Inspire the Next Generation of Arizona Manufacturers
Your future production assembler, machine operator, or quality control inspector could be at the MFG Month Celebration 2026. Help them discover your company—and see a future for themselves in manufacturing.
Join the Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership (AZ MEP), the Arizona Department of Education – Career & Technical Education (CTE), and Grand Canyon University/Lux Precision Manufacturing on October 29 and 30, 2026, for a two-day career exploration event for students in grades 7–12 who are already engaged in technical education. Help them connect classroom learning to Arizona careers in manufacturing, engineering, robotics, automation, precision machining, and entrepreneurship.
Why Your Participation Matters
Build your future talent pipeline. Building a workforce starts before you have an open position. Introduce students to the skills and career paths that can lead to opportunities at your company. Your participation can help students make the connection between what they enjoy learning today and the work they could do tomorrow.
Be an advocate for your industry. Show students what modern manufacturing looks like through the people, technology, and problem-solving behind your products. Share your team's career stories and help students recognize opportunities they may not have considered.
Strengthen community connections. Support local students and educators by bringing technical education to life. Conversations at the event can be the starting point for relationships that continue through facility tours and further career exploration.
Showcase your company. Give students more than a company name to remember. Show them what you make, explain how your products are used, and introduce the people who make it happen. Help them understand your company's impact and what makes it a place to build a career.
Bring Manufacturing to Life with a Hands-On Exhibit
Host a table where you can demonstrate your company's capabilities and engage students with a hands-on activity. Bring a product, demonstrate a process, or give students a problem to solve. Invite employees to share how they got started and what they enjoy about their work.
You can also arrange student tours of your facility on a date and at a time of your choosing to continue the connection beyond the celebration.
Non-participating manufacturers are invited to a special networking event on Thursday, October 29, from 1–3 p.m. to connect with others in Arizona's manufacturing community.
Support the Celebration as a Sponsor
Sponsorship offers another way to invest in Arizona's future manufacturing workforce while showcasing your company's commitment to the industry and community. Opportunities are available for manufacturers, partners, and supporters.
Sponsor contributions help cover event costs, promotional materials, refreshments, and student giveaways, supporting an engaging experience that helps students explore manufacturing careers.
- Complementary premium on-site booth location
- Speaking opportunity at the networking event
- Display 60-second video ad (provided by the sponsor) on the video wall
- Full-page ad in the Student Passport
- Premier logo placement on event materials and signage
- Recognition in event promotions and the recap
- Priority communication about next year's event
- Complementary premium on-site booth location
- Recognition at the networking event
- Display a 15-second video ad (provided by the sponsor) on the video wall
- Half-page ad in the Student Passport
- Logo placement on event materials and signage
- Recognition in event promotions and the recap
- Priority communication about next year's event
- Booth registration fee waived
- Recognition at the networking event
- Logo highlighted on the video wall
- Logo placement in the Student Passport
- Recognition in event promotions and the recap
- Priority communication about next year's event
Make a Connection That Lasts Beyond the Event
A conversation with your team or a hands-on demonstration could help a student see a career path they had never imagined. Whether you sign up as an exhibitor or sponsor, your participation can help build the talent pipeline, strengthen community connections, and tell the story of Arizona manufacturing. Exhibit tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve your table or sponsor the event.
For questions about exhibiting or sponsorship, please contact Sarah Wallis at sarahh@azcommerce.com or Sheila Castillo at sheilac@azcommerce.com for more information.