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Tech HUB’s Additive Manufacturing: Continuing the Conversation
October 30 @ 10:00 am - 10:35 am
Building on the AM² Conference, this session explores how our region can lead in additive manufacturing and advanced materials. Led by John Provo, the panel will explore how regional collaboration is fueling the Tech Hub initiative with its lab-to-market strategy, business support, and workforce development efforts.
Panelists will highlight how AM is moving from novelty to necessity across defense, aerospace, and energy, and what it will take to operationalize at scale. They will also address adoption hurdles such as costs, workforce gaps, and qualification standards, showcasing how public-private partnerships are working to overcome them. Finally, the discussion will touch on workforce modernization and innovation commercialization, including programs like GO TEC and regional apprenticeships, as well as the need for stronger university-industry partnerships to bring R&D breakthroughs to market.
John Provo is the executive director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic & Community Engagement. Provo provides leadership for the university in the design and implementation of its economic engagement mission. A “pracademic,” he has almost 25 years of experience in higher education and government. He builds relationships between businesses, communities, and the university and leads a team that delivers applied research projects that create economic opportunities.
Provo received his Ph.D. from the School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University. He received a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999 and a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary in 1989. While in Richmond, he worked for Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade on implementation of revisions to the state’s workforce development system.
As Executive Director, Katie Boswell manages the Onward NRV team and promotes Virginia’s New River Valley as a premier destination to live, work, and do business. Originally from Blacksburg, Katie holds a B.S. in Psychology from Davidson College and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University. Katie spends her free time reading, gardening, and exploring the NRV with her family.
Francisco Gonzalez is a senior innovation executive with more than 25 years of experience transforming manufacturing through technology, strategy, and collaboration. He currently serves as Regional Growth Manager for GENEDGE, Virginia’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, where he supports the western region service area by helping manufacturers grow, innovate, and thrive in competitive markets.
Francisco’s global career includes serving as Vice President of Technology at Metalsa, a global Tier 1 supplier, where he led a $600M business unit’s innovation roadmap and international R&D teams. His leadership delivered measurable results in cost savings, sustainability, and new product launches. He has a strong background in product development, with notable achievements in the engineering of lightweight commercial vehicle structures that improved freight efficiency and reduced emissions.
In his career, Francisco has served on multiple industry committees with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He holds an M.S. in Automotive Systems Engineering (University of Michigan–Dearborn), a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Universidad de Monterrey), and a Professional Certificate in Innovation and Technology (MIT). Francisco is passionate about connecting innovation, people, and industry needs to strengthen U.S. manufacturing for the future.
Chase Cox, Ph.D., Vice President of MELD Manufacturing, has been a key contributor to advancing large-scale metal additive manufacturing (AM) through MELD technology. His work focuses on developing innovative systems and processes for forging-quality metal components, enabling applications in aerospace, space, and defense. Dr. Cox’s efforts have positioned MELD as a leader in the field, driving adoption and innovation in AM. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt.
John Rehak is the Manager of New Product Engineering at P1 Technologies, a contract manufacturer specializing in injection molding for medical and military electronic devices. With over 20 years of experience in precision tooling design and manufacturing, including stamping dies and injection molds, John combines deep technical knowledge with a focus on innovation. He led the introduction of metal additive manufacturing at P1 Technologies and has extensive experience developing tooling and manufacturing operations stateside and overseas. John is passionate about advancing modern tooling through creativity, collaboration, and emerging technology.