunities for meaningful engagement.”
That was the experience of Trevor Bollers, president of Letter B Global Technologies, a custom software group based in Coralville.
“I had a chance to connect with attendees and share my story,” he said. “Most conferences say they have networking, but it’s usually people huddled with friends at the food line—not really making new connections.”
The event begins with assigned seating that matches companies and roles that may complement each other. CIRAS works to deliberately connect companies and agencies throughout the day.
Each exhibitor gives a two- to three-minute pitch about their company or agency, which drives engagement to booths and sparks additional conversations.
Loras Schaul of Douglas Machine and Engineering, a machine parts manufacturer in Davenport, said the focus is on connections, not focused solely on deals. He met a local contractor—technically a competitor—who had landed a contract and needed machining help.
The two struck a subcontracting agreement.
Schaul also met several prospective customers in adjacent industries. “Your struggles and their struggles are pretty much the same,” he said.
He now meets monthly for coffee with two attendees and invited Bollers to a ribbon cutting.
Ben Paper of Grace Technologies, a Davenport-based electrical safety products company, said one connection led to a sale, and another resulted in three facility tour requests. “I think I’d call it purposeful networking,” he said. “It was well worth the time and effort.”
Contact Melissa Burant at mmburant@iastate.edu to learn more.
To register or learn more about the next event, visit go.iastate.edu/ZCL1FV.