Attendees Give SEAMS Spring Networking Conference High Marks

By eTextileCommunications

SEAMS members took advantage of the numerous networking and educational opportunities at the association’s Spring Networking Conference at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes here last month.

The day before its first business session, SEAMS hosted a networking event at Topgolf Myrtle Beach. The two business sessions – one full day and one half day – featured several diverse subject matter experts who imparted useful information, enlightening data and key takeaways.

“The speakers at SEAMS were excellent on a variety of topics, including brand building, legislation and company culture,” said Michael Rosenhouse, marketing manager at Fibre52, Houston, Texas. “Those insights, combined with meeting some of the leaders in American textile manufacturing, were inspirational. Attending for the first time as part of Fibre52, I was thankful to be welcomed so warmly by such a tight-knit group.”

Those speakers included:

• Cindy DiPietrantonio, who recently served as CEO & president of Boathouse Sports in Philadelphia. She explained how she navigated the company through COVID-19 and expanded the apparel maker’s product mix and customer base during her five years with the company.
  

• Catherine Armstrong, director of the Carolina Textile District at the Industrial Commons, and Dr. David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State, who teamed up to provide an overview of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engine. NC State and the Industrial Commons are partners in the North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine and will receive up to $15 million for two years and up to $160 million over 10 years.
  

• Kamber Parker Bowden, founder & CEO of The YoProKnow LLC, Greenville, S.C., who covered “THE FUTURE OF WORK IS HERE: How to Attract and Retain Top Young Talent in a Digital World.” There are five working generations in the workplace right now, she noted. Learning why generations act based on their behaviors and upbringing will give you an advantage in your industry and your business culture, she said.
  

• Nicole Bivens Collinson, managing principal, Operating Committee and International Trade and Government Relations Practice Leader at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., Washington, D.C., who covered “The Red Pill or the Blue Pill: What Will Trade Face In 2024?” She discussed the de minimis trade issue, what to anticipate on the D.C. scene between now and the election, what we can expect post-election from each candidate as well as other trade issues that are or will be impacting the industry.

• Zachary Rogers, account executive at Claros Technology, Minneapolis, who did a deep dive into “PFAS: Impact, Exposure and Promoting Sustainable Practices.” He discussed the multifaceted world of PFAS and explored its basic chemistry and composition, its impacts on human health and the environment, the current regulatory landscape and actional strategies for identifying and managing PFAS contamination in textiles.

• Scott Dorney, executive director of the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), and Lee Moritz, business developer at NCMBC, who outlined the fundamentals of doing business with the federal government with a focus on the textile industry.

“I am always so happy to attend the SEAMS Conference, as it provides a unique opportunity to meet and network with my peers within the cut-and-sew industry,” said Dan LaTurno, president & CEO of Peoria Production Solutions, Peoria, Ill. “Where else can you gather such a diverse group of talented individuals in one place? Also, the SEAMS Conference always has such a high quality of presenters. That alone is worth the cost to attend! If you haven’t attended a SEAMS Conference in the recent past, I would suggest that you do so. You will not be disappointed.”

SEAMS’ upcoming Annual Conference is scheduled for September 11-13 at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel & Spa in Alabama’s only seaport city, Mobile.

SEAMS has served as the Association and Voice for the U.S. sewn products industry for more than 50 years. Its more than 200 member companies include brands and retailers, cut-and-sew manufacturers, textile, yarn and fiber producers, as well as technology suppliers.

This article was published June 28, 2024. SEAMS is an associate member of SPESA.

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