Maryland MEP Hosts 'Cheers to Gears' Event at Pompeian Olive Oil in Baltimore, MD

(Columbia, Maryland) – Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP), a non-profit committed to growing and strengthening Maryland manufacturing, held its Make it in Maryland Program’s November 2015 ‘Cheers to Gears’ event on Wednesday, November 18, at Pompeian Olive Oil’s manufacturing facility in Baltimore, Md. Pompeian Olive Oil is the nation’s leading brand of olive oil, best-selling wine vinegars and a variety of cooking wines.

Tuesday’s ‘Cheers to Gears’ event kicked off with a brief networking reception and a special presentation from Mike Silen, Chief Financial Officer of Pompeian Olive Oil. Following the presentation, guests were given a tour of Pompeian Olive Oil’s Baltimore facility, where they were shown the ins-and-outs of the manufacturer’s historic facility and given an exclusive look into the world of blending and producing renowned olive oils, wine vinegars and cooking wines. After the tour, guests enjoyed dinner and Maryland-made drink from RavenBeer - a Baltimore-based craft brewery, producing its European-style beer using only the best hops, malts and yeasts for this style of beer. The craft brewery has been present and a loyal supplier of Maryland-made drink at nearly every ‘Cheers to Gears’ event hosted by MD MEP since the event’s inception in May 2015.

In attendance at the evening event were avid supporters of Maryland manufacturing including representatives from the Baltimore Development Corporation, Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland and Maryland Department of Commerce. In addition, some of the State’s deeply rooted manufacturers were also in attendance at the event including Tulkoff Food Products, Inc.; Green Bay Packaging; Berry Plastics; Fashions Unlimited; Holmatro; PMC Manufacturing; and, Strategic Factory.

“We were very lucky to have the opportunity to host our ‘Cheers to Gears’ event for the month of November at Pompeian Olive Oil’s exciting historic facility in Baltimore,” said Mike Kelleher, Chief Financial Officer of Maryland MEP. “These special events provide a unique way of showing Maryland manufacturers what other manufacturers in Maryland are producing and achieving right in their own backyard.”

For MD MEP’s Make it in Maryland Program members, along with local manufacturers interested in learning more about the program, the ‘Cheers to Gears’ events are designed to show the organization’s continued support and appreciation for companies that invest in Maryland. The Make it in Maryland Program’s ‘Cheers to Gears’ events are hosted monthly by different Make it in Maryland Program members, with an ultimate goal to provide invested companies with an opportunity to experience new facilities, network with and learn more about their Make It In Maryland counterparts.

For more information on how to sign up for MD MEP’s free Make it in Maryland Program and attend or host the next ‘Cheers to Gears’ event, please contact Tyler Burford at tburford@mdmep.org.

About Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP):

MD MEP works with partners throughout the state including the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI) and others focused on growing manufacturing in the State of Maryland by providing resources and services to manufacturers statewide. Through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships, MD MEP helps Maryland manufacturers expand their business, educate their workforce and create mutually beneficial connections with other Maryland businesses. For more information, please visit www.mdmep.org.

Follow Us!

Facebook.com/MDMEP – Twitter.com/MD MEP – LinkedIn.com/Company/MD-MEP

e