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CEO Corner

VMEC Board Member Elections VMEC has announced the results of its December 8, 2020 annual election of VMEC Advisory Board members. Newly elected to the VMEC Advisory Board for two-year terms were Dr. Christopher Koliba, University of Vermont President’s Fellow for Engagement & Professor of Community Development & Applied Economics (Burlington) and David Lynn, Senior Vice President & Top Operations Officer, Agri-Mark/ Cabot Creamery, Inc. (Waitsfield). We would also like to recognize and thank outgoing advisory board member, Ed Townley, President and CEO, Agri-Mark/ Cabot Creamery, Inc., who voluntarily stepped off the Board due to his recent retirement. Click here to read the full press release.

Damon Devani joins VMEC staff as Technology & IT Systems Advisor We are pleased to announce the addition of Damon Devani to our team as Technology & IT Systems Advisor. Starting shortly after the New Year, Damon came to us from a sister MEP National Network Center™, Impact Washington, where he was a data and technology specialist focusing on big data, project management, and information technologies procedures and health. Read his complete bio here.

Gearing Up: MEP Center Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic The Center for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced a new report, Gearing Up: MEP Center Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic, documenting the wide range of support the MEP program is delivering to U.S. manufacturers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report details how, despite the pandemic’s profound impacts on manufacturing, MEP Centers are helping manufacturers safely operate and meet the nation’s critical needs for personal protective equipment (PPE).
You can read the full press release here and visit the CURS website to learn more.

Innovation, Growth and Technology Acceleration

Partnerships Create Rapid Innovation During COVID-19 Crisis Like their counterparts around the country, Vermont manufacturers found themselves facing a long list of challenges as Coronavirus-related shutdowns pushed clients and suppliers into dramatically different new modes of operation last year. Many turned to new product and service offerings, leveraging their capabilities in creative ways to offset the many and varied challenges that presented themselves, not to mention capture sales. Read the complete blog post here.

Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement

Small Technical Assistance Grants Yield Big Impacts VMEC had the opportunity to work with 5 VT-based businesses who took advantage of the Restart Vermont Technical Assistance Program (ReVTA). Read here how these small manufacturers were able to receive valuable assistance as a result of 2020 CARES Act funding, smart decisions by Vermont leaders and collaborative partners who worked quickly and together across the state.

Supplier Scouting requests posted on Manufacturing Exchange - Vermont Hosted by VMEC, MXVT.org allows organizations to register and join the Classified forum to view requests for manufacturers that can produce items such as magnetic broadheads, conduit cutting tools, exercise mats, board games and more.  

Workforce Strategies and Talent Development

Upcoming Training See what we're offering you and your employees - there is something for everyone! Improving Ventilation/ Minimizing COVID transmission forum, Root Cause Analysis, Process Improvement and Quality Fundamentals course (as well as a complimentary Introductory webinar for those curious but unsure if this course is for them) and our new Lean 101 training with SEW BIZ™ simulation!

Don't see what you're looking for on our schedule? Contact Robynn Albert, VMEC Marketing and Training Manager ([email protected] or (802) 793-2078), to see how we can help you and your team in your company's training needs. 

Too Often Overlooked, Talent Is an Important Piece of Digital Transformation Manufacturing leaders need to be thinking about how they can most effectively build and engage an employee base that is ready to tackle the digital transformations of today and tomorrow. Read here how to alleviate concerns, create opportunities, approach leadership differently and share a greater purpose.

Vermont Manufacturing Collaborative (VT-MC) at Vermont Tech is hiring!
VT-MC is seeking to fill two key leadership positions Executive Director and Applications Engineer / Lab Manager (not yet posted, check back soon at this link). If you think you meet the requirements, apply to be part of manufacturing's future in an exciting higher education, industry, federal, state and VMEC collaboration that's forming to accelerate the growth of technology-enabled advanced manufacturing in Vermont.
Cybersecurity 

Are Manufacturers an Easy Ransomware Target?  Today's hackers recognize the growing value associated with attacking industrial organizations. Read here how those environments are more common ransomware targets than any other sector.


Resources for VT Manufacturers

Vermont Manufacturing Data Dashboard Launches on VMEC website A new Vermont Manufacturing Data Dashboard is now available on our website at this link. This very informative dashboard was created to primarily provide a snapshot with independent and objective data on how the state's manufacturing sector is performing; it also includes some trend data and general economic data for Vermont. Created and maintained through an agreement involving VMEC's federal partner, NIST MEP, and two national non-profits, the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) and The State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), the dashboard will be automatically updated by CREC on a regular basis.  An additional, similar U. S. Manufacturing Data Dashboard that includes State-by-State and Puerto Rico data, is also available at this link. These valuable tools allow easy access to both Vermont and individual U.S. States and Puerto Rico's Manufacturing and Economic Data & Trends that can be used for comparative analysis.  

Partner Events Check out what a few of our partner agencies have to offer for you and your staff! 

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Open! 
Check out these 
Valuable VMEC Resources! 
Connecting people, companies & suppliers to solve problems, promote learning and best practices, and accelerate business opportunities, transactions and growth 
Post Needs and Find Opportunities
Contact us at (802) 728-1432, 
[email protected] or connect with your
VMEC Business Advisor at this link. 

Vermont's Trusted Advisor 
and Go-To Resource for Manufacturing