SSMC 2026 Conference Schedule
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | July 6–9, 2026
Monday – July 6
Arrival & Welcome
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Welcome Mixer - Bonderson Student Projects Center 197-107 - Park in H2a Parking Lot - Use ParkMobile or PayByPhone apps for this lot.
Tuesday – July 7
Safety & Professional Practice
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Registration - E & J Gallo Building, Swanson Center of Effort Events Center - H1 Parking Lot
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Chemical Risk Assessment & Hierarchy of Controls - Roxane Strobel, Cal Poly EHS
Understanding Chemical Hazards and the systems in which to control their risks
10:15 – 10:45 AM
Using Risk and Safety Solutions (RSS) to Enhance Machine Shop Safety and Compliance - Melonee Cruse, Cal Poly EHS
10:45 – 11:00 AM
Break & Industry Networking
11:00 – 11:30 AM
Safety Training in Machining Lab Environments - Trian Georgeou, Cal Poly Industrial & Manufacturing Dept
11:30 – 11:45 AM
Board position descriptions and Wed Facility Tour intro
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Lunch & Industry Networking
12:45 – 2:00 PM
Keynote: Safety Isn’t Rules, It’s Culture
Alex McNamara, Built Pretty, Inc
2:10 PM
Depart for Hearst Castle
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Hearst Castle Tour
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Santa Maria BBQ Banquet at Swanson Center of Effort Events Center! (same place as the conference)
Wednesday – July 8
Training, People & Practice
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Registration - E & J Gallo Building, Swanson Center of Effort Events Center - H1 Parking Lot
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Training the Trainers - Eric Pulse Cal Poly, Moderator
Cal Poly Student Shop Techs Panel
9:45 – 10:30 AM
Crafting Accessibility: Making Space for Everyone - Inclusive Woodshops and Makerspaces - Heather Durand, NC State
10:30 – 10:45 AM
Break & Industry Networking
10:45 – 11:05 AM
Board Candidate Introductions & Voting Opens
11:05 – 11:45 AM
Training at Scale: Managing Large Cohorts Across Multiple Years - David Kempken, Cal Poly Architecture
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Industry Spotlight - Autodesk
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch, Posters & Industry Networking
1:00 – 1:30 PM
GROUP PICTURE, Facility Tours: Orientation & Group Departures
1:30 – 4:30 PM
Facility Tours
4:30 – 5:00 PM
Tour Return & Informal Networking
Thursday – July 9
Systems, Strategy & the Future
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Registration - E & J Gallo Building, Swanson Center of Effort Events Center - H1 Parking Lot
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Computerized Maintenance Management System Using Limble - Dennis Tapella, Washington University, St Louis
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Fab Nights: Learn it, Make it, Keep it…In 3 hours or Less - Jacob Misch, UNC Asheville
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Tools in Practice: Industry Solutions for Academic Shops - Trak Machine Tools - 15 minutes, Direct Industry Time 15 minutes
10:30 – 10:45 AM
Break & Industry Networking
10:45 – 11:05 AM
New Board Member Announcements
11:05 – 11:20 AM
SSMC Website Launch
11:20 – 11:50 AM
Making Makerspace Value Visible: Journey Mapping as an Advocacy Tool - Matthew Briggs, University of Arizona
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM
Lunch & Learn Committee Update
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 1:45 PM
Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Closing Discussion: The Future of Academic Shops & SSMC