Top Shops 2019 speakers will be announced in April 2019. If interested in speaking, please submit a paper. If interested in attending, please be sure to sign-up to receive the latest Top Shops news and developments.
Top Shops 2018 Panel Participants

Peter Doyle, COO, Hirsh Precision Products, Inc.
Peter considers himself fortunate to lead a phenomenal team committed to bringing his customers’ ideas to life through innovative manufacturing solutions. He is responsible for long term growth and all aspects of day to day operations at the company, which is based in Boulder, Colorado. The company has prioritized customer service, continuous improvement and data-driven decision making to accomplish its goals. Peter earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Prior to joining Hirsh Precision Products, Peter worked for Deloitte Consulting’s Strategy & Operations practice and gained experience across a variety of industries and business functions.
Peter considers himself fortunate to lead a phenomenal team committed to bringing his customers’ ideas to life through innovative manufacturing solutions. He is responsible for long term growth and all aspects of day to day operations at the company, which is based in Boulder, Colorado. The company has prioritized customer service, continuous improvement and data-driven decision making to accomplish its goals. Peter earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Prior to joining Hirsh Precision Products, Peter worked for Deloitte Consulting’s Strategy & Operations practice and gained experience across a variety of industries and business functions.

Jerry Kablak, Business Development / Program Engineer, Baker Industires
Baker Industries’ Program Engineer and AM champion, Jerry Kablak, exemplifies what it means to be a modern tooling expert in industry 4.0. He combines 25 years of industry intelligence in traditional tooling, machining, gauges and fixtures with the latest in additive manufacturing to provide expert guidance and optimal solutions for OEM and Tier 1 customers.
Kablak started his manufacturing career in the mid-1980s, immediately after high school, as a wood model maker for the automotive industry, which gradually evolved through the years into designing and fabricating molds and check fixtures. Kablak later joined the Baker team in the early 2000s just as they were purchasing their first 3D printers. He has since played an important role in the company’s growth and integration of additive manufacturing (AM) for parts and tooling.
Baker Industries’ Program Engineer and AM champion, Jerry Kablak, exemplifies what it means to be a modern tooling expert in industry 4.0. He combines 25 years of industry intelligence in traditional tooling, machining, gauges and fixtures with the latest in additive manufacturing to provide expert guidance and optimal solutions for OEM and Tier 1 customers.
Kablak started his manufacturing career in the mid-1980s, immediately after high school, as a wood model maker for the automotive industry, which gradually evolved through the years into designing and fabricating molds and check fixtures. Kablak later joined the Baker team in the early 2000s just as they were purchasing their first 3D printers. He has since played an important role in the company’s growth and integration of additive manufacturing (AM) for parts and tooling.

Andy Reinwald, President and Owner, Ripley Machine and Tool
Andy is the President and Owner of Ripley Machine and Tool. Ripley Machine and Tool is a medium sized machine shop located in Western New York (near Erie, PA) offering Production CNC Turning and Centerless and Internal Grinding.
Andy grew up in and around the family business and purchased the company from his grandfather (Quentin Bensink) in January of 2015 at the age of 21. Since the transition, the company has increased sales and employment, achieved ISO Certification and added new equipment and capabilities. Andy carries on some of the same businesses focuses and values that he was blessed to have learned from his grandfather. Andy enjoys what the manufacturing industry has to offer and hopes that he can help to convince more of his generation to consider careers in manufacturing.
Andy is the President and Owner of Ripley Machine and Tool. Ripley Machine and Tool is a medium sized machine shop located in Western New York (near Erie, PA) offering Production CNC Turning and Centerless and Internal Grinding.
Andy grew up in and around the family business and purchased the company from his grandfather (Quentin Bensink) in January of 2015 at the age of 21. Since the transition, the company has increased sales and employment, achieved ISO Certification and added new equipment and capabilities. Andy carries on some of the same businesses focuses and values that he was blessed to have learned from his grandfather. Andy enjoys what the manufacturing industry has to offer and hopes that he can help to convince more of his generation to consider careers in manufacturing.
Kylan Hastreiter, Marketing & Development Director, Hastreiter Industries.
Hastreiter Industries is an advanced manufacturer serving the Aerospace & Defense, Energy and many other industries for 30 years. Hastreiter Industries is a family business offering 5 axis milling, 4 axis CNC turning, engineering and metrology services with 99/100 jobs delivered on time. Kylan graduated with a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in International Business, from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. He is the strategic visionary that helped lead Hastreiter Industries to triple in personnel over the last two years with zero employee turnover.
Hastreiter Industries is an advanced manufacturer serving the Aerospace & Defense, Energy and many other industries for 30 years. Hastreiter Industries is a family business offering 5 axis milling, 4 axis CNC turning, engineering and metrology services with 99/100 jobs delivered on time. Kylan graduated with a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in International Business, from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. He is the strategic visionary that helped lead Hastreiter Industries to triple in personnel over the last two years with zero employee turnover.
top shops founding partner presenter

