IALR hires new manufacturing advancement exec

Jason Wells will join the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research as executive vice president of manufacturing advancement on June 3, according to a release from the Danville-based economic development organization.

Wells, who has nearly three decades of experience in high-performance manufacturing, replaces Todd Yeatts, a former senior manager for government operations for The Boeing Co., who left the job in August.

Wells hails from Kyocera SGS Tech Hub, a manufacturing and research hub in Danville that’s part of the cutting tool division of Kyocera, where he was president. Previous to that, Wells worked at Illinois-based YG-1 America, a global cutting tools manufacturer, as director of U.S. Tech Center Operations and for SGS Tool, which Kyocera purchased in 2016, as global product manager and director of product development and marketing.

In addition to being the primary inventor on six product patents recognized in several countries, Wells serves on several boards, including the advisory board of Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC), a vocational education initiative that introduces middle school students to fields like precision machining, welding and IT coding and networking.

In his new role, Wells will oversee the operation and strategic direction of the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, which helps manufacturers introduce new and emerging technology into their operations and provides other services to industry leaders. Additionally, the CMA is also home to the Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, which is used to accelerate and scale additive manufacturing parts and qualification processes.

Wells’ responsibilities will also include overseeing additional training programs, such as the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program, a Navy and Department of Defense initiative designed to train individuals for skilled trades like welding, CNC machining, quality control inspection, nondestructive testing and additive manufacturing. In 2025, the program is expected to reach full capacity and will graduate between 800 to 1,000 individuals annually.

“As the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research continues to expand into a leading hub for high-value, high-tech companies and growing, targeted industries like advanced manufacturing, placing globally-minded and accomplished leadership at the helm is critical,” said Telly Tucker, IALR’s president, in a statement. “I am excited to welcome Jason Wells to IALR and have full confidence that his comprehensive industry expertise and proven commitment to the community will position us well to serve the manufacturing optimization, technology and workforce training needs of advanced manufacturers.”