“2025 SYFA SpringConference Agenda”
Thursday, April 10, 2025
11:30-1:00 Registration and Complimentary Lunch Buffet
1:00 – 1:10 “Opening Remarks” – SYFA President, Meredith Boyd – Unifi, Inc.
1:10 – 2:00 Kim Glas – NCTO – Trade Update
2:00 – 2:50 Shannan Billings – S & P Global – State of the World in Petrochemical
2:50 – 3:10 Break
3:10 – 4:00 Matthew Martin – Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond – “Economic Outlook: On Track so Far, but with Heightened Uncertainty”
4:00 – 4:50 Chip Hartzog/Michael Ruebenhagen – Oerlikon – Staple Fiber Market & EVO Stream: Largest Staple Innovation in Decades
4:50 – 5:00 “Closing Remarks” – SYFA President, Meredith Boyd
5:00 – 7:00 Networking Reception – Drinks and Heavy Hors d’ Oeuvres – sponsored by Premiere Fibers
Friday, April 11, 2025
7:30 – 8:30 Registration and Complimentary Breakfast Buffet
8:30 – 8:40 Welcome by SYFA President, Meredith Boyd – Unifi, Inc
8:40 – 9:20 Dr. Andre’ West – Zeis Textile Extension – Wilson College of Textiles – The NC Textile Engine: “Advancing our Nation’s Capacity for Textile Sustainability and Innovation”
9:20 – 10:00 Stephanie Rodgers – Textile Made, Inc. – Functional Fabrics, Space Age – TMI+NASA
10:00 – 10:20 Break
10:20 – 11:00 Matthew Kolmes – VOLT Smart Yarns, Supreme Corporation – Wearable Tech: How Machine Learning and Smart Yarns got us a NASA Contract in 2024
11:00 – 11:40 Alasdair Carmichael – NAPCOR – RPET into Fibers and Textile Recycling Opportunities
11:40 – 12:00 Closing Remarks – SYFA President, Meredith Boyd