YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Manufacturers across the Mahoning Valley are entering a pivotal moment, as shifts in federal policy, global competition and emerging technologies create new opportunities for companies willing to adapt.
That is the message from Jaret Riddick, a former Pentagon official and founder of Washington-based consulting firm RB MECK, who will serve as keynote speaker at YBI’s AMUX event May 20 at the Eastwood Event Centre.
Manufacturers in northeastern Ohio, he said, should be paying close attention to how national security priorities are reshaping supply chains and driving demand for advanced manufacturing capabilities.
“What we saw during the Covid pandemic is just how fragile many of our supply chains are,” Riddick said, pointing to shortages in items such as batteries and electronics. “When those supply chains are offshore, it creates real problems.”
That realization, combined with increasing geopolitical competition, has accelerated efforts to bring production back to the United States, particularly in sectors tied to defense and emerging technologies, he said.
Among the most visible examples is the growing demand for drones and autonomous systems, which are playing an increasingly central role in both military and commercial applications.
Yet the United States currently lacks the manufacturing scale to meet that demand, Riddick said. Companies based in other countries dominate much of the global drone market, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage as it seeks to expand production.
That gap presents an opportunity for regions like the Valley.
With the establishment of America Makes in Youngstown more than a decade ago, the region positioned itself at the forefront of additive manufacturing research and development, Riddick said. What began as an experiment to explore the potential of 3D printing has evolved into a national hub for advanced manufacturing innovation, attracting talent, investment and industry partnerships.
“Youngstown, because America Makes was started there years ago, is really sort of the ground zero for additive manufacturing research and development,” Riddick said.
Today, that foundation is intersecting with a new wave of technologies, including artificial intelligence, creating what Riddick describes as a moment of convergence that could reshape both the regional and national economy.
Central to that transformation is the concept of “place-based innovation,” which will be the focus of Riddick’s keynote address at AMUX.
The idea is straightforward: By concentrating resources, talent and institutional support in a specific location, regions can build sustainable, technology-driven economies that generate both economic and strategic value.
In Youngstown, that model has taken shape through collaboration among organizations such as YBI, America Makes and Youngstown State University. Together, he said, they have created an ecosystem that supports research, commercialization and workforce development, while attracting companies and entrepreneurs interested in advanced manufacturing.
“The Innovation Hub really has all of those parts,” Riddick said. “You have anchor institutions; you have talent; and you have the expertise to produce an economy around a particular activity.”
For the Valley, that activity is increasingly centered on advanced manufacturing and its applications in aerospace and defense.
Riddick said this approach is especially important at a time when the United States is seeking to decentralize production and expand its manufacturing base beyond traditional hubs such as Washington and Silicon Valley.
“There’s talent everywhere,” he said. “The Mahoning Valley is an example of a place that has that talent and has shown economic strength in the past.”
For local manufacturers, he said, the implications are significant.
Rather than relying on a handful of large contractors, the emerging manufacturing ecosystem is expected to require participation from companies of all sizes. Modular design and interoperability are becoming key priorities, allowing different firms to produce interchangeable parts that can be used in larger systems.
That shift lowers barriers to entry for small and midsize manufacturers, which can specialize in specific parts or processes while still contributing to larger supply chains.
“It’s really all hands on deck,” Riddick said. “It’s very unlikely that one producer is going to produce the thousands and thousands of systems that are needed.”
The opportunity extends beyond defense applications. Advances in automation and AI are transforming industries ranging from logistics to health care.
YBI CEO Barb Ewing said events like AMUX are designed to help bridge the gap between emerging technologies and practical application.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Dr. Riddick to the Mahoning Valley. His understanding of technology and the overarching goals of the US Department of War are completely aligned with the goals of the Innovation Hub,” she said. “Whether you’re in manufacturing, economic development or public policy, this is a message you need to hear.”
The emphasis on being “in the room” reflects a broader theme in Riddick’s message that the current moment of change is creating opportunities that require active engagement.
Federal investments, including funding for semiconductor production and other technologies, have already begun to reshape the manufacturing landscape, he said. At the same time, rapid advances in AI and automation are creating both disruption and opportunity, as companies adapt to new ways of working.
Riddick acknowledged that these changes can appear chaotic, particularly as industries adjust to shifting market dynamics. But he emphasized that periods of disruption often create the conditions for growth.
One example, Riddick said, is the wave of layoffs across the tech sector, which he said is also creating a new pool of highly skilled workers who can transition into emerging manufacturing and innovation roles.
“You now have a built-in set of highly trained, very skilled folks who are looking for opportunity,” he said.
In the Valley, that opportunity builds on more than a decade of investment and experimentation in advanced manufacturing.
When America Makes was established in Youngstown, the idea of using additive manufacturing as a core industrial process was still met with skepticism, he said. Over time, however, the region has demonstrated how sustained investment and collaboration can transform an emerging technology into a driver of economic development.
Riddick said similar transformations have occurred in other regions, citing the development of robotics in Pittsburgh as an example of how place-based innovation can reshape local economies over time.
For Youngstown and the surrounding region, the challenge now is to build on that foundation and continue evolving as new technologies emerge, he said.
That includes expanding the talent pipeline, supporting entrepreneurship and ensuring local companies are positioned to take advantage of new opportunities.
It also means recognizing that the benefits of innovation extend beyond individual companies to the broader community.
By creating new jobs and attracting new investment, he said, advanced manufacturing can play a key role in the region’s long-term economic stability and growth.
Riddick said his goal at AMUX will be to help manufacturers understand both the scale of the opportunity and the importance of participating in it.
“I don’t intend to be the keynote speaker with all the answers,” he said. “I really want to create conversation. And to be in that conversation, you need to be in this room.”