CELEBRATING OUR ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY
Dead Reader
HAROLD KING
President
Council of Industry
Welcome to the Fall 2020 Edition of HV Mfg, the magazine about, by and for Hudson Valley manufacturers as well as the community of people and organizations who support them. With this edition we return to both digital and print after having to shelve the print version of the Spring Edition due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the ensuing shut down. In doing so we take one more step toward a return to the familiar while at the same time embracing what is rapidly becoming a “new normal.”
In this edition we look at both the familiar and that new normal as we feature profiles and stories that highlight the great people, products and companies that are a part of the manufacturing sector in the region, while also looking at how they managed and continue to manage – a COVID-19 world.
Our cover pays tribute to the essential manufacturing worker. The men and women of our sector who design and produce the things that make our economy run. Who make the lab equipment producing vaccines; the parts for ventilators; the components for the tablets so students can learn remotely; the food and the food production equipment that keep us fed; the parts for the defense industry that keep us safe, the packaging in which to ship it all; and so much more. The people who could not work remotely. Who, when officials said “stay home” went to the factory floor to get the essential product out the door.
We acknowledge their courage and their professionalism and thank them for what they do every day.
Our leader profile features President Containers’ Vice President of Operations, Rich Goldberg, who applied all of his 35 years’ worth of industry experience and knowledge to lead President through the pandemic. Johnnieanne Hansen introduces us to Zumtobels’ Conor McGarry, Plant Manager and a graduate of the Council of Industry’s Certificate in Manufacturing Leadership (CML) Program. Conor tells us how he got into manufacturing, what he learned from the CML, and how he and the team at Zumtobel are dealing with the pandemic. SUNY New Paltz School of Business Professor, Dr. Chih-Yang Tsai, dives into the emerging world of data analytics offering thoughts on how small manufacturers can become data driven organizations.
Dr. Michael A. Baston, President of Rockland Community College, writes about the vital role his – and all Community Colleges – can and will plan in post-pandemic, socially conscience, diversity embracing world. Taylor Dowd introduces us to PTI, a Westchester based manufacturer of packaging testing equipment. PTI’s second generation leaders used their fathers’ founding principles to help navigate the COVID crisis and they are still using them as the foundation for future growth. Sri Vilayanoor, President of Ignition Life Solutions, gives us a primer on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) that we all wish we had read in 2019. It is, however, never too late to prepare your organization for future risks – both known and unknown.
The Fall edition also includes News Briefs and a useful guide to resources for Hudson Valley manufacturers, including our elected officials, state and county agencies, educational institutions and more. Finally, and new in this edition, we asked a few of our friends and partners to share with us a book, article or podcast they have read or listened to that has had an impact on them in their personal and/or professional lives.
We especially want to thank all the HV Mfg advertisers in this edition. These are challenging times for many organizations, including ours. Your support of manufacturing, this publication, and our association is sincerely appreciated. An index of advertisers can be found on page 54.
Sincerely,
