CME Manitoba’s (un)conventional (un)conference a huge success

The largest manufacturing conference on the Prairies.
350 attendees  •  100+ companies  •  Rave reviews. 

By Jill Knaggs. 

Dare to Compete — Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters’ (CME) flagship provincial conference — has long been touted as the can’t-miss event of the year by many Manitoba manufacturers, large and small.

2016 was no different, with more than 350 delegates converging on Winnipeg’s RBC Convention Centre this past March, to pack in a full day of professional development, shared learning, and industry networking opportunities.

“Attending CME Manitoba’s annual conference has become a must-do for me, and it’s because of the value I receive each year,” explains Dan Oldcorn, training and development coordinator with MacDon Industries. “(Un)conference 2016 was no exception. I learned new things, reconnected with great people, and came away motivated and inspired.”

In the spirit of continuous improvement, CME takes steps to ensure attendee feedback is heard and drives future iterations of the event.

This year’s (Un)conference theme was the result of a desire to shift focus away from the ‘same old conversations’ and towards innovative topics that sparked interaction and helped avoid traditional conference fatigue.

Twenty-minute Spark Sessions, which required participants to get up and move, were especially popular, and organizers say they will be around again in 2017.

“Manufacturers across the Prairies have spoken, and the message is loud and clear,” notes CME Manitoba Vice President Ron Koslowsky. “Mark your calendars early, and invest in your organization’s success through our signature professional development experience.”

The next Dare to Compete conference will be held
March 21, 2017.