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In this episode Harold King speaks with Dr Peter Grant Jordan, President of Dutchess Community College. With a proud 60-year history and more than 50 academic programs, Dutchess Community College is highly regarded for providing an outstanding education in an enriching, caring and supportive environment. Their faculty and staff are committed to student success and their affordable tuition offers students and families significant savings on the first two years of a college education. Harold talks with Peter about his long and impressive academic career, his commitment to the community college role and mission, how that role and mission is evolving and how DCC is rising to the occasion by forming strong partnerships with industry, other academic institutions and community organizations. We hope you enjoy meeting Dr. Jordan.

In this episode Harold King speaks with Elisha Tropper, Founder and CEO of Cambridge Security Seals, Cambridge Security Seals manufactures products that ensure items shipped around the world are safe and secure. Their commitment to research and development, technology, quality standards, environmental responsibility, and attention to detail are the reasons customers from around the world turn to them for the products and services they need. Harold talks with Elisha about the importance of security seals and the evolution of the company and its products. They also discuss the impacts of the pandemic on the CSS workforce and the industry. Because the CSS is uniquely connected to both the logistics and manufacturing sector, Elisha shares his insights on the current global supply chain crisis. Harold and Elisha also discuss the career path that took an English major to business consultant to factory owner. We hope you enjoy. 

In this episode Council of Industry President Harold King speaks with PK-30 Systems co-owners Reuben Suare and Phillip Kerzner. Based in High Falls, Ulster County, PK-30 Systems manufactures a meticulously designed and engineered aluminum demountable wall system that provides a flexible, environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to divide interior space. Harold, Reuben and Phil talk about the origin and evolution of PK-30 from Phil’s garage to a firm with innovative products being installed across the nation. They talk about the effects of the pandemic on the design and innovation of their products and the future of the “office.” They discuss the challenges facing their business including supply chain snarls and the need to hire skilled workers. We also follow the fascinating paths Rueben and Phil have taken to this point in their careers. One by way of Broadway and the other through architecture and design. We hope you enjoy.

: In this episode Harold King speaks with Steve Gill, Director of Operations at Howmet Aerospace about the company, their products and their customers. Howmet Fastening Systems is the premier designer and manufacturer of aerospace and industrial fasteners, latches, bearings, fluid fittings and installation tools. Their products are used nose to tail on commercial and military aircraft, as well as on jet engines, industrial gas turbines, automobiles, commercial transportation vehicles, wind turbines, solar power systems, and construction and industrial equipment. The facility in Kingston manufactures the tools used to install those fasteners.Harold talks with Steve about the evolution of the company and its products, the impacts of the pandemic, the challenges facing the business including workforce and supply chain as well as the opportunities including battery operated equipment and growth in the renewable energy sector. Harold also talks with Steve about his career path that took him from the Midlands of England to the Hudson Valley by way of Texas. We hope you enjoy. 

Few people in the world of manufacturing can boast the credentials of Sriram Vilayanoor. He holds a masters degree in industrial engineering and a bachelors in mechanical engineering. He is a certified six sigma master black belt and also has CMS certifications in ISO, IATF, AS and many more. Sri has bought and turned around several manufacturing businesses and founded his own successful consulting business. He is a wealth of manufacturing knowledge and experience. In this episode Harold King speaks with Sri Vilayanoor, Founder and President of Ignition Life Solutions, a strategic planning and development consulting, auditing and training firm. Ignition’s areas of expertise span innovation & growth, operational excellence and quality management systems. They focus on firms in the automotive, aerospace/defense, medical devices, and healthcare industries. Sri is one of the very few third-party auditors in the country with the ability to assess highly integrated management systems for clients seeking efficient and effective compliance with multiple industry standards under a single management system. Sri is also a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt (CSSMBB) and has a Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and is a designated third-party QMS Lead Auditor for ANAB-authenticated Certification Bodies. Harold talks with Sri about his educational and career path that took him from his native India to Buffalo NY. They talk about his experience turning around a medical device manufacturer and his founding of Ignition. They also talk about Ignition’s approach and philosophy to help their clients achieve their full potential. We hope you enjoy. IgitionlifesolutionsIgnition Resources-BioSri-Vilayanoor

In this episode Johnnieanne Hansen, Vice President of the Council of Industry and Harold King, President, discuss the employment crisis and its extreme impact on Hudson Valley manufacturers With many potential workers remaining on the sidelines for reasons ranging from extended and enhanced benefits to childcare issues and the spread of the Delta Variant, 9.2 million jobs across the nation remain unfilled. For Hudson Valley manufacturers that have seen increased demand for their products the need to attract workers has never been more urgent.Johnnieanne and Harold talk about this challenge and what some companies are doing to meet it. They talk about tools the Council of Industry has in place as well as ideas from recruiting experts and the best practices of other employers. Open Hiring at Greyston Bakery 

