‘Change is Mandatory – Stress is Optional’: Introducing DIFM26 Keynote

The region’s newest premier manufacturing event, DIFM26 (Driving Impact for Manufacturers) hosted by NWIRC, returns to the Erie Bayfront Convention Center on March 25, 2026 bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and workforce champions for a day of insight, connection, and momentum.

This year’s keynote speaker is Garrison Wynn—renowned author, researcher, and humorist—who will deliver a dynamic presentation titled “Change is Mandatory…Stress is Optional! What the Most Influential Leaders Do Differently.” Known for blending laugh-out-loud storytelling with practical leadership strategies, Wynn will explore how top-performing organizations create cultures that stick, reduce resistance to change, and engage every generation in the workforce. His message is clear: great leadership isn’t optional—it’s contagious.
Wynn’s keynote promises actionable tools and a contagious spark to help leaders communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and attract the people they need now. With a career spanning three decades and five continents, he has worked with global giants like Amazon, Caterpillar, US Steel, and NASA. As the youngest department head in a Fortune 500 company’s history, Wynn designed systems still in use today and brings a rare blend of operational insight and motivational energy.

DIFM26 is more than a conference—it’s a catalyst for regional manufacturing inspiration. Registration for DIFM26 is now open! Details at: nwirc.org/difm26.