Technology Futurist and Author of Digital Destiny to Keynote FMA Annual Meeting

ROCKFORD, Ill., Dec. 1, 2016 –  FMA is excited to announce that Dr. Shawn DuBravac, chief economist/director of research for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), will deliver the opening keynote presentation during the 2017 Annual Meeting happening March 8-10 in New Orleans.

The CTA represents more than 2,200 consumer technology companies and organizes the wildly popular CES, the global technology tradeshow that takes place every January in Las Vegas. In his role as CTA’s chief economist, DuBravac provides crucial economic analysis to industry leaders regarding the health of the technology sector. In his presentation to FMA he will share which emerging technologies will disrupt business models and discuss how innovation has and will continue to affect the metal manufacturing industry.

“It seems that everywhere you look data is being collected and there’s nothing that can’t be connected to the Internet,” said Jim Warren, FMA’s executive director of member services, education & foundation. “We look forward to Shawn answering the question, ‘what happens when everything is digital?’ and providing current, real-world examples of how connectivity and online services are changing our lives today, let alone tomorrow.”

DuBravac has been widely published and appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Financial Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Barron’s and on CNN, MSNBC, and other media outlets. He is the author of CTA’s third book Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate (Regnery, 2015), a New York Times best-seller. He has taught as an adjunct professor for George Washington University’s MBA program and has taught at the University of Mary Washington and for George Mason University’s MBA program. Prior to joining CTA, DuBravac was head research analyst in the Economic Analysis Group of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. He holds economic degrees from Brigham Young University and George Mason University.

Big Ideas in the Big Easy

Over 300 owners; top-level executives; and budding leaders of job shops and metal producers, processors, and distributors are expected to attend The FABRICATOR®’s Leadership Summit and Toll Processing Conference tracks of FMA’s Annual Meeting to learn about current trends and gain ideas for their businesses. The event’s fusion in both content and networking will result in these new insights as two prominent manufacturing communities share their best practices and participate in plant tours, golf tournaments, and fun evening receptions.

The 2017 event venue is the historic Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Ideally situated in the French Quarter, this luxury hotel is located near popular attractions including the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, Preservation Hall, the Garden District, as well as world-famous restaurants and clubs.

Additional details on the program, registration, as well as sponsorships and exhibit opportunities can be found at fmanet.org/annualmeeting or by calling 888-394-4362.

About FMA

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) is a professional organization with more than 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and FABTECH. The official publications of FMA include – The FABRICATOR®, The Tube & Pipe Journal®, STAMPING Journal®, Practical Welding Today®, The Fabricator® en Espanol, Canadian Metalworking, and Canadian Fabricating & Welding. FMA also has a technology affiliate, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating.

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Contact: Megan Paja – 815-227-8203

meganp@fmanet.org