American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Recognizes Connecticut Companies, Local Student
October 10, 2017
For immediate release
Contact: Matt Fischer 203-332-8531
On Thursday October 5, over 250 people with ties to Connecticut Manufacturing gathered at the Marriott Ballroom in Trumbull to honor five local companies and a Housatonic Community College student into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
“The dark days of old factories are over,” Said emcee and CEO of The Workplace, Joseph (Joe) Carbone. “These are high-tech, clean and smart jobs. No one should overlook manufacturing right now.”
Carbone, hosting the event for the fourth time, says compared to other industries, there is now “an abundance” of local manufacturing jobs. “People are hired at a rate of pay headed for the middle class with benefits. You can’t do better.” Carbone said.
As a sponsor of the event, The Workplace has paid for over a hundred local students within the past three years to attend The Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center (AMTC) at Housatonic Community College. Carbone says that through the AMTC program, there is currently a “100%” rate of hire upon completion.
This year’s Alumni speaker and HCC student, Jenny Tovar-Peralta, is proof of the program’s success.
“It changed my entire life,” Tovar-Peralta said of the AMTC, “I was scared at first because English is my second language, but my classmates and instructors were very supportive and wanted to see me succeed.”
Tovar-Peralta, who now works for the Monroe, CT-based company Northeast Laser Engraving, brought the crowd to their feet in a speech that celebrated the AMTC and opportunities for students. “I thought the manufacturing industry could use a few women,” said Tovar-Peralta. “I was the first of my family to attend college and recently bought my own house. You really can do anything you put your mind to.”
Thursday’s event honored Better Packages, Inc., MacDermid Performance Solutions, R.C. Bigelow, Inc., Stanley Black & Decker, and Ulbrich Stainless Steel and Specialty Metals as having met the criteria for exhibiting leadership, a strong commitment to the community, and having a base of ten years in business.
Founded in 2012, the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame is run by local volunteers dedicated to championing both Bridgeport manufacturing history and Housatonic’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. The Hall of Fame serves to promote positive awareness for advanced manufacturing and to raise funds for educating manufacturing students in association with Housatonic’s AMTC.
