New England Maker Summit to Convene with Focus on “Industry 4.0"

As Connecticut, New England and the nation seek to emerge from the multiple economic disruptions of the past year and a half, it is increasingly clear that we need to respond effectively to major economic trends, evaluate the impact on traditional education, embrace equity and diversity, and consider what our manufacturing workforce must tackle to continue progress towards modern innovation.

Those priorities will be the focus of the New England Maker Summit (NEMS) 2021, being held in-person and virtually this year on Friday, November 12 from 9am to 5pm, hosted by MakerspaceCT in Hartford, with an outstanding line-up of experts, innovators and ground-breakers.

Attendees of NEMS 2021 will hear directly from industry leaders in New England and beyond, sharing insight and perspectives, exploring this year’s theme: Industry 4.0 and the Next Generation of Our Workforce, considering how to achieve inclusivity and engage the next generation.

Keynote speakers include Ripi Singh, Chief Innovation & Strategy Coach, Inspiring Next, who will provide a global perspective of Industry 4.0 and 5.0, and how it affects our manufacturing culture and ethics, and Chris Allen, Chief Executive Officer, iCleanse, who will discuss employee retention for Industry 4.0.

After the keynotes, Devra Sisitsky and Mark Colbert of MakerspaceCT will lead a session outlining MakerspaceCT’s Answer to Workforce Development.

The event will continue through the afternoon, starting with an update on manufacturing workforce efforts at the state and municipal levels with Kelli-Marie Vallieres, Executive Director of the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy and co-chair of the Governor’s Workforce Council, and Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford.

Two afternoon tracks are planned. Track 1 will focus on “Innovation in Manufacturing” with Hartford’s Barry Alexander, CEO & Founder of Aquiline Drones, speaking on the evolution from automation to autonomy. Track 2 will explore “Inclusivity in STEM Education” with Amy Thompson, Associate Director, University of Connecticut UTC Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering; Assistant Director, US DOE Industrial Assessment Center and Director, SmartBuildings CT at UConn; Gloria Ortiz-Rivera, Director of Early College and Career Pathways at ReadyCT; and Flora Padro, Principal at Hartford Public High School.

The afternoon program culminates with a panel discussion that addresses workforce development challenges, including bringing women back into the workforce. Panelists include Dr. Jacquelynn Garofano, Chief Technology Officer at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology; Candace Freedenberg, Chairwoman and Founder, Untapped Potential Inc.; Dennis Williams, AVP, Client Partner, Cognizant; and Beatriz Gutierrez, President and CEO, CONNSTEP.

The New England Maker Summit is held annually, organized by MakerspaceCT. The in-person registration fee for the Nov. 12 event is $45; early bird registration by Oct. 29 is $35. Registration for the Virtual Experience is $35. Registration for in-person and virtual NEMS is now available at www.makerspacect.com/NEMS2021 or on Eventbrite.

“New England Maker Summit 2021 will discuss the critical questions facing businesses across industries: The next generation of our workforce...what does it look like? How will technological improvements affect human-machine interface? How do we bring inclusivity and diversity to education, manufacturing and the workplace?” said Devra Sisitsky, Executive Director of MakerspaceCT. “Beyond that, are we providing the proper training for new-collar technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, internet of things and additive manufacturing,” Sisitsky added.

Sponsors of NEMS 2021 include Aquiline Drones, Cantor Colburn LLP, The College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture at the University of Hartford and Sentry Commercial. Additional sponsors are welcome, please contact Devra Sisitsky at devra@makerspacect.com for more information.

Admission includes access to full-day summit schedule, 9 am – 5 pm; Coffee and continental breakfast during registration hour 9 am – 10 am; Boxed lunch by The Rockin Chicken, and cocktail hour including light fare 4 pm – 5 pm.

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 facility features 25,000 square feet of workshops with specialized manufacturing equipment, including wood, welding, textiles, plastics, additive manufacturing and more. MakerspaceCT’s mission is to positively impact lives by enabling access, innovation, and education; the vision is to use making as a vehicle to lift up individuals and communities.

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 to 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.

MakerspaceCT was recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as a Healthcare Hero in 2020 in the Advancement in Healthcare – Innovation category, for its role in designing, developing, producing and distributing personal protection equipment to first responders in Connecticut.