| PROGRAM
STA SUMMER MARKETING FORUM Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Textile Technology Center at Gaston College, Belmont, NC “POWERING PROGRESS: Strategy, Sustainability & Strength in American Textiles”
8:00 AM Registration & Coffee
8:30 AM Welcome Nathan Fisher, STA President, Nava Technologies USA
Program Introduction/Overview by Moderator Jim Booterbaugh, Chief Executive Officer National Spinning Company / Carolina Nonwovens & STA Past President
8:40 AM “On the Economic, Business & Political Climate” Roger Tutterow Ph.D., Professor of Economics & Director, Econometric Center Kennesaw State University 9:15 AM A CONVERSATION IN CIRCULARITY: “Sustainable Solutions in the Textile Industry" Chad Bolick, Vice President, Brand Sales, Unifi Manufacturing, Inc. and Craig Lindemann, Technical Specialist, Product Innovation, Reju 10:00 AM Networking Break 10:15 AM PANEL: “Selling to the Military: Navigating the Berry Amendment and Innovating in the Textile Sector” Moderator: Tina Rogers, Market Manager, Synthetic Fibers, TechmerPM PANELISTS: Nichole Holroyd, COO & Co-founder Spiritus Systems Company, Inc. and Geoff Senko, Senior Vice President of Sales, Ocean State Innovations and Tommy Young, Business Development Director for Government & Defense, Milliken & Company
11:00 AM "Textiles2Go – Your Gateway to accessible, AI-powered Learning in Textiles and Beyond” Dr. Andre West, Direct of Zeis Textile Extension for Economic Development NC State Wilson College of Textiles 11:20 AM Networking Break
11:35 AM PANEL: "The State of American Textiles: A Leadership Roundtable" Moderator: Cheryl Smyre, Vice President, Parkdale Advanced Materials + CiCLO® PANELISTS: James McKinnon, CEO, Cotswold Industries & Central Textiles and Bill Rogers, President & COO, Mount Vernon Mills and Ron Sytz, President & Owner, Beverly Knits Companies 12:35 PM Lunch
1 PM Tour of the Textile Technology Center and the Fiber Innovation Center (optional) |
