Please Note: The 2nd Annual Manufacturers Only Workforce Summit has been postponed to Friday, October 16th.
Senior executives in manufacturing are invited to come together to find new and innovative ways to build their talent pipelines.
The Manufacturers Only Workforce Summit, presented by the Connecticut Manufacturers Resource Group (CTmrg), is the state’s only workforce-building event focused solely on manufacturing. This year’s second annual Summit will be held on Friday, May 8, at the UConn TIP Building in Farmington, Connecticut.
This half-day session will run from 7:30am until 12:30pm, and it will give senior executives in the manufacturing industry the opportunity to network with thought leaders and resource providers who can offer solutions to some of the sector’s unique and pressing workforce challenges. The event is designed to bring together best practices from around the state, with presentations and panel discussions featuring manufacturers who have had success with recruiting and retaining a dedicated workforce in this highly competitive market. Serving as the program’s emcee will be Ron Angelo, President and CEO of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) and former Deputy Commissioner of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
Mary Fitzgerald, President of Acme Wire Products in Mystic, said she got a lot business value from attending the event in 2019. “I was able to get some information about NETAAC program grants, which can be a great assistance to our company,” she said. “The face-to-face discussions with the sponsors and the presenters were very informative, and the topics were of importance to many in the room.”
“We came up with the idea for the Manufacturers Only Workforce Summit because it’s a challenge we hear about over and over—manufacturers in our state trying to attract and retain good employees,” said Beth Devine, head of CTmrg and presenter of the Summit. “We wanted to get as many resources as we could in one room to help them, including some that they might not have heard about. Last year was fantastic, and we’re looking forward to an even bigger Summit this year.”
Given the importance of maximizing all viable channels for finding good workers, the Summit will feature an exploration of the “alternate workforce.” This population includes workers who are developmentally disabled, ex-offenders who have completed workforce training and displaced workers. Michael Kijak, Director of Operational Excellence & Legrand Way with Legrand North and Central America, will be on hand to talk about the success Legrand has experienced with programs like these. “Our company doesn’t just see this as a way to support disadvantaged communities,” he said. “It certainly is that, but it’s a lot more. The workers we’ve hired through alternative channels like these have become an integral part of Legrand’s success.”
The Manufacturers Only Workforce Summit is exclusively for founders, presidents, and/or CEOs of manufacturing companies in Connecticut, along with their senior HR executives. Attendance is by invitation only, and you can request a registration code by emailing Beth Devine at beth@ctmrg.com or calling (860) 432-9977.
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Because this event is exclusively for manufacturing executives, it will not be possible to accommodate walk-ins.
The full agenda, along with panelists and keynote speakers, will be announced shortly. For more information please check out the Workforce Summit 2020 page on our website.