Jeannine Kunz

Jeannine Kunz is the chief workforce development officer at SME, including the leadership responsibility for Tooling U-SME, the learning and development arm of SME, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the manufacturing industry. There, she leads a team dedicated to the ongoing education and training of the workforce. A recognized expert in the field of learning and development, Kunz is at the forefront of workforce management issues, providing forward-thinking learning and development solutions for companies, academia and individuals. She is deeply knowledgeable about the challenges facing the manufacturing workforce and provides guidance on best practices for designing, developing and implementing performance-based development strategies in today's advanced manufacturing environments. Her work directly addresses industry dynamics related to people's knowledge and skills in manufacturing. Under Kunz's direction, Tooling U-SME is an innovative pioneer in 21st-century learning, from online classes and virtual reality labs to traditional instructor-led training. Additionally, the organization has developed and implemented competency-based occupational apprenticeship programs, several of which have been endorsed by the Department of Labor and is a nationally recognized certifying body in manufacturing for over 50 years. Under Kunz’s leadership, Tooling U-SME launched the first-ever aerospace engineering apprenticeship, and partnered with the Robert C. Byrd Institute, America Makes, the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers and AST2 to co-develop the first industry-vetted and U.S. Department of Labor approved framework for a new 3D-printing technician apprenticeship. Kunz served on the executive committee of America Makes and is a board member for the National Coalition of Career Development, chair for the National Defense Industrial Association’s Manufacturing Workforce Committee and sits on the Manufacturing USA’s Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing’s Education & Workforce Advisory Committee. She is also a founding member of the Skilled Trades Coalition, a consortium of over 20 leaders from associations that collaborate to improve awareness and perceptions of skilled trades. In 2020, Kunz joined the industry advisory committee for Clemson University’s THINKER graduate program funded by the National Science Foundation, and in 2022, she was newly appointed as board member for the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group. “Crain's Detroit Business” recognized Kunz’s work when the publication selected her as one of its 2018 Notable Women in Manufacturing – in Michigan as well as one of its 2019 Notable Women in Education. A keen industry observer and insider, Kunz is frequently asked to provide insights and perspectives on manufacturing and learning and development at conferences, events and caucuses across the country. She serves on several industry advisory boards and offers her expertise on the manufacturing sector as a regular contributor, appearing over the years in CNBC news, IndustryWeek, Training Magazine, "Chicago Tribune," NPR Marketplace, The Fabricator and many other media outlets. She has testified before a Congressional House Subcommittee on manufacturing workforce and apprenticeship and most recently testified for a House Committee focused on the critical supply chain for the Department of Defense. Kunz earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing with a concentration in economics from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She has served on EMU's Alumni Board and the Pittsburgh State University College of Technology Board of Directors.SME Member Since 2008.