Annual Meeting
July 21-23, 2026 | Foxborough, MA
Driving Education and Innovation in Resistance Welding
Driving Education and Innovation in Resistance Welding
Connect with industry leaders, engineers, and manufacturing professionals at this three-day welding event dedicated to advancing resistance welding technology and education. Through technical discussions and expert insights, attendees will gain valuable perspectives while collaborating with peers committed to strengthening the industry.
Attendees will engage in:
- Technical Presentations & Keynote Speakers: Hear from top voices in resistance welding and manufacturing.
- Exclusive Plant Tour: Gain access to Plansee USA’s impressive manufacturing facility.
- Growth & Innovation Insights: Learn about state and federal resources available to support manufacturing growth.
- Meaningful Networking: Connect with peers and industry leaders dedicated to the RWMA community.
Location
Location
Foxborough / Franklin, Massachusetts
Hotel: Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel
Phone: +1 508-543-5500
- Additional Details:
A nightly rate of $259/night at either the Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel or the Hilton Garden Inn Foxborough Patriot Place (Hilton Garden Inn is across that street from the venue). - Hotel Booking Deadline: Tuesday, June 30th, 2026
Located in the vibrant heart of the Patriot Place district, our host location offers a premier destination for industry leaders to connect. Just steps away from local attractions, this venue provides effortless access to everything the Foxborough area has to offer.
Guest Keynote & Featured Speakers
Guest Keynote & Featured Speakers
Tara Bayke | ITR Economist and Senior Consulting Speaker
ITR Economist and Senior Consulting Speaker Tara Bayke joined the ITR Economics team in 2025, bringing with her a wealth of experience working on both state- and federal-level projects related to health care and workforce development. Tara also has experience in commercial finance, having previously worked in the housing, automotive, and marine sectors. Tara earned both her bachelor’s degree in economics and her master’s degree from Georgia State University. She continues to teach economics at her alma mater while providing her economic expertise to our clients.
Tara will deliver a data-driven, accurate, and actionable presentation focusing on leading indicators, business cycle phases, and specific forecasts for manufacturing sectors. Key topics to expect include projections for manufacturing production and industrial output; focusing on automation, technology, and AI to improve workforce productivity; addressing geopolitical risks and how to manage them in manufacturing strategies; and analysis of trends to forecast investments.
Dr. Hassan Ghassemi-Armaki | General Motors R&D
Staff Researcher, Materials & Manufacturing Systems Research
Dr. Hassan Ghassemi-Armaki is a Staff Researcher in Global R&D at General Motors. His work focuses on applying artificial intelligence (AI) to manufacturing processes, addressing continuous changes in product design and variability in materials and process conditions. He leads the Adaptive Learning Operations sub-program within the Future Factory Research program in Global R&D at General Motors. Before joining General Motors, Hassan worked at ArcelorMittal Global R&D, collaborating with international auto OEMs and advancing additive manufacturing of ferrous materials. He has published more than 60 papers in international journals with over 3,400 citations, holds around 100 patents and trade secrets, and has received 10 awards, including the recent Digital Transformation Leadership Award from the Manufacturing Leadership Council.
Donald F. Maatz, Jr. | Milco Manufacturing
Senior Welding Engineer
Don Maatz has over 40 years of experience in the welding industry. Prior to joining Milco Manufacturing, he worked with R&E Automated Systems, RoMan Engineering Services, and the Ford Motor Company. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy’s Silent Service. An AWS member for over 35 years, Mr. Maatz is past-chairman of the AWS-Detroit Section, the recipient of the Elihu Thomson Resistance Welding Award, serves on the D8 and D8.9 Automotive Welding Committees, is chair of the D8D, and an advisor to the C1 Resistance Welding Committee. He is an AWS endorsed CWI and an instructor for the RWMA School. Mr. Maatz is a co-author for the 2011 edition of ASM Metals Handbook on Welding and Brazing (Vol. 6A, Resistance Welding Power Supplies and Controls) and the upcoming AWS Welding Handbook chapter on Resistance Spot and Seam Welding. In addition, he has authored or co-authored feature columns and peer-reviewed papers for the American Welding Society and the Society of Automotive Engineers. He has given presentations at the Advances in Resistance Welding International Seminar, International Autobody Congress, the RWMA Annual Meeting, and the AWS-Detroit Section Sheet Metal Welding Conference. Mr. Maatz is a graduate of Ohio State with a BS in Welding Engineering.
Nick Avedissian | Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
Product Manager, Simufact Forming
Nick is a Brazilian mechanical engineer with almost 10 years of experience in CAE. He obtained his master’s degree in Welding Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2024, working on projection welding modeling. Before coming to the US, Nick worked for 5 years at MSC Software, working with multiple CAE solutions in structural analysis, composites, fatigue, manufacturing, and others. In early 2026, Nick became the Simufact Forming product manager, with the goal of building a next-gen RSW simulation workflow.
Kristy Grignon, Kathie Mahoney, and Jeff Brant | The Massachusetts APEX Accelerator & MassMEP
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network has 51 centers located in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. These centers provide services to small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve productivity, reduce costs, and accelerate growth, ensuring coverage across the entire country. MassMEP is part of the national NIST MEP network, it provides specialized consulting, workforce training, and technology adoption services. The Massachusetts APEX Accelerator (MA APEX) is a member of a nationwide network of 90 federally funded APEX Accelerator Centers providing a variety of services to businesses of all sizes to help them navigate the complexities of contracting with federal agencies, state purchasing departments, and local governments. Representatives from MA APEX and MASSMEP will present the advantages of manufacturers utilizing APEX’s resources and the MEP programs.
AGENDA
Connect with Industry Leaders at the RWMA Annual Meeting
This focused forum brings together resistance welding professionals to exchange practical ideas, discuss real‑world manufacturing challenges, and connect with peers who know the work and speak the language.
Exclusive Facility Tour
Exclusive Facility Tour
Plansee USA, Franklin, MA | Core Competency Center for North America
Attendees will receive an inside look at Plansee USA’s 62,000-square-foot facility in Franklin, Massachusetts*, where the company specializes in the precision machining, fabrication, and manufacturing of high-performance components using molybdenum and tungsten. Raw materials shipped from European sites are processed on-site through advanced production methods.
- 85 Years of Proficiency: Tour the new state-of-the-art office building added in 2024 to celebrate Plansee USA’s 85th anniversary and support continued growth at the Franklin campus.
- Workforce Innovation: Visit the specialized Manufacturing Training Center, established in 2024 to support workforce development and expansion in high-performance material production.
- Specialized Processes: Observe the Franklin location—serving as the core competency center for North America—where advanced machining, forming, and heat treatment of refractory metals are performed.
*Safety shoes and safety glasses are required for the facility tour. Limited quantities are available on site; bringing your own is recommended.
PRICING & REGISTRATION
| Registrant | Rate | |
| RWMA Member | $795 | |
| Non-Member | $945 | |
| 1-Day Pass (Wednesday) | $395 | |
| Spouse/Guest | $175 | |
|
Includes: Full Registration fees include access to all sessions, materials, meals, and networking events. 1-Day (Wednesday) Registration fees include access to breakfast, speaker program, lunch and evening cocktail reception. Attendance to the tour is reserved for attendees of the full event. Additional Guest /Spouse Fee: Cost for additional guest is $175, only incudes access to reception and dinner. |
||
For Additional Meeting Information
Please contact Adrian Bustillo at
abustillo@aws.org
or Call 786.937.9595