2026 MPMA Annual Meeting Speakers

Jim Meil

Principal, Industry Analysis
ACT Research

Jim Meil has been recognized as a leading industrial sector economist and planner for over 40 years. At ACT Research, he is responsible for analysis, commentary, and presentations on the North American economy, and analyzing how goods-producing sectors are contributing to the demand for capital equipment, with a particular focus on off-highway and commercial vehicles.

His projects and responsibilities at ACT Research include directing ACT’s analysis and predictions of the U.S. and global economies, collaborating with the ACT Research team on commercial vehicle and truck trailer forecasts, and special client projects and presentations. Past projects include the successful launch of ACT’s vehicle electrification multi-client studies in 2018 and 2020, which are now prominent parts of the company’s product portfolio. 

Prior to joining ACT Research, Meil spent almost 30 years in the Corporate Planning and Treasury departments of Eaton Corporation, retiring from the position of Vice President and Chief Economist in April 2014.  At Eaton, he was responsible for forecasting North American and international markets in automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway equipment, aerospace, and electrical equipment.

He has been a contributor to Blue Chip Economic Indicators and The Wall Street Journal monthly U.S. economic forecast panels at ACT and at Eaton, and is frequently quoted in national and transportation industry press.   

Meil received first-place recognition in the Wall Street Journal’s survey of 50 forecasters and has ranked among USA Today’s “Top 10 Economic Forecasters” for accuracy.

He previously served on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Business Economics, the professional trade group of business economists, and worked for Chase Econometrics and for Burroughs Corporation before joining Eaton.

He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and a Bachelor of Arts (with honors) in economics from the University of Chicago.

Cam Marston

Expert on Workplace and Marketplace Trends

Cam Marston is an author, talk show host, and top-rated keynote speaker on the trends shaping the workplace and marketplace. His original focus was on generational differences and their impact on the workplace and marketplace. Cam and his firm, Generational Insights, have provided research and consultation to hundreds of organizations, ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations, as well as to major professional associations. Cam’s books and articles describe and analyze the major generations of our time, explaining how generational workplace and marketplace preferences affect every aspect of business, including recruiting and retention, management and motivation, and sales and marketing.  

In 2018, Cam began a podcast/radio titled What’s Working with Cam Marston. Cam interviews a wide range of expert guests to learn about the trends influencing their workplace, workforce, and marketplace, and how they are successfully reacting to them. He has now broadcast over 300 episodes and released his fifth book, What Works: The Ten Best Ideas from the First 200 Episodes.

Cam also records commentaries for Alabama Public Radio called Keepin’ It Real. They’re his humorous and inspirational observations of the world around him and have won both statewide and national awards. The commentaries have been converted into short, subscription-based videos to be used as weekly training content for the workplace.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and is a native and resident of Mobile, Alabama.

Laurie Harbour

Partner, Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution

Laurie Harbour is a partner with more than 35 years of manufacturing and consulting experience. Prior to joining Wipfli, she was the co-owner of Harbour Results, Inc., and has spent her career helping clients develop strategies, improve operations, reduce risk and optimize business performance. Clients benefit from Laurie’s ability to work with leadership teams to assess the current state of their business and provide strategic and operation recommendations for improvement.

Laurie is recognized as an industry thought leader, frequently quoted in business and trade publications, and speaks at various forums on topics including leadership, cultural transformation, and manufacturing operations improvement.

Laurie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Operations Management and Human Resources from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has received multiple accolades, including Crain’s “Notable Women in Manufacturing” and Plastics News’ “Women Breaking the Mold” in 2018 and Automotive Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee in 2019.

Nash Fung

Keynote Speaker & Magician

Nash Fung is a keynote speaker & magician who devotes his time inventing new magic and crafting purposeful keynote presentations to empower his audiences. Drawing from his 27 years of experience as an innovator in the field of magic, he now unveils the curtain as a keynote speaker, sharing with his audiences the magic behind innovative thinking. His original magic was featured on several national and international television appearances (CW network, Travel Channel, Channels (UK), etc … ). His keynotes had served audiences from TEDx, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, etc … inspiring leaders to ignite their curiosity so they can create more impactful & innovative ideas.

When he is not on stage, he uses magic to teach his children Cantonese. You can often find him performing magic with his toddlers in his native language on lnstagram.

Kristine Metter

President, Crystal Lake Partners

Kristine Metter, MS, CAE, has spent nearly three decades working with associations to advance their missions while adhering to strong business practices. She is currently president of Crystal Lake Partners, a consulting firm that helps association staff and volunteers embrace foresight and elevate the volunteer experience. Her deep knowledge of strategy and operations gives her the unique ability to help associations imagine the possible and bring it to reality.

Kristine became a foresight champion while co-chairing the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) ForesightWorks advisory committee. She advocates for foresight as a leadership competency by regularly speaking at association meetings and working closely with associations to embed foresight into their governance and operations.

Prior to founding Crystal Lake Partners, Kristine held senior staff positions with America’s Essential Hospitals, the Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA), AcademyHealth, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

Ms. Metter earned her CAE in 2005 and holds a BSBA in marketing from the University of Missouri and an MS in nonprofit management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.