Speaking for Sport

Fabtech's speaker lineup took it to the pros this year

Complementing the live demonstrations and solutions attendees experienced on the show floor, Fabtech’s comprehensive education program offered more than 200 sessions and workshops across 13 tracks. The program was designed to expand on key themes attendees encountered in exhibitor booths, providing deeper insight into new processes, materials, and performance strategies.

This year, the trade show claimed a personal record in exhibit floor space, with more than 1,700 exhibitors showcasing new technologies, live demonstrations, and solutions shaping manufacturing’s future. It also had some big name keynote speakers with a decidedly athletic theme, plus one EA regular who was recently inducted into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame. 

“This wasn’t just the largest Fabtech; it’s the most essential,” said Tracy Garcia, CEM, Fabtech Group Director at SME. “The record-breaking size of our show floor reflected the industry's incredible drive for innovation—from automation that enhanced workforce productivity to the smart technologies that were powering next-generation supply chains.”

The event kicked off Monday, September 8, with NASCAR visionary Andy Papathanassiou, renowned motorsports innovator and the sport’s first pit crew coach. In his keynote titled “Over the Wall Thinking,” Papathanassiou shared the winning strategies behind his teams’ 250 plus victories and 16 series championships. Attendees learned how his approach to preparation, communication, and continuous improvement transformed NASCAR pit crews and how these principles could be applied to business leadership.

“'Over the Wall' thinking was a philosophy I developed over 30 years in NASCAR,” said Papathanassiou. “It’s how top athletes solved problems through practice, repetition, and eliminating distractions. This mindset helped leaders become more engaging, dynamic, and effective.”

On Tuesday morning, Emmitt Smith, legendary Dallas Cowboys running back and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, delivered the second keynote. Smith boasted three Super Bowl rings, a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the unique distinction of winning Super Bowl MVP, NFL MVP, and NFL rushing title in the same season.

Beyond football, Smith was a successful entrepreneur and bestselling author. His talk focused on adapting to change, overcoming obstacles, leadership, and teamwork, drawing from his experiences as a professional athlete, business leader, and “Dancing with the Stars” champion.

“Oftentimes, wisdom from mentors revealed potential we didn’t see in ourselves,” Smith said. “It’s not change itself, but our attitude toward change, that limits our possibilities.”

Wednesday’s keynote featured “one of the best performance coaches in the business.” Alan Stein Jr. has coached NBA greats like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant. He broke down the leadership habits and mental performance strategies used by elite athletes and high-performing organizations. This included “practical methods any fabrication or manufacturing firm could utilize to enhance leadership, strengthen team culture, and create an environment where employees performed at their best.”

The next day, Harry Moser’s keynote delved into How OEMs and Job Shops Can Benefit from Reshoring. As the founder of the Reshoring Initiative (featured regularly in EA since its founding), he helped bring enough manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. that he has been inducted into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame. He also serves on the board of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council.

During his keynote, Moser shared national survey findings and practical strategies to help manufacturers and job shops capitalize on shorter, domestic supply chains. He touched on areas such as how to justify the initial costs that automation entailed, how to better align the workforce to maximize productivity, and more.

The 2025 event was also a milestone 10th anniversary for the women, as the Women of Fabtech program celebrated a decade of advancing women in manufacturing. This year’s keynote speaker was leadership strategist and author Dr. Amber Selking, who shared insights on teamwork, resilience, and performance excellence. Returning after a successful launch, the Emerging Leaders Program provided specialized content and networking to support early-career professionals and cultivate the next generation of manufacturing leaders.

“There’s a reason Fabtech continues to be a cornerstone for industry professionals," said Mark Hoper, senior vice president of expositions and media at FMA. "The energy, the diversity of exhibitors on the show floor, the range of ideas and technologies—it all came together to deliver an unmatched opportunity for attendees to find solutions and gain a clearer vision for their operations."