Healthcare is rapidly changing with technical and clinical advancements seemingly happening before our very eyes. This has been the case for many years and, like so many trends, has only been accelerated by pandemic. Orange County based Crystal Run Healthcare has been ad the forefront of that change for the past 25 years and Dr. Jonathan Nasser, Chief Clinical Integration Officer for Crystal Run is working to make sure those changes remain in the best interest of the health and wellbeing of their patients In this episode Harold King speaks with Dr. Jonathan Nasser, Chief Clinical Integration Officer with Crystal Run Healthcare. Crystal Run is one of the fastest growing multi-specialty group practices in the country. They have over 400 exceptional physicians in nearly 50 medical specialties with multiple practice locations in the region. They are also a national leader in Healthcare Reform offering integrated, coordinated care for all patients, including those with common medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure. Their primary care physicians work with all patients on prevention and wellness strategies.  Simply put, patients treated at Crystal Run Healthcare feel better and have better results.Dr. Nasser, a graduate of Williams College and the University of Virginia Medical College, is one of the key people behind the emphasis on coordinated care and ensuring their patients feel better and have better results. Harold talks with Jonathan about Crystal Run – its origins and evolution, how the organization and its team of providers stepped up during the pandemic, the impacts (both transitory and permanent) of the pandemic on the healthcare system, and its lasting impacts on the health and wellbeing of Crystal Run Patients.MISC. NOTES / COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS:https://www.crystalrunhealthcare.com/about-us

Partnering with a good accounting firm is important for any small business, but it is essential for a manufacturing firm. Accountants do more than tax filing. They can take a comprehensive assessment of your finances and create a forecast through the year to keep your business at a healthy, prosperous state. They can deliver informed advice on tax planning, strategic planning, and succession planning among many other business decisions. Since 1932 JGS has been that partner to many Hudson valley businesses. In this episode Harold King speaks with Jason Giordano, Managing Partner at JGS CPA about the accounting industry, the role of the CPA, and the many financial and strategic issues facing the manufacturing sector. JGS accountants are business professionals offering a full spectrum of audit, tax consulting services necessary to address a broad range of financial issues. They are problem solvers using years of industry expertise to apply effective solutions to real world problems. Their mission is one of strong commitment to our clients, their businesses and helping clients be competitive in their industries.Harold talks with Jason about the history of the company, his career path, the role of the CPA, trends he is seeing with the firm’s manufacturing clients as well as the challenges and opportunities he is seeing with those clients. MISC. NOTES / COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS:https://jgspc.com/

When people in manufacturing think of Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) milling machines, large car-sized machines producing parts by the hundreds , or thousands, come to mind. At Bantam Tools they have scaled down the CNC mill to a desk-top size enabling the precision production of parts for prototyping, niche manufacturing and even hobbyists. In this episode Harold King speaks with Ron Lorentzen, General Manager at Bantam Tools about this fun, innovative and growing Hudson Valley manufacturer. Bantam Tools make desktop CNC machines with professional reliability and precision, and they do it at an affordable price. The roughly 70-pound machines are easy to set up and work right out of the box. They are clean, safe, easy to use, and are rapidly finding their way into classrooms and laboratories around the county and the world.  Harold talks with Ron about these innovative machines, how they work and who is purchasing them. They talk about the company’s growth and growth potential, its workforce and employee development programs as well as hiring successes and challenges. They also discuss his long and rich career in manufacturing and how he ended up in Peekskill with Bantam.  

Allendale Machinery Systems has helped countless manufacturers grow, innovate and thrive by providing them with the best, most efficient machine tool solutions. Neil is the third generation of McGills to lead the firm which primarily sells and maintains Haas Machines.In this episode Harold King speaks with Neil McGill, Director of Operations, Allendale Machinery Systems about the manufacturing industry, automation, workforce development and the future of the machine tool industry. Allendale delivers innovative, efficient and value driven solutions for the production needs of the region’s manufacturers. Harold talks with Neil about the history of the company, his career path, the importance of investing in training and workforce development and the future of the machine tool industry including innovation and automation.Allendale Profile in HV MfgBUILDING THE WORKFORCE PIPELINE »

In this episode Harold King speaks with Shawn George, about this growing business and important technology. Thin film coatings are used in a wide range of applications for many purposes. They can be used to protect displays from scratches or environmental exposure, create a specific degree of reflectivity on a lens or build layers of metallization on semiconductor wafers. Universal Thin Film has been in business for more than 30 years and Shawn is helping them expand into new industry sectors and further develop the technology. Harold talks with Shawn about thin film technology, what it is and how it works and where it is used. They also discuss his career path that included a long stint in the Army, a “later in life” college degree and an answer to the question “how does a history major end up helping to run a technology company?”