Doug Woods, President, AMT
Douglas K. Woods joined AMT as its President in April 2009. A lifelong manufacturing professional, he leads the Association’s drive to improve sales and market access for its members, while also providing services that lower their costs. He is dedicated to sharing his passion about the world’s most innovative manufacturing technology and creating a leadership position for AMT on issues that impact the industry.
Douglas K. Woods joined AMT as its President in April 2009. A lifelong manufacturing professional, he leads the Association’s drive to improve sales and market access for its members, while also providing services that lower their costs. He is dedicated to sharing his passion about the world’s most innovative manufacturing technology and creating a leadership position for AMT on issues that impact the industry.
Modern machine shop top shops speakers

Pete Zelinksi, Editor-in-Cheif, Modern Machine Shop
Peter Zelinski has been a writer and editor for Modern Machine Shop for two decades. One of the aspects of this work that he enjoys the most is visiting machining facilities to learn about the manufacturing technology, systems and strategies they have adopted, and the successes they’ve realized as a result. Pete earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and he first learned about machining by running and programming machine tools in a metalworking laboratory within GE Aircraft Engines (now GE Aviation). Pete is also the editor-in-chief of Additive Manufacturing magazine.
Peter Zelinski has been a writer and editor for Modern Machine Shop for two decades. One of the aspects of this work that he enjoys the most is visiting machining facilities to learn about the manufacturing technology, systems and strategies they have adopted, and the successes they’ve realized as a result. Pete earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and he first learned about machining by running and programming machine tools in a metalworking laboratory within GE Aircraft Engines (now GE Aviation). Pete is also the editor-in-chief of Additive Manufacturing magazine.

Steve Kline Jr., Director of Market Intelligence, Gardner Intelligence
Steve is the Director of Market Intelligence at Gardner Business Media, Inc., a family-owned business that produces media for the durable goods manufacturing industries, including Modern Machine Shop, Production Machining, Moldmaking Technology, Plastics Technology and Composites World magazines. He has produced forecasts for his family’s business and the metalworking and plastics industries. Also, Mr. Kline has been working on Gardner’s Capital Spending Survey and the Gardner Business Index since 2008. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a MBA with an emphasis in finance from the University of Cincinnati.
Steve is the Director of Market Intelligence at Gardner Business Media, Inc., a family-owned business that produces media for the durable goods manufacturing industries, including Modern Machine Shop, Production Machining, Moldmaking Technology, Plastics Technology and Composites World magazines. He has produced forecasts for his family’s business and the metalworking and plastics industries. Also, Mr. Kline has been working on Gardner’s Capital Spending Survey and the Gardner Business Index since 2008. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a MBA with an emphasis in finance from the University of Cincinnati.

