About us

Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership is a registered nonprofit focused on manufacturing workforce and career awareness. AMIP leverages our organization’s strengths to best serve the manufacturers in the Greater Cincinnati Region, including northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana. AMIP benefits manufacturers and community with expert advice, resources, workforce, and funding. AMIP creates uncommon success.

Our partner network includes manufacturers, service providers, economic development organizations, universities and community colleges, government agencies and more.

AMIP is a registered 501c3 under IRS charitable organization code.

Our mission is to provide for the continuous talent pipeline and workforce development in manufacturing.

Mission

Download our one-pager

Our Team

Susan Whitman

President & Executive Director

susan.whitman@amipcincy.org

Katie Peyton

Grants Project Manager

katie.peyton@amipcincy.org

Katie Myers

Education Training Manager

katie.myers@amipcincy.org

Wim Huijs

Incoming President & Executive Director

wim.huijs@amipcincy.org

AMIP 2025 Board of Directors

Susan Whitman | President & Executive Director

Susan Whitman utilizes her background and fervor for bolstering the region’s skilled workforce pipeline in manufacturing. Her dedication further amplifies AMIP’s mission to expose both students and adults to advanced manufacturing opportunities while fostering collaboration among businesses, educators, and community-based organizations to attract and retain skilled workers. Her involvement spans crucial projects such as the Good Jobs Challenge, organizing Members Quarterly Meetings and Workshops, Manufacturing Month tours, Teacher Externships, and spearheading additional training initiatives for workforce development and economic support in manufacturing career pathways. A Cincinnati native, Susan holds an MBA from Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s in Marketing from Miami University.

Chris Leedy | Chair

Chris Leedy has 35+ years of experience in the specialty chemical industry, primarily in manufacturing and engineering. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, he is currently the Vice President of Business Services for Pilot Chemical and serves as the Board Secretary for AMIP. In 2013, Chris recognized the emerging concerns with workforce pipeline and development for the manufacturing industry and co-organized a regional team of leaders from chemical and food manufacturers, the EACC, and Cincinnati State to build a chemical operator certificate program to train current and future workforce. In 2017, he joined AMIP and has been one of the core leaders guiding our strategy, establishing our business incorporation and 501c3 non-profit status, and strengthening our partnership with the Ohio Manufacturers Association to bring long-term solutions for filling the workforce gap in Ohio. Chris is honored to continue serving on the AMIP Board and progress this important work that will strengthen manufacturing across our entire region.

Molly, a Second-Generation Shareholder and Human Resources Executive at Monti Inc., thrives on cultivating engagement and fostering organizational scalability. Her passion lies in dynamic settings where innovation and growth are ongoing pursuits. As a leader, Molly excels in consulting, guiding, and coaching leaders across all levels, nurturing a positive and productive work environment. Her dedication to people, excellence, and tangible outcomes drives her to achieve the seemingly impossible every day. Expressing a strong desire to continue serving on the AMIP Board of Directors, Molly emphasizes the importance of collaboration among manufacturers. She advocates for partnerships with academic institutions and community organizations to strengthen the manufacturing sector and cultivate a pool of skilled candidates, essential for addressing the industry’s labor gap.

Molly Fender | Vice-Chair

Elise Ring

Elise is the Vice President of Strategic Growth and the first woman on the leadership team at CBT Company, a trusted partner in delivering intelligent industrial solutions across all manufacturing sectors for over a century. In 2020, after more than two decades of success driving marketing, innovation, and product development for top consumer brands, she brought her leadership and expertise to CBT to deliver winning business strategies and market expansion.

Todd Wisner

Todd Wisner is an accomplished manufacturing executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the chemical manufacturing industry. He currently serves as Plant Manager at Pilot Chemical Company, where he has led operations in Lockland, Ohio, since 2020. Prior to this, he held various leadership roles at Solvay, including North American Industrial Manager for Special Chem and Plant Manager. His expertise spans plant management, operations leadership, and process optimization, with a strong track record of driving efficiency and continuous improvement. Before joining Solvay, Todd held key management positions at BASF and Solutia, where he gained extensive experience in operations management, business unit leadership, and process engineering.

Todd holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. His background combines deep technical knowledge with strategic business acumen, allowing him to lead high-performing teams and implement operational excellence initiatives. With a career dedicated to optimizing chemical manufacturing processes and fostering innovation, Todd continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the industry’s best practices.

Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent at Reading Community City School District in Reading, Ohio. With more than two decades of experience in education, he has held leadership roles including Director of College and Career Readiness, Curriculum and Communication Director, and Middle School Principal. Mark is passionate about connecting education with workforce development (with a special emphasis on manufacturing) and creating clear, purpose-driven pathways for students beyond high school. He has led initiatives that align K–12 curriculum with career readiness, emphasizing hands-on learning, industry-recognized credentials, and partnerships with local employers. Through his work, Mark continues to champion innovative approaches that prepare all students for success in college, careers, and life.

Margot McDonald

With over 20 years of experience in workforce development within the manufacturing industry, Margot McDonald serves as Chief Operating Officer of The Kable Group, parent company to Kable Staffing, MBS Professional Staffing, and Kable Academy. Throughout her career, Margot has been dedicated to building sustainable talent pipelines that strengthen the manufacturing sector and expand opportunities for skilled workers. Her leadership has been instrumental in aligning education, training, and employment initiatives to address the growing skills gap, particularly through innovative programs that connect employers with qualified talent and upskill individuals for advanced manufacturing roles. Margot also serves as Board Secretary for St. Zachary’s Haven, a nonprofit recovery farm in Morrow, Ohio, dedicated to providing healing and purpose through nature-based rehabilitation programs. She sits on the Loveland Sustainability Committee, where she supports community initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and responsible local growth. At the national level, Margot is an active committee member of the American Staffing Association’s CHIP Taskforce, Direct Hire Council, and Engineering, IT & Scientific (EITS) Section Council, collaborating with industry leaders to advance workforce strategies and best practices. She also participates in the Visus President’s Roundtable, a consortium of workforce development executives and strategists from across the nation focused on shaping the future of employment, innovation, and industry partnerships. Margot’s combination of industry expertise, community leadership, and national advocacy makes her a valuable contributor to regional manufacturing advancement and workforce innovation initiatives across the Greater Cincinnati area.

Jacob McMinn

Jacob McMinn is the Chief Operations Officer at Pioneer Cladding and Glazing Systems, Inc., based in Mason, Ohio. With over 20 years experience in the construction manufacturing industry, Jacob has built a career focused on operational excellence and innovation. A proud graduate of The Ohio State University, Jacob combines technical expertise with a strong commitment to workforce development. He is a passionate advocate for apprenticeship programs, believing they create valuable opportunities for individuals who enjoy working with technology and want to build meaningful careers in the skilled trades. At Pioneer, Jacob is part of the Management Team that leads strategic initiatives to drive efficiency, quality, and growth, ensuring the company remains a trusted partner in delivering high-performance building envelope solutions.