Over the past few months, we’ve highlighted NTMA customers across the country, from the northeast down to Florida, across the coast to Southern California, and everywhere in between. This month, we chatted with someone right in NTMA’s backyard, Valco Valley Tool & Die, Inc.’s own Sarah Wentz.
Since its founding in 1967, Valco has been a figurehead in the Cleveland manufacturing landscape—and a member of NTMA since its inception. Stay tuned for some of the main takeaways from our conversation with Sarah as we explore Valco’s multi-generational partnership with NTMA and Sarah’s experience as president of our Cleveland chapter.
From New Member to Chapter President in 10 Years’ Time
Although Sarah Wentz joined our community about a decade ago, NTMA has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. She fondly recalls traveling to Disney World and California for NTMA events with her father and uncle.
Sarah’s connection to the organization deepened as she started participating in both national conferences and local chapter meetings. She became so involved in the Cleveland chapter that she was asked to join the board and, in 2022, was selected as chapter president. Recently re-elected for her second term, Sarah is eager to continue leading this active community and seeking inspiring and exciting ways to connect and collaborate.
How NTMA Involvement Benefits Valco Valley Tool & Die
Networking Opportunities with People Who Get It
One of the biggest value adds for Sarah and the Valco team has been the countless networking opportunities they’ve leveraged from their NTMA involvement.
Sarah says, “Everyone in NTMA shares the same goals: to grow our businesses, serve our customers and employees, and make high-quality American products.” Collaborating with a network of professionals with a shared mission offers our members a space to compare challenges, exchange ideas, and gain new perspectives.
Additionally, under Sarah’s leadership, the Cleveland chapter is thriving! Monthly and bimonthly get-togethers have made this active chapter a booming community. Trivia nights, axe throwing, and Top Golf are the perfect environment for business conversations and network building!
Advocacy and Industry Insights
To Sarah, having someone in Washington with a finger on the pulse is invaluable. NTMA’s advocacy expert, Omar Nashashibi of Inside Beltway, provides a bipartisan voice of reason, shedding light on what’s going on in our nation’s capitol and how it impacts our industry. In his discussions both at national conferences and Cleveland chapter meetings, Omar keeps members informed on policies that directly affect their businesses—including those that don’t make the news, like updates on R&D tax credits and OSHA’s heat guidelines.
In addition to hearing from Omar, Sarah’s local chapter is fortunate to host Cleveland native Nick Raich, CEO of The Earnings Scout, and a renowned economist who has appeared on MSNBC and CNN.
This advocacy is about more than keeping members informed—it’s about giving manufacturing professionals a voice in shaping the policies that affect their industry.
Events and Conferences
Sarah certainly gets a lot out of Cleveland chapter events, but we would be remiss to overlook the impact of national NTMA events on her NTMA journey. She’s attended ENGAGE and Emerging Leaders conferences for several years, gaining insights from industry leaders and forging meaningful connections. Networking with manufacturers across the country can broaden perspectives, and while different states have different rules and regulations, Sarah is fascinated to learn where they overlap and where they differ.
Sarah’s Message for Current and Future Members
When asked what advice Sarah has for both current and potential NTMA members, she kept it short but sweet.
- For current members: “You get out of it what you want to put into it,” she explains. Members leverage NTMA for countless reasons: tooling discounts, networking opportunities, actionable insights… or all of the above. And while some may run the gamut, taking full advantage of everything NTMA has to offer, others gain immense value when using resources more selectively. There’s no “right” way or “wrong” way to gain value from your membership; it’s all about what works best for you and your company.
- For potential members: Sarah encourages hesitant companies to give NTMA a shot. She advises, “See if it benefits you. If it doesn’t, that’s okay—it’s not a lifetime commitment.” You won’t know the actual value unless you try, right?
Eager to learn more about what NTMA can do for you? Take Sarah’s advice and join NTMA to reap the benefits!