Travis Egan, Publisher, Modern Machine Shop
Travis Egan is the Publisher of Modern Machine Shop magazine, a position he has held since 2005. He has worked for Gardner Business Media for the past 19 years and is a member of the company’s Board of Directors. He also serves as the Group Publisher for the Gardner Metalworking Group overseeing the following brands; Modern Machine Shop, MoldMaking Technology, Production Machining and Additive Manufacturing. He is a graduate of Illinois State University and his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology provides a strong foundation for understanding advanced manufacturing technology.
Travis Egan is the Publisher of Modern Machine Shop magazine, a position he has held since 2005. He has worked for Gardner Business Media for the past 19 years and is a member of the company’s Board of Directors. He also serves as the Group Publisher for the Gardner Metalworking Group overseeing the following brands; Modern Machine Shop, MoldMaking Technology, Production Machining and Additive Manufacturing. He is a graduate of Illinois State University and his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology provides a strong foundation for understanding advanced manufacturing technology.

Derek Korn, Executive Editor, Modern Machine Shop
Derek Korn joined Modern Machine Shop in 2004, but he has been writing about manufacturing since 1997. His mechanical engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Applied Science provides a solid foundation for understanding and explaining how innovative shops leverage advanced machining technologies, equipment and processes to their advantage. Derek also manages the magazine's annual Top Shops benchmarking survey, which enables U.S. machine shops to see how their technology- and business-related key performance indicators stack up against the country's leading machining businesses.
Derek Korn joined Modern Machine Shop in 2004, but he has been writing about manufacturing since 1997. His mechanical engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Applied Science provides a solid foundation for understanding and explaining how innovative shops leverage advanced machining technologies, equipment and processes to their advantage. Derek also manages the magazine's annual Top Shops benchmarking survey, which enables U.S. machine shops to see how their technology- and business-related key performance indicators stack up against the country's leading machining businesses.

Mark Albert, Editorial Director, Modern Machine Shop
Mark Albert is editorial director of Modern Machine Shop Magazine. Mark has been writing about metalworking for more than 35 years. Currently, his favorite topics are data-driven manufacturing and global competitiveness. Mark’s editorial activities have taken him to numerous countries in Europe and Asia as well as across the United States many times. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana).
Mark Albert is editorial director of Modern Machine Shop Magazine. Mark has been writing about metalworking for more than 35 years. Currently, his favorite topics are data-driven manufacturing and global competitiveness. Mark’s editorial activities have taken him to numerous countries in Europe and Asia as well as across the United States many times. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana).
Past Top shops speakers:
Adam Johansson, Sandvik Coromant
Bill Bither, MachineMetrics John Burg, Acieta Jack Burley, Big Kaiser Craig Cegielski, Cardinal Manufacturing Mike Cope, Hurco Michael Devereux, Mueller Prost Tax Incentives Group Dave Edstrom, Virtual Photons Electrons Travis Egan, Gardner Business Media Paul Ericksen, Purchasing & Supply Chain Eric Fogg, MachineMetrics Leslie Galbreath, dgs Marketing Engineers Eric Gibson, Ultra Machining Company Jeremy Hermann, Plethora John Hosmon, FactoryWiz Dr. Shahrukh Irani, Lean & Flexible, LLC Bill Metz, Richards Industries Carl Livesay, Land Sea Air Manufacturing Domenic Lanzillotta, FactoryWiz |
Steve Kline, Gardner Business Media
Reid Leland, LeanWerks Bob Markley, 3rd Dimension Industrial 3D Printing Ben Mitchell, Plethora Stas Mylek, Mastercam Chris Orlowski, X-L Machine Co. Margareta Pålsson, Sandvik Coromant Ryan Kelly, MakeTime Jim Rink, Caterpillar Jeff Rizzie, Sandvik Coromant Stacey Schroeder, NTMA William Sobel, VIMANA Ted Toth, Rosenberger NA Paul Van Metre, ProShop ERP Jared Veteto, Cogitic Tony Werschky, Delta Research Doug Wetzel, Protomatic Doug Woods, AMT Pete Zelinski, Modern Machine Shop |
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