2024 Women in Manufacturing Symposium
March 13, 2024
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) successfully hosted its annual Women in Manufacturing Symposium last Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. This key event celebrated Women's History Month and International Women's Day, highlighting the significant contributions, value, and future of women in the manufacturing sector. The 2024 Symposium aimed to celebrate and recognize women's achievements in manufacturing in Southwest Virginia while ...
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Tara Jones
Hitachi Energy
Rhonda Perkins
Tadano Mantis Corporation
Ragan Proffitt
Tate, Inc.
Nina Lester
Shearer's
Lisa Bottomley
Real Performance Machinery
Kassie Blevins
Shearer's
Jodie Whetsel
Universal Fibers
Jessica Vanover
West River Conveyors
Jennifer Roundtree
Universal Fibers
Jae Graham
Atsumi Car Equipment
2024 Women in Manufacturing Symposium
March 13, 2024
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) successfully hosted its annual Women in Manufacturing Symposium last Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. This key event celebrated Women's History Month and International Women's Day, highlighting the significant contributions, value, and future of women in the manufacturing sector. The 2024 Symposium aimed to celebrate and recognize women's achievements in manufacturing in Southwest Virginia while ...
Read more
Manufacture Your Career Events – Fall 2023
October 26, 2023
SVAM recently hosted two Manufacture Your Career panel discussions. The first was at Mountain Empire Community College on September 20th and the second was at King University on October 23rd. The purpose of this program is to encourage students to pursue careers in manufacturing by changing perceptions and educating them about available opportunities. For each event, four panelists spoke to students and faculty about their companies, the benefits of working ...
Read more
2023 SWVA Manufacturing Awards Banquet
October 18, 2023
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) held its prestigious Southwest Virginia Manufacturing Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 12th, to celebrate National Manufacturing Day. Distinguished business and community leaders from across Southwest Virginia gathered at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the manufacturing sector over the past year.   The event commenced with a warm welcome from Alex Lupi, SVAM Board Member, who highlighted ...
Read more
2023 Southwest Virginia Manufacturers’ Expo
September 5, 2023
On August 31, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon served as the venue for SVAM's yearly Manufacturers' Expo. This gathering united Southwest Virginia's manufacturing community, including vendors and suppliers, in a collaborative setting designed for networking and education. Participating manufacturers showcased their businesses through booths and exhibits while engaging with other industry players and service providers. The event served as a platform for local manufacturing firms to expand ...
Read more
Manufacture Your Career Events – Spring 2023
May 1, 2023
SVAM recently hosted two Manufacture Your Career panel discussions. The first was at Virginia Highlands Community College on March 30th and the second was at Wytheville Community College on April 27th. The purpose of this program is to encourage students to pursue careers in manufacturing by changing perceptions and educating them about available opportunities. For each event, four panelists spoke to students and faculty about their companies, the benefits of ...
Read more
2023 Outstanding Women in Manufacturing Award
April 19, 2023
Each year SVAM accepts nominations for its Outstanding Woman in Manufacturing Award. The nominees are scored by a panel of judges based on company and community impact. Throughout the 10 years of SVAM's Outstanding Women in Manufacturing program, many amazing women have been recognized for their contributions to the world of manufacturing in Southwest Virginia. The purpose of this program is to change the image of manufacturing and highlight the ...
Read more
2023 Women in Manufacturing Symposium Press Release
March 13, 2023
  On Wednesday, March 8th, The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) hosted its annual Women in Manufacturing Symposium in celebration of International Women’s Day. The Symposium is held to celebrate and recognize women’s contributions, value, and future in manufacturing. Furthermore, the purpose is to promote the career opportunities women can pursue in the manufacturing industry. This event is one way SVAM is working to fulfill its goal of changing ...
Read more
2022 Southwest Virginia Manufacturing Awards Banquet
October 20, 2022
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing hosted its annual Manufacturers’ Awards Banquet in celebration of National Manufacturing Day on Thursday, October 6th. Business and community leaders from across Southwest Virginia gathered at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to celebrate manufacturing and its achievements over the past year. Attendees enjoyed networking, drinks and appetizers before the program began with dinner. Attendees were welcomed by Melinda Roberts, Vice Chair of the ...
Read more
2022 SWVA Manufacturers’ Expo Recap
September 19, 2022
On August 30th, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, SVAM hosted its annual Manufacturers’ Expo. The Expo brought manufacturers of Southwest Virginia together, along with their vendors/suppliers, in a networking and learning environment. Manufacturers set up booths/exhibits for their company and got to know other manufacturers and service providers. Vendors and resource providers offering a wide variety of services to manufacturing were also in attendance. This event provided an ...
Read more
Member-Exclusive Training Opportunities
July 26, 2022
From April to July 2022, SVAM offered numerous free trainings for its members, including an OSHA 30-Hour training and supervisor trainings. Johnnie Keene, Assistant Professor of Machine Technology at Virginia Highlands Community College, led SVAM's first member-exclusive OSHA 30-Hour Training at Wytheville Community College in June-July. This training was provided in partnership with Virginia Highlands Community College and Wytheville Community College. Each student who finished each day of the course, ...
Read more
Tara Jones
Hitachi Energy
Rhonda Perkins
Tadano Mantis Corporation
Ragan Proffitt
Tate, Inc.
