Event Agenda

Safeguard Your Wiring Harness Business: Lawsuit Protection & Tax Strategies 

Is your cable and wiring harness manufacturing business secure? This course equips WHMA members with tools to protect their operations, facilities, and personal assets from lawsuits, save thousands in taxes, and ensure long-term financial stability. Tailored for manufacturers this course addresses the unique risks and opportunities in the cable and wiring harness industry.
* Lawsuit Protection: Understand legal risks specific to cable and wiring harness manufacturers, such as product liability from defective components, workplace accidents, or contractual disputes, and learn how to safeguard your business, properties, and personal wealth.
*Tax Savings: Discover five tax reduction strategies tailored for manufacturing businesses, potentially saving over $10,000 annually on income from commercial properties and operations.
* Estate and Succession Planning: Avoid probate, eliminate estate taxes, and prepare for seamless business succession to ensure your manufacturing legacy thrives for future generations or successors.

Larry Oxenham is one of America’s top asset protection experts, having helped thousands of professionals achieve financial peace of mind by teaching them how to properly structure their assets for lawsuit protection and tax reduction. He has authored and co-authored several articles and books on the subject including The Asset Protection Bible and How to Achieve Financial Peace of Mind through Asset Protection. His career has been credited with helping thousands of people save millions of dollars. Larry Oxenham is a nationally recognized speaker who has trained thousands of professionals at hundreds of conventions, conferences and seminars across the country.

Ridiculously Easy to Do Business With™

Responding to a new generation of customer wants, needs and expectations.

How, when and where we buy has changed dramatically in recent years. Winning today is often determined by those who can respond faster, simplify their process and are more convenient for their customers and clients. In this revealing, thought-provoking and very entertaining presentation, popular Customer Experience expert David Avrin, CSP, GSF shines a bright light on the profound shift in customer expectations, while showing your team everyone’s role in eliminating friction in the buying process, responding to prospects and customers, and creating Customer Experiences worth sharing.

One of the most in-demand Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the world today, David Avrin, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow, has shared his content-rich, entertaining and actionable presentations with enthusiastic audiences across North America and in 28 countries around the world. David helps organizations better understand and connect with their changing customers and clients to help future-proof their businesses.

David's insights have been featured on thousands of media outlets around the world. He is also the author of seven books including the acclaimed: It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You!, Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back), The Morning Huddle, and his newest book, Ridiculously Easy to Do Business With.

Building a Business Moat in the Age of AI 

Sergey Sundukovskiy, Ph.D. is a seasoned technology executive, serial entrepreneur, educator, researcher, and startup advisor with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning technology, product strategy, and operations. He has served in executive roles including Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Product Officer (CPO), leading companies through innovation, growth, and successful exits.
As a serial entrepreneur, Sergey has founded and scaled multiple high-volume, subscription-based B2B and B2C SaaS platforms, with deep expertise in early-stage product development, monetization, product testing, and achieving product-market fit. His technical and strategic competencies extend across Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative and Agentic AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data, A/B Testing, eCommerce, Video Management, Real-Time Bidding (RTB), and Cloud Computing.
Sergey is also an active academic researcher, with a current focus on Job Burnout Prevention through the use of Multimodal AI, investigating how a combination of biometric, behavioral, and contextual data can be used to detect early signs of workplace stress and inform intelligent interventions. His work contributes to the intersection of mental health, organizational behavior, and AI-powered systems.
As a mentor, Sergey actively supports early-stage founders through top global accelerators and incubators, including Google for Startups, Amplify LA, 500 Startups, and The Founder Institute. He advises on critical startup domains such as product development, team formation, market strategy, public relations, customer success, and organizational scale.
In parallel, Sergey serves as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Engineering, where he teaches System Design, Software Requirements, and Software Testing. He integrates real-world case studies, startup experience, and applied research into the classroom to prepare students for careers at the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Education:
•    B.A. in Computer Science, University of California, San Diego
•    M.S. in Information Technology, University of Liverpool
•    Ph.D. in Information Technology Management, School of Business and Technology, Capella University
•    Master of Liberal Arts in Software Engineering, Extension Studies, Harvard University

Mapping the Customer Journey with AI: An Interactive Workshop

Sergey Sundukovskiy, Ph.D. is a seasoned technology executive, serial entrepreneur, educator, researcher, and startup advisor with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning technology, product strategy, and operations. He has served in executive roles including Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Product Officer (CPO), leading companies through innovation, growth, and successful exits.
As a serial entrepreneur, Sergey has founded and scaled multiple high-volume, subscription-based B2B and B2C SaaS platforms, with deep expertise in early-stage product development, monetization, product testing, and achieving product-market fit. His technical and strategic competencies extend across Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative and Agentic AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data, A/B Testing, eCommerce, Video Management, Real-Time Bidding (RTB), and Cloud Computing.
Sergey is also an active academic researcher, with a current focus on Job Burnout Prevention through the use of Multimodal AI, investigating how a combination of biometric, behavioral, and contextual data can be used to detect early signs of workplace stress and inform intelligent interventions. His work contributes to the intersection of mental health, organizational behavior, and AI-powered systems.
As a mentor, Sergey actively supports early-stage founders through top global accelerators and incubators, including Google for Startups, Amplify LA, 500 Startups, and The Founder Institute. He advises on critical startup domains such as product development, team formation, market strategy, public relations, customer success, and organizational scale.
In parallel, Sergey serves as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Engineering, where he teaches System Design, Software Requirements, and Software Testing. He integrates real-world case studies, startup experience, and applied research into the classroom to prepare students for careers at the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Education:
•    B.A. in Computer Science, University of California, San Diego
•    M.S. in Information Technology, University of Liverpool
•    Ph.D. in Information Technology Management, School of Business and Technology, Capella University
•    Master of Liberal Arts in Software Engineering, Extension Studies, Harvard University

