Luncheon Discussion on American Shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base (Austin)

Please join BENS members and guests for a luncheon discussion on the current state of U.S. shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base. Matt Prochaska, President of BlueForge Alliance Foundation, will examine the major challenges confronting the sector, including aging infrastructure, workforce gaps, and fragile supply chains and what these mean for national security and readiness. He will also share insights into how organizations like BlueForge Alliance are helping to address these issues through strategic partnerships and capacity-building efforts across the country.

Speaker Background:
Matt Prochaska joined BlueForge Alliance in January 2023, as the Chief Development Officer, following his tenure as President and CEO of the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation for six years. He currently serves as the President of the BlueForge Alliance Foundation. Having a wealth of experience spanning over three decades, Matt has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership in both economic development and manufacturing. His extensive experience at the c-suite level in diverse private and public enterprises within the manufacturing sector has been complemented by his active involvement in economic development initiatives at local, state, and national levels. Matt is a passionate advocate for re-shoring initiatives aimed at bolstering the US manufacturing industrial base. His academic background includes a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Texas A&M University, supplemented by a master’s in Economic Development from the University of Oklahoma.