Manufacturing takes center stage at upcoming Greenville Drive game

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Baseball will share the spotlight with the advanced manufacturing and engineering industries at an upcoming Greenville Drive game.

The Greenville Drive, BMW, Michelin North America Inc., Greenville County Schools, GE and Greenville Technical College will host Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Night at Fluor Field on Tuesday, July 18.

The goal is to build awareness and “ignite the passion” with students, parents, and guidance counselors across the Upstate about the exciting career opportunities that are available in the rapidly changing world of advanced manufacturing and engineering, according to a news release.

For the second straight year, AM&E Night will feature a panel discussion held on Fluor Field’s District 356 entertainment space about the best way for today’s students to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing and technology, the release stated. The panel is comprised of leaders from across the Upstate including Scott Medley (HR manager, BMW Manufacturing), Chingwei Shieh (executive leader, data science & automation, GE Gas Power), Katie Porter (director, Innovation Center, Greenville County Schools), Keith Miller (president, Greenville Technical College), and Carlton King (site manager, Michelin Starr facility). The panel discussion will be moderated by Alex Estevez (Venture Partner, Accel Partners).

“Our goal with Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Night is to change the image of advanced manufacturing in our community,” said Craig Brown, Greenville Drive owner & chairman, in the release. “It wasn’t always such an appealing career option for kids to consider but it’s amazing to see that dynamic evolve with each passing year. AM&E Night is the most talked about event we host every year at Fluor Field because it’s a topic that’s talked about most in our community and it’s so relevant to what manufacturers need in terms of workforce."

Students and all event attendees will be able to attend the panel discussion and visit interactive, hands-on exhibits on the stadium concourse from the region’s largest companies demonstrating the creative application of technology to the manufacturing process, the release stated. Exhibits will include augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D animation and printing, and much more. As students visit each exhibit, they will be enrolled in the “Young Innovators Club” giving them the opportunity to win prizes.

In addition, for the first time, AM&E Night this year will feature representatives from the Boston Red Sox talking about how data and technology is transforming professional baseball and the player development process, according to the release.

All K-12 students can attend AM&E Night on a fully complimentary basis. Tickets for adults start at $9. 

Attendees are encouraged to attend the pregame activities on District 356 beginning at 5:30 p.m. District 356 will come alive with music, entertainment, light food and beverages and the panel discussion beginning at 6 p.m. Ballpark gates and all concourse exhibits also begin at 6 p.m. with first pitch of the Drive game against the Asheville Tourists scheduled for 7 p.m.

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