SME’s Chief Executive Officer Jeannine Kunz and Chief Manufacturing Officer Dr. Brett Conner were acknowledged for their contributions to advancing additive manufacturing and reinforcing U.S. manufacturing capabilities.
YOUNGSTOWN, OH, UNITED STATES, August 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Continuing SME’s nearly four-decade commitment to advancing additive manufacturing (AM), America Makes, the country’s foremost public-private partnership for AM, recognized two SME executives today. The honors were for their leadership in bolstering U.S. manufacturing and speeding up the technology’s integration and expansion.
Jeannine Kunz, SME’s Executive Director and CEO, received the America Makes Ambassador Award for her outstanding commitment to the organization and its objectives since its founding in 2012. Dr. Brett Conner, SME’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, was presented with the Distinguished Collaborator Award for his major contributions to progressing additive manufacturing technology and enhancing cooperation across the AM community over his career.
“This award is a great honor and a testament to the enduring, robust partnership between SME and America Makes,” Kunz stated. “America Makes is essential in keeping the United States at the leading edge of additive manufacturing, while also developing a skilled workforce ready to harness its capabilities. That objective aligns closely with SME’s dedication to advancing manufacturing technology and cultivating the talent necessary to propel the industry.”
Over the years, SME and America Makes have collaborated on numerous initiatives and programs, such as creating the first certification for additive manufacturing. Most recently, SME’s RAPID + TCT industrial additive manufacturing event served as the host for America Makes’ Spring TRX conference in Detroit in 2025 and in Boston earlier this year, giving attendees from both events significant chances to network and cultivate relationships throughout the industry.
“Throughout my career, both at SME and in the broader manufacturing sector, the opportunities and challenges posed by additive manufacturing have been a central focus,” Conner remarked. “The advancements our industry has achieved demonstrate the strength of collaboration, and entities like America Makes have been instrumental in uniting innovators, manufacturers, researchers, and government partners to tackle common obstacles. Cooperation is a deeply ingrained value within both America Makes and SME, which is why our partnership remains so effective. I am honored to receive recognition from such a highly regarded organization.”
The inclusion of America Makes’ Technology Readiness Exchange (TRX) has offered RAPID + TCT attendees the chance to meet face-to-face, share ideas, interact with industry colleagues, and directly witness the newest developments and potential in additive manufacturing. SME considers that encouraging such collaboration and information exchange is fundamental to moving the manufacturing industry forward.
“Additive manufacturing is now a core component of the manufacturing industry,” Kunz said. “Nearly 25 years ago, one of my first projects at SME was collaborating with a small group of additive leaders enthusiastic about pushing AM forward to establish what is now our SME AM community. Being recognized by a valued partner like America Makes holds special significance due to our long history together.”
Kunz and Conner both received their honors at a ceremony during America Makes’ Members Meeting & Exchange, a two-day gathering in Youngstown that unites the AM industry for presentations, panel discussions, and conversations on sustaining the growth of AM adoption among U.S. manufacturers.
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About SME
Founded in 1932 as a nonprofit, SME represents the manufacturing sector, encompassing manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities they serve. We believe manufacturing is the key to economic growth and prosperity, and we advocate for the industry’s potential as a diverse, flourishing, and valued ecosystem. SME accelerates the adoption of new technologies and builds talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing, strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and national security. SME creates new ways to understand and solve challenges, and our solutions drive the next wave of manufacturing growth. Find out more at SME.org.
Brie Smith
SME
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