Selux Corporation Peter Stanway grew up in Manchester England began his career designing kitchens and bathrooms. Today, as CEO of Selux Corporation he is bringing that design sensibility to the manufacture of architectural lighting. In this episode Harold King and Johnnieanne Hansen speak with Peter Stanway, CEO of architectural lighting manufacturer Selux Corporation. Founded in Berlin in 1948 by Hermann Bansbach, Selux brought light into this dark time with a simple, affordable battery lamp. Today Selux is a global company with 500 employees in Europe, North America, and Australia. They still are improving the qual­ity of people’s lives through but with ever more sophis­ti­cated light­ing con­cepts.Harold and Johnnieanne talk to Peter about his career path from designer to CEO, the importance of lighting in our lives, evolving technologies, the impacts of COVID-19 on the business and so much more.

In this episode Council of Industry Vice President Johnnieanne Hansen speaks with longtime Council of Industry board member, Entrepreneur and Manufacturing leader Cedric Glasper about Mechanical Rubber products as well as his growth and development as a manufacturing leader.  Mechanical Rubber is a solutions-based, custom contract manufacturer of high-quality rubber, plastic, and metal products. The company continues to innovate processes using cutting edge technology to ensure the highest quality standards are met with each and every order. Johnnieanne and Cedric also discuss his acquisition of an Ohio based specialty Rubber business and economic and workforce challenges.

In this episode Council of Industry Vice President Johnnieanne Hansen, speaks with Christopher Shaw, commercial banker for Hudson Valley-based middle market companies.  Before joining Chase, Chris founded CORE Leader, a leadership development company. While running CORE, Chris also founded the NYC chapter of Bunker Labs, a national non-profit that helps veterans start and grow businesses. Previously, Chris served in the U.S. Army as an aviator in the 82nd Airborne Division. He flew OH-58D armed reconnaissance helicopters and deployed twice to Afghanistan. In this episode, Council of Industry Vice President Johnnieanne Hansen speaks with Christopher Shaw, a relationship banker for Hudson Valley-based middle market companies. They also discuss how JP Morgan Chase is working to help industrial customers solve some of their biggest non-financial challenges – finding skilled labor. We also discuss how Chris, and Chase, are committed to helping America’s military veterans find careers in manufacturing and other sectors.https://www.jpmorganchase.com/impact/people/military-and-vets

To say Fala Technologies President Frank Falatyn is passionate about developing the next generation of manufacturing workers is a colossal understatement. What began as a journey to strengthen the skills of workers at his machine design and production engineering business in Kingston has evolved into a quest to introduce, prepare, grow and develop a generation of skilled employees to ensure that our vital manufacturing sector is able to not just survive, but thrive in the Hudson Valley.In this episode Harold King and Johnnieanne Hansen speak with Frank Falatyn, president of Fala Technologies in Kingston, about Fala Technologies and its evolution from a small tool and die shop to a high value added machine design and production engineering company. Fala provides contract manufacturing and supply chain manufacturing / engineering services to build custom equipment and advanced electro/mechanical products for the semiconductor, transportation, military, advanced energy and industrial products sectors.Frank has long recognized that FALA’s success is dependent on developing a skilled workforce to meet the complex challenges their customers bring them. He developed their “Next-Generation Manufacturing Workforce Initiative (Next-Gen).” FALA offers NYS Certified Apprenticeship training for CNC Machinists, Toolmakers, Electro-Mechanical Technicians, Welders, Quality Assurance Auditors, Industrial Manufacturing Technicians and Maintenance Mechanics. FALA also offers Pre-Apprenticeships and Internships programs that include classroom and on-the-job training.Johnnieanne and Harold talk to Frank about how he gained his passion for workforce development, the public/private partnerships he has created and nurtured as well as the local state and national programs he has developed and is developing. 

