SPESA Announces Final Agenda for Columbus Technology Conference

By SPESA

RALEIGH, N.C. – April 10, 2026 – The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) is excited to share the final agenda for the upcoming 2026 SPESA Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference. One of SPESA's keystone events, the annual conference is designed to both showcase the technology and innovations that currently exist for the sewn products industry and serve as a forum to discuss what is needed to succeed in the future.

This year’s event — taking place April 13-14, in Columbus, Ohio — focuses on automation, artificial intelligence, manufacturing scalability, and the tangible and intangible things that make the industry in Ohio so successful.

 2026 SPESA Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference Agenda 

Fireside Chat | Technology & Talent

Over the years, the SPESA Advancements Conference has taught us that investment in innovation will only be successful if it runs parallel to an investment in people. Diving into the intersection of technology and talent, Todd Corley, Chief People and Impact Officer at Carhartt, will provide unique insight into how companies can strengthen their workforce while also navigating the future of advanced manufacturing.

• Todd Corley, Carhartt, with Michael McDonald, SPESA

Industry in Focus: Turning Great Ideas into Profitable, High Quality Products

The Sourcing Gals give attendees a crash course on strategies to boost profits, build stronger vendor relationships, and take the guesswork out of creating quality products — without the overwhelm.

• Jackie Hutson & Erin Souder, The Sourcing Gals

Robotics & Automation

Led by the legendary SPESA member Frank Henderson, this panel seeks to provide attendees with “a roadmap for the future” when it comes to building automation into your manufacturing processes. We will discuss the physical tools that can be integrated to maximize the potential of your workforce and operations, focusing on robotics, NextGen process technology, and lean manufacturing.

• Frank Henderson, Henderson Sewing Machine, Co.

• Michael Mayr, silana​

Fireside Chat | Technology & Traceability

Mastering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and compliance is not only a plus for your company’s global brand and reputation, it is necessary to avoid costly customs delays and problems with increasing government requirements. This session will touch on the need for supply chain transparency and traceability and  solutions that offer visibility and control at every stage of your manufacturing process, from raw materials to finished products.

• Roberto Mangual, Avantex, with Michael McDonald, SPESA

AI & the Sewn Products Industry

You can’t escape a conversation about advancements in technology without talking Artificial Intelligence (AI). By embracing AI, manufacturers can achieve greater business efficiency, accelerate operational success, and create a competitive advantage in their respective markets.

To kick off the second half of our conference, we will bring to the stage three industry leaders to share examples of AI applications that can be used from the desk to the factory floor.

• Ricardo Carranca, Mind Technology

• Justin Hershoran, Aptean

• Carlos Jimenez, Lectra

Group Discussion 

Let’s get a little mid-day energy booth with an interactive group discussion on real-world use cases of AI across the sewn product and manufacturing industries. We will discuss where we are now, where we are headed, and what we need to get there.

To Be Sewn or Not To Be Sewn

This panel will discuss manufacturing processes that utilize methods other than traditional sewing; designing production systems that improve throughput, stabilize labor inputs, and enable economically viable domestic manufacturing.

• Cam Myers, CreateMe

• James Ryan, H. B. Fuller Company

• Glen Moore, Nordson Corporation

Threads of Change | Woven in Columbus

While the powerhouses of New York and Los Angeles may get most of the attention, Columbus is the Midwestern heart of the U.S. fashion industry. We’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities of the local industry and fashion’s role as a powerful medium for storytelling, cultural expression, and inclusion.

• Aditi Bhatiya, Passport 2 Fashion

The Future of Columbus Manufacturing

Crafted by our new friends at the Columbus Fashion Alliance, this panel will dive into the tangible support behind Ohio’s fashion community and the infrastructure that paves the way for advanced manufacturing. Touching on workforce training, repair manufacturing, and distribution, we will chat about the initiatives — some already in the works and some that need your help — that are creating unique opportunities for the sewn products industry in the region.

• Lisa Goldsand, Circular Thrift

• Jo Miller, South Central Ohio Workforce Partnership

• Yohannan Terrell, Columbus Fashion Alliance

The conference will also begin and end with networking receptions — on the evenings on April 13th and 14th — allowing attendees to further discuss what they learned throughout the conference and build industry connections.

As a thank you to all the wonderful people the SPESA team has met in Columbus already, the association is opening up the April 13th networking reception to the larger Columbus fashion, sewn product, and manufacturing communities, at no charge. Advanced registration is required. Please contact Marie@spesa.org for more information.

Click here to learn more about the 2026 SPESA Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference. 

Click here for a direct link to the event registration.

About SPESA

SPESA is the industry association for suppliers to the sewn products industry. These suppliers are manufacturers and distributors of machinery, systems, technology, supply chain solutions, equipment, and parts, along with other products and services used for the development, manufacture, or distribution of soft goods. SPESA’s mission as an organization is to provide its members with the highest quality networking, education, and advocacy for advancing their businesses and the sewn products industry in the Western Hemisphere. Please visit www.spesa.org for more info.

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