Breakout Session Descriptions & Speaker Bios

From Rule to Reality: CMMC for Small and Medium Manufacturers

With the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rule in effect as of November 2025, small and medium-sized manufacturers in the defense supply chain face new cybersecurity requirements that directly impact contract eligibility. In this breakout session, George Chao, a certified CMMC practitioner, will explain how the DFARS CMMC rule applies to SMMs, highlight the most common compliance gaps, and outline practical steps manufacturers can take to protect contracts and remain competitive. Arlen Chao, CEO of Golden Altos, will share their experience implementing the standards.

Presented by George Chao, Manex with Arlen Chou, Golden Altos

Arlen Chou is the CEO of Golden Altos in Fremont. Golden Altos provides the semiconductor, military, and aerospace communities with quality service, building both single-chip and multichip modules. 

Purpose-Driven Manufacturing: Using the 7 Ps to Build Culture, Engagement, and Sustained Growth

Too many companies get stuck in the classic no man’s land—big enough to outgrow the scrappy systems that launched them but not yet stable enough to scale predictably. In this peer-led session, Bishop-Wisecarver CEO Pamela Kan shares how being Certified Evergreen and intentionally applying the 7 Ps ​(Purpose, Perseverance, People First, Private, Profit, Paced Growth, Pragmatic Innovation) alongside proven growth drivers becomes a practical operating system to rebuild culture, fuel engagement, and generate sustained, profitable growth.

Presented by Pamela Kan, Bishop-Wisecarver

Pamela A. Kan is the CEO and sole owner of Bishop-Wisecarver and a second-generation leader in industrial automation solutions and services. She is recognized for her inclusive, people-centered leadership, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and belonging in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Committed to workforce development, she has led initiatives such as Bishop-Wisecarver’s annual Manufacturing Day, which introduces local high school students to modern manufacturing and STEM careers. A respected advocate for small business and manufacturing, she serves on multiple boards and policy groups, strengthening economic opportunity across the Bay Area.

Elizabeth Esquivel is the Vice President of Government Relations at the California Manufacturers & Technology Association, where she is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of legislative and regulatory strategies that advance the organization’s objectives and priorities. Elizabeth’s career also includes extensive experience as a Capitol staffer in both the California State Assembly and Senate. In these roles, she expertly managed complex legislative agendas while playing an instrumental part in shaping policy across a diverse array of critical sectors, including labor, education, transportation, and energy. She has been recognized as a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Sacramento Business Journal and featured in Comstock’s Magazine. Elizabeth holds a degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sarah Bridges is the Policy Director for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association with a background spanning legislative policy, legal training, and private-sector leadership. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University, where she also competed on the Division I women’s golf team. Sarah went on to receive her Master of Legal Studies from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While at McGeorge, she served as an editor of the Law Review, Vice President of the Student Bar Association, and completed the Capitol Lawyering concentration. 

Growing the Next Generation of Manufacturing Talent

How can you retain and motivate your teams, especially those in entry-level roles? How can you attract candidates with transferable skills? How can you guide applicants who aren’t yet qualified so they reapply after gaining additional experience? In this interactive session, EASTBAYWorks’ Regional Manufacturing Careers Specialist Claire Michaels will provide a framework for common career paths in manufacturing, transferable skills for manufacturing, and talent pipeline development.

Presented by Claire Michaels, EASTBAYWorks

Claire Michaels is the Regional Manufacturing Careers Specialist for EASTBAYWorks, the collaboration of the four Workforce Development Boards of the East Bay. She works to build the public workforce system’s capacity to partner with the manufacturing sector and build economic opportunity through career paths to family-sustaining careers. With over 15 years of experience as a talent and career development professional, she has developed programs for the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, SFMade, and Rivet School. She graduated from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and UPenn’s Urban Studies program.

Strategies for Securing and Building Profitable Big Box Partnerships

Breaking into a big box retailer can transform your food brand—but only if you’re prepared. Hear directly from an experienced food broker who has worked with major big box stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, alongside leaders from Casa Sanchez Foods, Wisoman Foods, and Sugar Bowl Bakery. Designed for food manufacturing executives, this session will provide a candid look at what buyers expect, how to position your product for national retail success, and the operational, financial, and supply chain realities you must be ready to meet. Walk away with a clearer understanding of what it truly takes to secure placement—and succeed—on the shelves of today’s most influential big box stores.

A Panel Discussion

Joel Feldman
President & CEO
Sugar Bowl Bakery