Education leaders join forces with government, business and community leaders to kick off Manufacturing Week
Schenectady, NY — The past, present and future of manufacturing in Schenectady will be recognized and celebrated at a series of special events which kick off on Friday, October 2 at miSci, the Museum of Innovation and Science at 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY. The morning will begin with a 9 a.m. panel discussion entitled “Women in Manufacturing,” which will be moderated by Louise Aitcheson of the Center for Economic Growth (CEG). Following the discussion, there will be a 10 a.m. press conference to kick off Schenectady’s Manufacturing Week, October 2 – 8, 2015.
Hosted and organized by the City of Schenectady, the press conference will feature Mayor Gary R. McCarthy; U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Michael Lobsinger, interim center for director of the Center for Economic Growth. Joining these leaders will be prominent individuals from the region’s educational community including Dr. Steady Moono, president of Schenectady County Community College; Dr. Kathleen Spring, superintendent of the Mohonasen Central School District; and Lynne Wells, assistant district superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Capital Region BOCES
The education leaders will highlight the key role of the education community in building and sustaining a strong manufacturing sector. Over the last decade, manufacturers have voiced concerns about a growing “skills gap,” which has translated into a shortage of skilled workers for manufacturing jobs. Projections indicate that gap is poised grow. The Manufacturing Institute estimates that over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled. However, the shortage of skilled labor could result in approximately 2 million of these jobs going unfilled.
The leaders will discuss the educational opportunities in advanced manufacturing that will be created through the Center for Advanced Technology @ Mohonasen, a new educational facility and partnership between the Mohonasen Central School District, Capital Region BOCES and Schenectady County Community College. The building is set to open its doors in fall 2016. When completed, the approximately 42,500-square-foot facility will serve high school students from Mohonasen and BOCES, as well as college and workforce development students from SCCC, offering innovative academic programs and career training in laboratories and classrooms that mirror the industry environment.
Superintendent Kathleen Spring said: “As educators, our role is twofold: to underscore the importance of manufacturing in terms of its impact on our local economy and, more significantly for schools, to expose students to manufacturing as a viable career option for them. If we can help students and their families understand that manufacturing today looks very different than it did even a decade ago, they can see the opportunities available to them. A career in this field offers options such as significant earning potential and minimal debt in terms of college loans. When complete, the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen will play a key role in making those opportunities available for students and adults of every age and background.”
Raising awareness of manufacturing as a career path will be the focus of student participation in Manufacturing Week. Students from Mohonasen and other local school districts will have the opportunity to tour several, Schenectady-based manufacturing facilities including STS Steel, Automated Dynamics, and Tough Traveler.
Manufacturing Day events on Friday, Oct. 2 include:
9 a.m.: Women in Manufacturing panel discussion at miSci
Location: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308.
Moderated by Louise Aitcheson, director of business development at the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), panelists will discuss their own successful experiences in the manufacturing industry, unique challenges of women in this sector and prospects and opportunities for today’s young women. Participating panelists include: Eileen Guarino, president and COO of Greno Industries; Adine Viscusi, co-owner of Casa Visco, and Cecilia Tkaczyk, small business entrepreneur and owner of Cece’s Wool.
10 a.m.: Manufacturing Day Press Conference at miSci
Location: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308.
Elected officials will be joined by community, business and education leaders (listed above) for a press conference to kick off Schenectady’s Manufacturing Week.
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Mohonasen student tours of STS Steel and Automated Dynamic
Location STS Steel: 301 Nott St, Schenectady, NY 12305
Location Automated Dynamics: 407 Front St, Schenectady, NY 12305
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
- 40 Mohonasen students tour STS Steel
- 40 Mohonasen students tour Automated Dynamics
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- 40 Mohonasen students tour STS Steel
- 40 Mohonasen students tour Automated Dynamics
For more information on Schenectady Manufacturing Day events, see contacts below.
Lisa Hill, Mohonasen CSD: 356-8250, lhill@mohonasen.org
Chad Putman, Schenectady City Hall: 382-5089, cputman@schenectadyny.gov