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According to Winton Machine Company CEO Lisa Winton, the inaugural Supplier Matchmaking Expo—hosted by the Small Business Association and the NAM—is “exactly the kind of initiative small manufacturers need right now.”

A successful event: Winton, who attended the expo earlier this month in Charlotte, North Carolina, said, “What stood out most to me is the intentional focus on strengthening U.S. supply chains by connecting large OEMs directly with small domestic manufacturers.”

• “Small manufacturers like Winton Machine Company are not just participants in the supply chain—we are critical to its strength, resilience and speed.”

The big picture: “The ability to sit down in one-on-one matchmaking sessions with major buyers from aerospace to energy to defense creates real opportunity to build partnerships that expand U.S. production capacity and bring more manufacturing back home,” she continued.

• “If we want a more resilient, competitive and innovative manufacturing base in the U.S., we need to continue investing in small, nimble manufacturers who can execute.”
• “Events like this are how we make that happen,” she emphasized.

Further praise: The SBA also noted that the response to the event was overwhelmingly positive, with one participant saying, “I think we should do the event at least once a quarter.”

• Like Winton, another participant praised the event’s format, saying, “The matchmaking structure made it easy to connect with procurement teams and better understand supplier expectations.”

The last word: “Thank you again to SBA and NAM for leading the way on this,” Winton said. “This was a great way to conclude the 2026 NAM State of Manufacturing tour.”