Manufacturers Apprenticeship Program: Spring Incentives To Enroll Your Employee(s)To encourage participation and spread the word about apprenticeship opportunities The Council of Industry will waive all registration fees for our Introductory Trade, Industrial Manufacturing Technician to companies who commit before 4/16.The Manufacturers Intermediary Apprenticeship Program (MIAP) is a New York State Department of Labor approved manufacturing apprentice program. To encourage participation and spread the word about apprenticeship opportunities the Council will waive all registration fees for the introductory trade, Industrial Manufacturing Technician to companies who commit before 4/16.In this episode Harold King and Johnnieanne Hansen discuss how the MIAP apprentice program works, why it works, and how you can enroll your employees. Apprenticeship consists of two stages: On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Related Instruction (RI). OJT allows an apprentice to learn firsthand from a skilled craftsperson who will demonstrate and share their experience in the field. In RI, apprentices will learn the theory - and knowledge - based components of the craft. They must complete 144 hours of classroom or online training each year.Other MIAP Registered Trades:Machinist (CNC)Electro-Mechanical TechnicianMaintenance Mechanic (Automatic Equipment)Quality Assurance AuditorToolmakerIndustrial Manufacturing TechnicianPlastics MolderThe Council of Industry has partnered with various organizations to provide incentives to qualifying apprentices, including tax credits. Click here to learn more.If you are a manufacturing employer who wants enroll an employee(s) into the apprentice program, contact Johnnieanne Hansen (845) 565-1355 or email jhansen@councilofindustry.orgWe hope you enjoy.

For many of us biting into a Bavarian cream or jelly doughnut in is a small slice of heaven on earth. For Poughkeepsie based EFCO products making the ingredients for those doughnuts and dozens of other bakery products is their business. In this episode Harold King speaks with Stephen Effron, about this delicious family business including its hundred plus year history, growth, challenges and opportunities.In this episode Harold King speaks with Stephen Effron, about EFCO Products, his family’s 100 plus year-old Poughkeepsie based business. Millions of people every day, around the world, enjoy sweet and savory products that include one or more of EFCO’s fine ingredients. They offer an ever-growing portfolio of off-the-shelf products and custom formulated products that include bakery fillings, bakery mixes and concentrates, beverage bases and syrups, sauces and spreads, fruit and specialty toppings and other specialty ingredients.If you’ve enjoyed a fresh baked doughnut, cake or pastry from any number of supermarkets, doughnut shops or bakeries, chances are pretty good you’ve had and EFCO product. Harold talks with Stephen about the history of the company, what its like to be the fourth generation to lead the family business, his path to joining the business and his preparations to lead it, challenges and opportunities they face and his family’s and the business’ commitment to the Poughkeepsie community. 

In this episode Harold King speaks with Dan Arnoff, Vice President of global Logistics for Arnoff Moving and Storage about this Dutchess county Institution’s growth and evolution from part time business to cutting edge logistics company.Arnoff offers moving, packing, crating, rigging, fine art handling, import and export, logistics services, record storage, inventory control and distribution, and extensive storage options, including temperature and climate-controlled warehousing, portable self-storage, mini-storage, storage trailers and ground container rentals. Their fleet of moving equipment numbers in the hundreds, and they maintain more than 750,000 sq. ft. of clean and efficient storage space.Harold talks with Dan about the history of the company, the effect of the acceleration of eCommerce on the business, opportunities and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and his family’s and the business’ commitment to the Dutchess County community. 

Council of Industry President Harold King and Vice President Johnnieanne Hansen talk about this most eventful and unusual year. They talk about the impact of the pandemic on Council members as well as its impact on the association and the entire manufacturing sector. The discuss the challenges, the opportunities, and the silver linings. They also discuss what 2021 might bring to our members and to our 110-year-old association.  The Council of Industry has been the manufacturers association for 110 years. It has lived through a lot of history Including 2 world wars, a great depression, a great recession, the arrival of the space age and the digital age and even the great influenza of 1918-19. The pandemic of 2020 will surely take a place among these great historical events.As 2020 draws to a close Council of Industry President Harold King and Vice President Johnnieanne Hansen take some time to reflect on this most eventful and unusual year. They talk about the impact of the pandemic on Council members as well as its impact on the association and the entire manufacturing sector. The discuss the challenges, the opportunities, and the silver linings. They also discuss what 2021 might bring to our members and to our association.  

In this episode Johnnieanne Hansen speaks with Elaine Burns an IMT apprentice with Sono-Tek Corporation and her mentor, Vince Whipple, about their experience with the Council of Industry’s MIAP Apprentice program. Elaine joined Sono-Tek in 2018 after moving back to the region from Florida. Looking for a meaningful career she was introduced to Vince and began working at Sono-Tek. Soon after they were introduced to the apprentice program and Elaine began her Industrial Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship through which she began taking courses at local community colleges and Vince taught her the skills she needed to be successful at the company. Johnnieanne, Vince and Elaine talk about Sono-Tek, the apprentice program and what it takes to be successful in the trade. They also talk the very different paths they have taken to their current positions with Elaine beginning her 3rd year and Sono-Tek and Vince’s 30th, as well as what comes next for Elaine.