MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, and Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) hosted the inaugural ‘Salute to Manufacturing’ event on November 19th at MVCC during the 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (November 17 – 23). Highlighting the power of talent development, the event honored companies that hosted facility tours for students during Manufacturing Month in October and the Real Life Rosies® and Advance 2 Apprenticeship™ pre-apprenticeship program graduates. MACNY member companies were also recognized for their Registered Apprenticeship Program milestones.

Michael Frame, Executive Vice President of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, stated, “As part of National Apprenticeship Week, MACNY is excited to highlight the importance of Registered Apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and career and technical education pathways in manufacturing. This inaugural event serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the exceptional individuals, companies, and partnerships that drive our regional economies and make up our communities.”

Awards and certificates of recognition were presented to the following extraordinary individuals and companies:

  • Real Life Rosies® Program Champion: Semikron Danfoss
  • Advance 2 Apprenticeship™ Program Champion: Wolfspeed
  • Unsung Hero: Shawn Bonning, Belden, Inc.
  • Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Trailblazer: Indium Corporation
  • Workforce Development Excellence: Denise Zieske, SUNY – The State University of New York
  • Manufacturing and Technology Leadership: FuzeHub
  • Legacy Awards: 110 Metalworks, Allen Tool Phoenix, Bausch + Lomb, Bartell Machinery Systems, Baxter, Belden, Berry Global, Canastota NC, Consolidated Precision Products (CPP), G.A. Braun, Giovanni Foods, Knowles Precision Devices, Opti-Pro Systems, Smurfit Westrock
  • Companies that supported students and career exploration during Manufacturing Month: Anheuser Busch, Bartell Machinery, Bluefors, Byrne (Cortlandville and Dewitt Locations), Cayuga Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Indium Corporation, Morse Manufacturing, OCWA (Lake Ontario and Syracuse Locations), TTM Technologies, United Radio, Waygate Technologies, and Worthington Steel.

Randall J. VanWagoner, President of MVCC, shared, “This event celebrates the power of partnerships and the vital role manufacturing plays in our community. At MVCC, we are proud to work alongside MACNY and our industry partners to provide pathways for individuals to achieve rewarding careers while strengthening the region’s economic foundation. The dedication of our students and the manufacturing industry converge to create opportunities that truly transform lives.”