America Makes honors two SME leaders for additive manufacturing work

America Makes recognized SME CEO Jeannine Kunz and Chief Manufacturing Officer Dr. Brett Conner at its Members Meeting & Exchange in Youngstown, Ohio, on Aug. 5, 2026. The awards highlight SME’s long-running role in advancing additive manufacturing, workforce development and U.S. manufacturing collaboration.

Why it matters: - The awards underscore how central additive manufacturing has become to U.S. manufacturing strategy. - They also highlight the role of industry partnerships in speeding adoption, building talent and strengthening domestic competitiveness.

What happened: - America Makes honored two SME executives at its Members Meeting & Exchange in Youngstown, Ohio. - SME Executive Director and CEO Jeannine Kunz received the America Makes Ambassador Award. - SME Chief Manufacturing Officer Dr. Brett Conner received the Distinguished Collaborator Award. - America Makes recognized Kunz for her dedication to the organization and its mission since 2012. - America Makes recognized Conner for contributions to additive manufacturing technology and collaboration across the AM ecosystem.

The details: - The ceremony took place during a two-day event that included presentations, panels and discussions on increasing additive manufacturing adoption for U.S. manufacturers. - SME and America Makes have worked together on multiple initiatives over the years. - The groups helped develop the first additive manufacturing certification. - RAPID + TCT, SME’s industrial additive manufacturing event, hosted America Makes’ Spring TRX conference in Detroit in 2025 and in Boston earlier this year. - The TRX addition has given attendees a chance to connect in person, exchange ideas and see new additive manufacturing technologies. - Kunz said America Makes helps keep the United States at the forefront of additive manufacturing while building a skilled workforce. - Conner said collaboration has been essential to progress in the industry and that America Makes has helped bring together innovators, manufacturers, researchers and government partners. - Kunz said one of her first initiatives at SME nearly 25 years ago was helping form what became the SME AM community.

Between the lines: - The recognition signals that America Makes values long-term ecosystem building, not just technical breakthroughs. - SME is positioning additive manufacturing as both an industrial tool and a workforce issue. - The repeated emphasis on collaboration suggests the next phase of AM growth depends as much on coordination as on new hardware or materials.

What’s next: - SME and America Makes are likely to keep using joint events and programs to broaden AM adoption. - Industry attention will stay on certification, networking and cross-sector collaboration as U.S. manufacturers expand use cases. - The broader goal remains increasing additive manufacturing adoption across the U.S. manufacturing base.

The bottom line: - America Makes used the awards to spotlight two SME leaders and the partnership model driving additive manufacturing forward in the United States.