Focus on the Challenges Manufacturers Face
DEAR READER
Welcome to the Spring 2023 Edition of HV Mfg, the Council of Industry’s magazine by, for, and about Hudson Valley Manufacturers.
With this edition we mark a significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of HV MFG. I would like to thank you for your support and readership over the past decade. To commemorate the occasion, we take a trip down memory lane with a retrospective on the magazine’s origins and mission. And longtime Council of Industry partner and friend Linda Engler from Ad Essentials talks with me about all the fascinating people I have had the opportunity to interview for the publication’s Leader Profile feature over the past decade.
This edition of the magazine also focuses on some of the most pressing challenges facing the manufacturing industry today. First up Rand Realty’s Paul Adler writes on the crisis of affordable housing and its impact on the manufacturing workforce. And speaking of workforce … Steve Howell, Partner with RBT CPAs takes a deep dive into the challenges that manufacturers face when it comes to attracting and retaining talent and showcases some of the best practices that companies are using to build a strong and sustainable workforce. In an article on supply chain challenges Lawrence Baye, Principal with PKF O’Connor Davies explores the complex and rapidly-evolving landscape of global supply chains, and discusses some of the key strategies that manufacturers can use to navigate this terrain and stay ahead of the curve.
The company profile in this edition is of Catsmo, an artisanal smoked salmon company located in the hamlet of Wallkill. For more than 30 years they have been producing some of the finest smoked salmon in the world. For this interview, Johnnieanne Hansen and Taylor Dowd spoke with the company’s CEO and co-founder Markus Draxler, about the challenges and opportunities facing the food manufacturing industry, and how Catsmo has been able to stay competitive in a crowded and ever-changing market.
Our leader profile is with Bre Pettis, the President of Bantam Tools and founder of MakerBot. In this conversation we talk about how Bantam’s unique desktop CNC machines are facilitating innovation across industries and helping to develop the next generation of creators for the manufacturing workforce. We also discuss Bre’s unique journey to his current role and his commitment to supporting workforce development in the Hudson Valley.
I would also like to extend a personal thanks to all the firms that are supporting HV Mfg and the Council of Industry with their advertisements in this publication. Your commitment to manufacturing in the region and our association is much appreciated.
I hope that this special anniversary edition of HV MFG manufacturing magazine provides you with valuable insights, ideas, and inspiration as we look towards the future of manufacturing. Once again, thank you for your support, and here’s to the next 10 years!
Sincerely,
President