Manufacturing in a Fractured World: Navigating Geopolitics and the Global Production Reset

The global manufacturing landscape is being redefined by geopolitics. Trade wars, export controls, industrial policy, and rising protectionism are no longer side issues. They are central forces reshaping supply chains, investment patterns, and competitive advantage. In this timely and eye-opening keynote, economist and futurist Dr. Shawn DuBravac explores how shifting geopolitical dynamics are transforming where and how things are made.

DuBravac will highlight how global trade flows are evolving, where capital is being deployed, and which regions are poised to gain or lose industrial momentum. From U.S.-China decoupling and European strategic autonomy to the rise of regional manufacturing hubs, this session offers a deep dive into the new map of global production and what that means for the future of manufacturing. 

As IPC’s chief economist, internationally recognized thought leader, global futurist and trendcaster, Shawn DuBravac works to expand IPC’s research program and provide insights on the biggest issues facing the $2 trillion global electronics industry, including supply chain resiliency/uncertainty, trade wars, skilled workforce shortage, and the expanding role of electronics in the global economy.

For more than a dozen years, DuBravac served as chief economist for the Consumer Technology Association, a U.S. trade association representing more than 2,000 consumer tech companies. More recently, he has provided consulting, research, and advisory services to clients on topics including digital transformation, business model disruptions, and global supply chains. He is also the author of the New York Times best seller, “Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate,” and has appeared in Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Washington Post and more. DuBravac is a member of the National Association of Business Economists and currently serves as the president of the Conference of Business Economists.

DuBravac has taught at the George Washington University School of Business, American University’s Kogod School of Business, the George Mason University School of Business, Marymount University School of Business, and the University of Mary Washington. He holds economic degrees from Brigham Young University and George Mason University.

Harnessing the Shift: How Reshoring and Government Policy Are Reshaping U.S. Manufacturing and Creating Opportunities for the Wire Harness Industry

The administration is driving reshoring. How the wire harness industry can benefit.

In the past 50 years, the U.S. lost to offshoring 70,000 factories and 5 million manufacturing jobs, many in the electronics and electrical device industries. In view of rising geopolitical tensions and tariffs, rebuilding a broad and deep manufacturing base is essential for the country and the industry.
Two million jobs have been announced reshored since 2010. It is clear that shorter supply chains are lower risk and are more profitable for OEMs for 20 to 30% of products that are now imported. Find how to accelerate and benefit from the trend.
                                                                                                                Current administration policy is designed to recover these losses. Our Reshoring Survey details the reshoring results of 500 manufacturing OEMs and contract manufacturers and the impact that various policies would have on their reshoring. 
Takeaways from the Survey include:
•    Workforce development will have more impact than tariffs, taxes, regulations or currency. Policy recommendations to overcome the shortage.
•    96% of companies are satisfied or partially satisfied with their reshoring efforts.
•    Only 30% of companies are using total cost of ownership (TCO) to compare sources, leaving a million jobs offshore. 
•    39% of those who have offshored rank cost as the #1 reason, availability of components as #2. Great opportunity to fill supply chain gaps.
 

Harry founded the Reshoring Initiative to bring five million manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. after working for high end machine tool supplier GF AgieCharmilles, starting as President in 1985 and retiring 12/31/10 as Chairman Emeritus. Largely due to the success of the Reshoring Initiative, Harry was inducted into the Industry Week Manufacturing Hall of Fame 2010 and AME’s Hall of Fame 2021 and was named Quality Magazine’s 2012 Quality Professional of the year and FAB Shop Magazine’s Manufacturing Person of the year. Harry participated actively in President Obama’s 1/11/12 Insourcing Forum at the White House, won The Economist debate on outsourcing and offshoring, received the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s Industry Advocacy Award in 2014 and the Made in America 2019 Reshoring Award. He was recognized by Sue Helper, then Commerce Department Chief Economist, as the driving force in founding the reshoring trend and named to the Commerce Department Investment Advisory Council in August 2019. He testified to the House Commerce Committee and at a June 9, 2022 Senate commission Hearing on U.S. supply chains and China.

Harry is quoted in the Wall Street Journal, NYT, Forbes, Financial Times, New Yorker, Washington Post and USA Today and seen on Fox Business, MarketWatch, PRI, NPR, Manufacturing Talk Radio and other national TV and radio programs.  He received a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Engineering at MIT in 1967 and an MBA from U. of Chicago in 1981.