Nina Lester
Shearer's
Lisa Bottomley
Real Performance Machinery
Kassie Blevins
Shearer's
Jodie Whetsel
Universal Fibers
Jessica Vanover
West River Conveyors
Jennifer Roundtree
Universal Fibers
Jae Graham
Atsumi Car Equipment
2024 Women in Manufacturing Symposium
March 13, 2024
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) successfully hosted its annual Women in Manufacturing Symposium last Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. This key event celebrated Women's History Month and International Women's Day, highlighting the significant contributions, value, and future of women in the manufacturing sector. The 2024 Symposium aimed to celebrate and recognize women's achievements in manufacturing in Southwest Virginia while ...
Read more
2024 Women in Manufacturing Symposium
March 13, 2024
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) successfully hosted its annual Women in Manufacturing Symposium last Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. This key event celebrated Women's History Month and International Women's Day, highlighting the significant contributions, value, and future of women in the manufacturing sector. The 2024 Symposium aimed to celebrate and recognize women's achievements in manufacturing in Southwest Virginia while ...
Read more
Manufacture Your Career Events – Fall 2023
October 26, 2023
SVAM recently hosted two Manufacture Your Career panel discussions. The first was at Mountain Empire Community College on September 20th and the second was at King University on October 23rd. The purpose of this program is to encourage students to pursue careers in manufacturing by changing perceptions and educating them about available opportunities. For each event, four panelists spoke to students and faculty about their companies, the benefits of working ...
Read more
2023 SWVA Manufacturing Awards Banquet
October 18, 2023
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) held its prestigious Southwest Virginia Manufacturing Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 12th, to celebrate National Manufacturing Day. Distinguished business and community leaders from across Southwest Virginia gathered at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the manufacturing sector over the past year.   The event commenced with a warm welcome from Alex Lupi, SVAM Board Member, who highlighted ...
Read more
2023 Southwest Virginia Manufacturers’ Expo
September 5, 2023
On August 31, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon served as the venue for SVAM's yearly Manufacturers' Expo. This gathering united Southwest Virginia's manufacturing community, including vendors and suppliers, in a collaborative setting designed for networking and education. Participating manufacturers showcased their businesses through booths and exhibits while engaging with other industry players and service providers. The event served as a platform for local manufacturing firms to expand ...
Read more
Manufacture Your Career Events – Spring 2023
May 1, 2023
SVAM recently hosted two Manufacture Your Career panel discussions. The first was at Virginia Highlands Community College on March 30th and the second was at Wytheville Community College on April 27th. The purpose of this program is to encourage students to pursue careers in manufacturing by changing perceptions and educating them about available opportunities. For each event, four panelists spoke to students and faculty about their companies, the benefits of ...
Read more
2023 Outstanding Women in Manufacturing Award
April 19, 2023
Each year SVAM accepts nominations for its Outstanding Woman in Manufacturing Award. The nominees are scored by a panel of judges based on company and community impact. Throughout the 10 years of SVAM's Outstanding Women in Manufacturing program, many amazing women have been recognized for their contributions to the world of manufacturing in Southwest Virginia. The purpose of this program is to change the image of manufacturing and highlight the ...
Read more
2023 Women in Manufacturing Symposium Press Release
March 13, 2023
  On Wednesday, March 8th, The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) hosted its annual Women in Manufacturing Symposium in celebration of International Women’s Day. The Symposium is held to celebrate and recognize women’s contributions, value, and future in manufacturing. Furthermore, the purpose is to promote the career opportunities women can pursue in the manufacturing industry. This event is one way SVAM is working to fulfill its goal of changing ...
Read more
2022 Southwest Virginia Manufacturing Awards Banquet
October 20, 2022
The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing hosted its annual Manufacturers’ Awards Banquet in celebration of National Manufacturing Day on Thursday, October 6th. Business and community leaders from across Southwest Virginia gathered at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to celebrate manufacturing and its achievements over the past year. Attendees enjoyed networking, drinks and appetizers before the program began with dinner. Attendees were welcomed by Melinda Roberts, Vice Chair of the ...
Read more
2022 SWVA Manufacturers’ Expo Recap
September 19, 2022
On August 30th, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, SVAM hosted its annual Manufacturers’ Expo. The Expo brought manufacturers of Southwest Virginia together, along with their vendors/suppliers, in a networking and learning environment. Manufacturers set up booths/exhibits for their company and got to know other manufacturers and service providers. Vendors and resource providers offering a wide variety of services to manufacturing were also in attendance. This event provided an ...
Read more
Member-Exclusive Training Opportunities
July 26, 2022
From April to July 2022, SVAM offered numerous free trainings for its members, including an OSHA 30-Hour training and supervisor trainings. Johnnie Keene, Assistant Professor of Machine Technology at Virginia Highlands Community College, led SVAM's first member-exclusive OSHA 30-Hour Training at Wytheville Community College in June-July. This training was provided in partnership with Virginia Highlands Community College and Wytheville Community College. Each student who finished each day of the course, ...
Read more

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Did you know that manufacturing is alive and thriving in Southwest Virginia? The region's more than 350 manufacturing companies are currently offering exciting and rewarding careers to 17,000 people and they're looking for many more.

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