The Manufacturing Council of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, chaired by Rich Dupont of Resource Development Associates, will host their second annual STEM/Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Expo on Thursday, November 15, to promote job opportunities in these industries to Waterbury area high school and college students, Connecticut’s future workforce. The Expo will include two timely seminars for manufacturers, and will be held at the CoCo Key Water Resort, Hotel & Convention Center at 3580 East Main Street in Waterbury from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
“This second annual Expo,” explained Lynn Ward, president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, “will feature distinctive and rewarding exhibition opportunities, as well as two afternoon workshops designed for manufacturers to attend. With support from the Waterbury Board of Education and Granville Academy here in Waterbury, more than 750 middle and high school students will visit the Expo to learn about job and career opportunities from local area leaders in the manufacturing and technology arenas. Participating firms will be able to speak directly with students while promoting the manufacturing and technology industries by informing other area businesses about their products or services.”
Students will visit the Expo from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. During that time, they will learn about the multitude of opportunities available to them in the future of the manufacturing and technology industries through interactive games and presentations presented by Expo exhibitors. “The overriding ambition of this Expo,” explained Richard Dupont of Resource Development Associates, LLC, and Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Manufacturing Council Chairman, “is to help overcome the misnomer that manufacturing is not a thriving industry at this time. In actuality, manufacturing is a major contributor to Connecticut’s workforce and for every manufacturing job, 3.5 service sector jobs are also created. We inaugurated this Expo in 2011, and the response was exceptional from exhibitors, area technical schools and the students.”
At 3 p.m., after the students have exited the Expo, Gary B. O’Connor, Esq., partner with the law firm of Pullman & Comley, LLC will present, “A Manufacturers Guide to Environmental Compliance and Planning”. Attorney O’Connor will outline basic regulatory requirements and best management practices. He explained, “This workshop will serve as a basic starting point for understanding the impact of environmental regulation on small businesses and manufacturers. The presentation will indentify pitfalls manufacturers should avoid in order to stay outside the scope of certain onerous environmental laws. It will also identify creative approaches to hazardous waste management that can save time and money and preserve assets in the event of a sale or transfer of a business.”
At 4 p.m., Anthony Bianco, Senior Account Executive of C&I Comverge New England, will provide a workshop for Expo exhibitors. Through his program, “The Demand Response Program/Past, Present and Future”, Bianco will provide detailed insights into how this program has evolved with ISO New England and how manufacturers can benefit from participation.
Manufacturing members of the Waterbury Regional Chamber and Smaller Manufacturers of Connecticut are encouraged to participate. Top event sponsors are the Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, Small Business Development Center, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, C &I Comverge New England, Hubbard Hall and Resource Development Associates.
Open to the general public, admission into the 2012 Manufacturing and Technology Expo from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. is free. Exhibitors and members are invited to workshop presentations at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The event will conclude with the Chamber’s monthly Out for Business networking reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This presents opportunity for manufacturers to connect with one another, meet new contacts, stay up-to-date on the industry’s growth, as well as network with other Chamber members in many different industries. It is not too late to reserve exhibitor space and special pricing is available for Chamber and SMA members. To learn more about the Expo, including registration information, visit www.waterburychamber.com or call Courtney Ligi or John DiCarlo at (203) 757-0701.