2025 AFS Young Professionals Annual Meeting
Betz Industries & Eagle AlloysOctober 21 – 22, 2025
Overview
Join the AFS Young Professionals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for an energizing and inspiring event designed to cultivate the next generation of metalcasting leaders. This multi-day experience is packed with meaningful opportunities for professional growth, peer connection, and industry insight.
What to Expect:
- Exclusive Foundry Tours at Betz Industries and Eagle Alloy, part of the Eagle Group — gain behind-the-scenes access to two of the region’s most respected facilities and see innovation in action.
- Dynamic Networking with fellow up-and-coming metalcasting professionals , all working toward personal and industry excellence.
- Engaging Keynote Presentation that speaks to leadership, vision, and the future of manufacturing.
- Celebration Dinner and Competitive Fun – On Us! Enjoy a complimentary evening meal and relax with your peers in a casual, high-energy setting while playing Fowling.
- Recognition of Excellence – We’ll proudly present the 4th annual Sinto-YP Educational Scholarship to an outstanding student.
Whether you're already in a leadership role or preparing for the next big step, this event will provide tools, insights, and relationships to support your growth and help shape the future of metalcasting.
Thank you to our hosts:
For information about sponsoring AFS Young Professionals, please contact Kim Farrugia at kfarrugia@afsinc.org or click here.
Location
- Betz Industries & Eagle Alloys
- Grand Rapids, MI
- October 21 – 22, 2025
Hotel Information
3251 Deposit Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
To book the hotel at the conference rate, please use the provided link.
Speakers
Brenda Meeker is the owner and president of Elevate Consulting, LLC, where she delivers customized solutions in learning and development, human resources, and project management to help organizations and individuals thrive.
With a diverse background spanning corporate, nonprofit, and Division I athletics environments, Meeker brings a broad perspective to her work. Her expertise includes leadership training, meeting facilitation, HR strategy, project and event management, and internal communications.
Meeker is an active member of Iowa’s professional community, contributing her time and leadership to a variety of talent development, coaching, and HR organizations, as well as local civic initiatives.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern College (St. Paul, MN) and an MBA from Drake University (Des Moines, IA). A lifelong learner and advocate for personal growth, Meeker exemplifies adaptability—a key theme of her session, Leading Through Change and Uncertainty, for the AFS Young Professionals Annual Meeting.
Conference Agenda
Pizza Buffet and Cocktails (Included in your registration fee)
Gravity Taphouse Grille
3210 Deposit Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Brenda Meeker
Owner & President
Elevate Consulting, LLC
Change is a guarantee in work and life. Some changes are exciting; some changes bring up other thoughts and feelings. Add the uncertainty that may be attached to the change, and we find ourselves feeling stressed. Understanding that change will happen and how to navigate it – personally and as a leader – can benefit you, your team, and your organization. During this session, we will explore our mindset around change, discuss a process for leading change, and practice concepts using relatable examples.
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize individuals’ responses to change
- Utilize a process to implement change
- Apply understanding of a change process and how people navigate change to better lead and support team members during times of change and uncertainty
(Included in your registration fee)
6 – 6:15 p.m.
Networking & Cocktails
6:15 – 7 p.m.
Dinner & Presentation of the 4th Sinto-Young Professionals Educational Scholarship
7 – 9 p.m.
Fowling Competitive Fun
Registration
AFS Member: $350.00
Non-AFS Member: $525.00
Buy one registration, and get one registration 50% available for AFS members. Please contact AFS Customer service at 1-800-537-4237 and Customerservice@afsinc.org.
AFS presents a variety of technical and management conferences (in both in-person and virtual formats). The refund policy for AFS conferences is as follows: 1) Substitutions are accepted at no charge at any time up until the start of the conference; 2) Full refunds are offered if AFS is notified in writing of cancellation at least 30 days in advance of the conference. No refunds or credits are available for less than 30 days written notice.
Sponsors
Gold
