TTA Spring Meeting Speakers
Summary Hotel Speakers Sponsorship Attendance Fees Policies
Mike Mullane, Astronaut
Presentation
Countdown to Leadership, Teamwork and Safety:
Astronaut Mike Mullane will use the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster to develop the causes and dangers of ‘Normalization of Deviance’, defined as the accumulation of risk through repeated deviances from safety best-practices until that behavior becomes a ‘new normal’ for the individual or the team. The results of this process are ‘predictable surprises’ which can result in injuries and fatalities. Mullane will also develop hard-hitting lessons on safety responsibility and accountability through the telling of a story from his Air Force flying career in which he was forced into a last second ejection from a crashing fighter aircraft.
Biography
Colonel Mullane was born
Mullane was selected as a
Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal.
Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children's book, Liftoff! An Astronaut's Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space? His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Jon Stewart Daily Show. It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble’s 2010 recommended summer reading list.
Mullane has held a lifelong passion for mountain climbing. Since age 60 he has summited Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, as well as Mt. Rainier and forty of Colorado’s 14,000 ft. peaks.
Colonel Mullane has established himself as an acclaimed professional speaker on the topics of teamwork, leadership and safety. He has educated, entertained, inspired and thrilled tens of thousands of people from every walk of business and government with his incredibly unique programs.
Mike Devereux, Partner, Wipfli
Presentation
Manufacturing Sector: Tax Policy & Legislative Update
Provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) began to expire or take effect in tax years 2022 and 2023, increasing manufacturers’ tax liabilities related to items like bonus depreciation, research and development and interest expenses.
Tax increases continue to threaten the manufacturing community with a tax rate hike in 2026, absent Congressional action. Manufacturers and their suppliers can learn how to minimize the impact of these tax increases, while identifying tax credits and new accounting methods available to them that can improve upon their bottom line.
With budget reconciliation legislation making its way through both chambers of Congress, Mike will provide a tax legislation and policy update, providing participants with tax and regulatory insights from Capitol Hill that impact their manufacturing companies.
In addition, he will provide a summary of tax incentives and benefits manufacturers should be considering, making themselves more competitive in a global environment. These incentives focus on human capital, research and development, capital expenditures, and accounting methods.
Mike will also discuss the current state of tariffs and their impact on US manufacturing.
Biography
Mike Devereux currently serves as Wipfli’s Manufacturing Industry Leader. In that role, he oversees a team of professionals nationally who provide audit, tax, and consulting services to the manufacturing sector. Mike’s role is primarily focused on organic growth, increasing Wipfli’s national presence and identifying value for manufacturing clients and prospective clients.
He speaks regularly to various professional and industry trade associations on ways manufacturers can reduce their Federal and state tax liabilities, and he provides insights on recent and future legislation impacting the manufacturing sector.
Ron Galloway, Author and Futurist
Presentation
AI In The Transformer Industry: Clear & To The Point
This session examines how AI technologies, particularly large language models and autonomous agents, apply to the small-scale transformer manufacturing sector. Companies in this industry often work with inductors, switches, adhesives, and raw materials, where consistency and precision are vital. By clarifying the core concepts behind these advanced AI tools, this presentation establishes a foundational understanding of how intelligence gleaned from vast data sets can be harnessed to improve manufacturing processes.
We will explore specific examples of how AI and generative AI can enhance efficiency and innovation in producing transformers and related components. These models can streamline design iterations, predict material performance under various conditions, and optimize production lines in real time. Generative AI further allows for the simulation of novel solutions that address complex design or supply chain challenges, potentially reducing costs and minimizing waste.
In addition, the presentation outlines practical considerations for implementing AI in a manufacturing setting. Topics include effective data collection, model training, workforce readiness, and the ethical implications of AI-driven decision-making. By concluding with actionable insights and guidance for future adoption, the session aims to equip industry professionals with a clear road map for integrating AI strategies into existing workflows.
Biography
Ron Galloway is a technology researcher and author. His books include “AI: Clear & To The Point and “Tech Terms For Trustees.” He graduated Georgia Tech in 1984 and was an analyst at Smith Barney until 2006 when he started his own technology company, Method Research. He has been programming in the AI language Prolog for 37 years.
Print coverage of his work includes The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Investors Business Daily. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, the BBC, and PBS and was made fun of on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show. His business film “Why WalMart Works” was the first film to ever premiere in the U.S. Capitol Building.
He has 2 children and a dog named Netflix.