As the day transitioned into the evening, participants gathered for dinner, where they continued to engage in conversation. A fun prize raffle was held, adding an extra layer of excitement to the night and rewarding some lucky attendees with great prizes, according to Bryan Leiker. Source (all): MFASC
The Metal Finishing Association of Southern California (MFASC) hosted its 42nd annual Metal Finishing Conference on Tues., Sept. 24, with media sponsor, Products Finishing. This year’s event, held at Quiet Cannon event center in Montebello, Calif., drew in a crowd of about 500 industry professionals eager to connect, learn and share insights. With more than 50 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest innovations and products in the metal finishing industry, attendees were given a comprehensive look at the latest technologies.
The conference featured a schedule of training workshops led by industry experts, providing attendees with opportunities for professional development. These workshops covered a range of topics, ensuring that participants left with actionable insights they could apply in their own operations. This year’s workshops included, “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment,” “Improving Communications and Attitude in Professional and Personal Relationships,” and “The Future of Metal Finishing.”
“The MFACA Metal Finishing Conference in California was another great event for the job shop attendees and the exhibiting suppliers,” says Bryan
The well-attended event included informative exhibits from suppliers and non-suppliers to the industry. Exhibitors found value in the conference, saying it was one of the best regional shows they have attended.
Leiker, executive director of Metal Finishing Association of California. “This conference offers a fun opportunity to learn, network and relax. This year we raised a good amount of money to help the association with lobby and regulatory efforts. The California association is working hard on continuing these events in 2025. Thank you to everyone that supported this event.”
The 20 event sponsors raised more than $25,000 total to support the association.
In addition to the educational aspect of the event, attendees also enjoyed the chance to network with peers and build relationships with colleagues, especially during dinner that evening. The event fostered a collaborative environment, enabling the exchange of ideas and the strengthening of industry ties from members and non-member attendees from across the country.
One of the workshops at the conference offered a Spanish version of the presentation on “Improving Communication and Attitude in Professional and Personal Relationships.”
The 2024 conference not only highlighted the strength of the industry but also demonstrated the importance of coming together to learn, grow and innovate.
Since its inception 42 years ago, the conference has evolved from a small tabletop show to a mini SUR/FIN type of conference that not only offers exhibits to visit but also informative classes, a nice dinner and a prize raffle for the shop employees, Leiker explains.