The Western Edge Manufacturing Summit was proudly hosted the Manufacturing & Export Enhancement Cluster (MEEC)/ EMC Canada in conjunction with our partners at Red Deer Polytechnic, whose shared commitment to strengthening Alberta’s manufacturing sector was evident throughout the event. Through their leadership, vision, and collaboration, MEEC and EMC created an important platform for manufacturers, educators, innovators, and industry partners to come together, exchange ideas,

Karen Vavrek, Manager of Research Partnerships & Student Engagement, Division of Applied Research, Red Deer Polytechnic My role is responsible for fostering strategic partnerships, supporting entrepreneurs and Small to Medium Entreprises, securing funding, and promoting student engagement across applied research projects. The majority of my professional career has been spent working in the charitable sector, with the last 20 years serving in CEO and other senior management ro