Save the Date!
FIA Southern Meeting of Members
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Malone's Prime Events & Receptions
3373 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY 40502
*This is an FIA Member only event.
During this presentation, Cara Walton will unravel the economy and its impact on manufacturing by coupling the macroeconomic data with benchmarking data specific to privately held manufacturers across process types like metal forming, plastics processing, die casting and tool building with a special focus on forgers. She will review the 2024 Harbour IQ powered by Wipfli Manufacturing Benchmarking Results including industry pulse, operations, financial, human resources and sales and forecasting as well as the benefits of utilizing benchmarking data. Cara will close out the presentation focusing on what key factors leadership teams should be watching to better manage their short and long-term strategies.
About the Presenter: Cara Walton

As a director at Wipfli, Walton is responsible for Harbour IQ - a manufacturing intelligence tool. She drives the strategic direction and growth of the product offering as well as managing data acquisition and market intelligence within the manufacturing industry. Harbour IQ collects and analyzes millions of data points from thousands of companies on business and operation performance. It is the leading manufacturing benchmarking resource with more than eight years of trended data and conducts custom market studies for businesses across all durable goods industries.
Additionally, Walton studies economic, business, trade and tariff trends impacting the manufacturing industry and consults with clients on what key factors they should be monitoring and how to use the data and information to develop or modify business strategies.
As a thought leader in economics and manufacturing, Walton is frequently called upon to present in person and via webinars to help manufacturers better understand the marketplace as well as share the data and information collected through Harbour IQ.
Registration for this event will open soon. Click here to preview the agenda.