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Manufacturing Mastery, 1 of 2 Series
June 11 @ 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Strategies for Tariffs and Supply Chain through the Trump Administration
Join us for an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of international trade and supply chain management during the Trump Administration. This event will delve into key tariff policies and their implications for businesses across various sectors. Expert speakers will share strategies for navigating the complexities introduced by tariffs and how companies can adapt their supply chains to mitigate risks and seize new opportunities.
Speakers:
Theresa Padilla-Chaparro
Theresa Padilla-Chaparro is the CEO of Rakar Aerospace, a legacy U.S. defense and aerospace manufacturer with more than four decades of experience in precision manufacturing, supplier development, and federal contracting. Her work has supported the execution of classified and unclassified programs under NASA, the Department of Defense, and U.S. allied agencies. As Co-Lead of SpaceReturn/////, she helps shape the institutional and compliance frameworks that define North America’s first officially recognized space manufacturing cluster.
Diego Padilla
Diego Padilla directs SpaceReturn/////, a U.S. cluster advancing the strategic realignment of industrial manufacturing to support secure supply chain ecosystems, dual-use technologies, and defense procurement readiness. His work focuses on the operational edge of industrial base resilience—aligning compliance infrastructure (e.g., CMMC, ITAR), advanced fabrication systems, and international supplier networks with defense and aerospace acquisition pathways.
Nick Kaltenbrun
Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Nick has been in the metal recycling business for over 20 years in various roles. He currently works for SA Recycling based in Orange, CA where he is a nonferrous metals trader who sells metal globally. In his free time he enjoys traveling, coaching his son’s baseball team and spending time with his wife and two boys.
Michael Keer
Michael Keer, Founder and Managing Partner of Product Realization Group, has over 30 years of experience in bringing high-tech electronic products from development to market. Prior to PRG, Michael held Engineering and Management positions at numerous OEM and CMs including NCR, Ericsson, SemiPower Systems and Paramit EMS, where he actively participated in scaling up over 100 new products from engineering development into volume manufacturing. Michael holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Northwestern University.