What if the most valuable tool on your shop floor isn’t a machine, but trust? We sit down with Katherine O’Toole of the Kansas City NTMA to unpack how humility, human-powered networking, and a smart partnership with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers sparked a new kind of regional expo—one that actually shortens supply chains, surfaces hidden capabilities, and helps local OEMs meet local suppliers.
Katherine brings a grounded, no-frills perspective shaped by growing up in a family tool-and-die shop. She shares why owning the “connector” role beats chasing perfection, and how the “Who Not How” mindset transformed event planning from a solo grind into a high-impact collaboration. We get into the nuts and bolts of the Kansas City Manufacturing Expo: a kickoff with NTMA’s national president Roger Atkins, two rounds of targeted breakouts for HR, purchasing, engineering, cybersecurity, and leadership, and an expo floor designed for real conversations, not just scans and swag. Small and midsize manufacturers learn to differentiate beyond capability lists, while OEMs discover the speed and clarity of working with suppliers they can visit over lunch instead of flying across time zones.
You’ll hear why abundance beats competition, how local partnerships let shops bid bigger jobs together, and what it looks like to build a culture where people don’t just tolerate each other—they trust each other. Expect practical insights you can use immediately: preparing your booth, clarifying your specialty, walking the floor with a sourcing plan, and turning introductions into purchase orders. It’s a blueprint for resilient, regional manufacturing that values people, proximity, and shared wins.
If you’re ready to meet the partners who will move your work faster and smarter, join us. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs a stronger local bench, and leave a quick review to help more builders find the show.

Expo Website: https://www.mamstrong.org/kc-mfg-expo-and-conference
Registration: https://portal.mamstrong.org/eventDetail?id=a0yPo000007tANhIAM
Ryan's LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/circleof5