New England Maker Summit: Critical Need for New Collar Workforce

Manufacturers, educators, and entrepreneurs all have a common goal: identifying the most efficient solutions to respond to a dwindling manufacturing workforce, move production forward, and pivot the workforce pipeline to prepare for a post-COVID world. Those priorities will be the focus of the New England Maker Summit (NEMS) 2020, being held virtually this year on Friday, November 13 from 9am to 4pm.

Hosted by MakerspaceCT, NEMS 2020 will feature industry leaders from New England and beyond, sharing insight and perspectives, exploring this year’s theme: The Critical Need for the New Collar Workforce.

The New Collar Workforce combines new technological skills and traditional trades, the key to tomorrow’s innovation workforce, providing digital credentials upon completion. The realignment of the educational infrastructure allows for greater attainability and a more diversified talent pool. NEMS 2020 will discuss the new digital credentialing system, through which individuals will be able to improve their ability to advance in industry by enrolling in short, high impact classes earning stackable credentials.

Featured speakers will highlight business and entrepreneurship, education, and manufacturing aspects of the New Collar Workforce during the virtual Summit. Among the speakers sharing their perspectives and experiences will be Sarah Boisvert, Fab Lab Hub & Founder of the New Collar Network; Andrew Mackin, CEO of Mackin Talent; Alex Johnson, President & CEO, Capital Workforce Partners; Zulma Toro, President of Central Connecticut State University; and Martin Guay, Vice President, Business Development, Stanley Black & Decker.

The New England Maker Summit is held annually, organized by MakerspaceCT; last year at the downtown Hartford location of MakerspaceCT there were more than 250 people from throughout the region in attendance. This year’s digital summit will build on that success.

The registration fee for the Nov. 13 digital New England Maker Summit is $45; early registration by Nov. 2 is $35. Registration is now available at www.makerspacect.com/NEMS2020.

“New England Maker Summit 2020 will discuss what manufacturers are looking for, how this evocative delivery system and new educator solutions work, how this will impact the workforce pipeline and the hiring process, and what we have learned and implemented in the wake of the global pandemic,” said Devra Sisitsky, Executive Director of MakerspaceCT. “Digital credentialing, which enhances accessibility, portability, and standardization of education is an approach we’re embracing, because it can effectively increase real skills for real jobs and respond to real industry needs.”

The Summit will also include a panel discussion with industry leaders, moderated by Ari Santiago, host of the Made in America podcast and President, IT Direct. Panelists include Chris DiPentima, President and CEO of CBIA; Glenn Ford, President, Phoenix Manufacturing; Katherine Ash, Future Workforce Consultant at the National Governors Association; and Devra Sisitsky, Executive Director of MakerspaceCT. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy will also offer their perspectives.

Innovators, entrepreneurs, medical device manufacturers, and aerospace technologies are all looking for talent now to meet the demand for innovation. It has been estimated that during the next ten years, production line jobs will rise in demand by 20-30%; manufacturers must continue to recognize a variety of methods in workforce development to meet demand. Manufacturers such as IBM, Trumpf, and Google have already been using a digital credentialing system, recognizing a method of viable labor development in a more attainable time span. Currently, 10-15% of U.S.-based jobs at IBM are filled by individuals who do not possess a traditional 4-year degree.

MakerspaceCT, located at 960 Main Street in the historic G. Fox building in downtown Hartford, opened in April 2019. It is the largest Makerspace in Connecticut and the second largest in New England. The space features 25,000 square feet of workshops that house nine shops with specialized manufacturing equipment, including wood, wielding, textiles, plastics, 3D manufacturing and more. The Maker Movement empowers people, businesses and communities across the U.S. and across the globe.

MakerspaceCT supports an almost limitless variety of material types and fabrication processes—CNC Machining, Metal Fabrication, 3D Printing, Laser Engraving, Vacuum Forming and much more—equipment that is, in many cases, too expensive or too large for a home or small business to accommodate. MakerspaceCT provides opportunities not only entrepreneurs and small businesses, but also local hobbyists, crafters, students and artists, providing training for individuals seeking to expand their skills and companies looking to expand their product lines.