Textiles and Tactical Equipment Quarterly Industry Forum

Join the North Carolina Military Business Center for our quarterly industry-related forums that spotlight key federal opportunities and strengthen connections across North Carolina’s federal and defense contracting ecosystem. Each industry-specific quarterly session will connect businesses, government agencies, and prime contractors to discuss:

• Upcoming contracting opportunities and capability gaps
• Market and policy trends shaping the industry
• Success stories and lessons learned from peers
• Strategies for growth in the federal marketplace

These forums are part of our year-round commitment to industry engagement, building momentum towards major annual industry events like FEDTEX, DISC, MBB, FTS and the Summit ensuring that businesses stay connected and competitive in a rapidly evolving federal and defense landscape.

When. February 18, 2026 from 0900-1000

Where. This forum will be held in a virtual setting.

Agenda:

• NCMBC updates and industry insights
• Highlights of upcoming opportunities and capability gaps
• Featured Presentation: Emily Madden, US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center. Emily Madden brings seven years of frontline experience designing, evaluating, and modernizing military clothing systems across the Department of Defense. Her work spans both the U.S. Army CCDC Soldier Center and Marine Corps Systems Command—supporting dress, combat, and individual equipment systems with a deep focus on fit, form, and function. In this session, Emily will highlight the Army’s Soldier Clothing & Individual Equipment portfolio and the Joint Clothing Textile Modernization Initiative (JCTMI), offering an inside look at how the DoD is transforming one of its most fundamental commodity areas: clothing and textiles. Emily leads the digital modernization effort for DoD C&T programs, driving a shift from traditional development methods to a fully integrated digital engineering ecosystem. She and her team advance workforce development, create modernized processes, and deploy digital tools including PLM systems, 3D visualization, and size-optimization technologies. Attendees will gain insight into how these efforts are improving speed, accuracy, supply chain responsiveness, and overall system performance to better equip today’s and tomorrow’s warfighter.
• Business Spotlight: Will Cromer is a Senior Sales Executive at MMI Textiles with more 15 years of experience in the textile industry. His background spans raw material procurement, manufacturing, and sales, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the full supply chain. At MMI, Will specializes in supporting prime contractors, AbilityOne agencies, and a broad network of tactical and commercial customers. As the Chair of the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) Military Division, he plays a key leadership role in strengthening the defense textile community. Will is also an ardent supporter of U.S. textile industry advocacy efforts, including lobbying initiatives that reinforce and protect the Berry Amendment. Known for his deep industry knowledge and relationship-driven approach, he loves supporting his customers with high-performance.
  MMI Textiles is a key supplier of military-grade fabrics, webbing, binding tape, hardware, and hook & loop used across Department of Defense programs and the tactical industry. Much of their product line is Berry Amendment compliant, including solution-dyed Cordura® nylons, Mil-Spec webbings, and elastic used in body armor carriers, load-bearing gear, belts, rucks, and uniforms. These materials are engineered for durability in demanding environments and are stocked in core military colors to support fast turnaround for defense contractors. Their Lenoir, North Carolina manufacturing facility, opened in 2021, is dedicated to weaving Mil-Spec webbing and elastic. Bringing this production in-house strengthens domestic supply capacity, improves lead times, and ensures consistent U.S.-made quality for military procurement. The Lenoir plant has become a core part of MMI’s commitment to supporting defense and government customers with reliable, American-manufactured textile components.
• Open Q&A and networking

Save the date for the 2026 Textiles and Tactical Equipment Quarterly Forums: August 19, 2026 and December 2, 2026

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