Professional Model Makers Conference and Industry Expo

Ideas Take Flight at Professional Model Makers Convention

Join us for 4 days of model shop tours, workshops and speakers! On Saturday March 4 our Industry Expo will be free and open to the public from 4 to 7pm. Come find out what professional model making is and the materials, tools and equipment used in this diverse field.

Everything humans make starts out as an idea. When those ideas need help to become something tangible, model makers step in to help by creating physical or virtual objects from these ideas.

Model Makers working in the fields of Product Development, Architecture, TV/Film, Exhibits, Gaming, Transportation, Education and more will get training, tour facilities, meet vendors, network, and more to help advance their careers and businesses during their biennial industry conference, taking place in Dayton March 3–6, 2023 at the Dayton Convention Center.

“The Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau is thrilled to welcome the Association of Professional Model Makers to Dayton,” states Jacquelyn Y. Powell, Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO. “This prestigious conference brings attendees from around the country, as well as international visitors, to Destination Dayton, the Birthplace of Aviation & So Much More! It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to everything the region has to offer.”

The Association of Professional Model Makers (APMM) is an international organization founded in 1993 to represent and unite model makers, managers, and business owners who turn ideas into reality for their clients or coworkers.

Past conference participants have come from large corporations such as Nike, Disney, Whirlpool, Garmin, Steelcase, Bose, and Microsoft. Other participants include universities with model making programs both in the United States and United Kingdom, regional companies, independent shops, and consulting firms from around the world.

A highlight of the conference will be the Industry Expo, which will be open to the public and showcases what’s new in materials, methods, equipment, and tools for making models and prototypes. Visitors will also be welcome to speak with industry experts on how to pursue a future career in Professional Model Making. The Industry Expo takes place from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 4.

For conference participants, the four-day schedule includes visits to model making facilities and behind-the-scenes tours of museums and other sites of interest in the Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati areas. They will be able to choose from 30 workshops designed to enhance their own model-making capabilities, as well as the productivity and profitability of their workplaces. There will be a variety of opportunities to network, win prizes, and have fun. Students in model making programs are especially welcome!