Local manufacturers including Casa Visco, Beekman 1802 and Gatherer’s Gourmet Granola set to participate
Schenectady’s Manufacturing Week, an extension of National Manufacturing Day (Oct. 7) is designed to expand knowledge, improve public perception and generate excitement around careers in manufacturing and the value manufacturing has on the local economy. The focus for Schenectady’s 2016 week is Millennials in Manufacturing. The dedicated week will run Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 through Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016.
A strong participant and host company for the week includes Casa Visco, a local sauce manufacturer that has products in stores across the nation. “Last year I was invited to participate on the panel ‘Women in Manufacturing’ in honor of manufacturing week. It was very exciting to engage with the other panelists, but it was interacting with the kids who came from various local schools that was extremely meaningful. To see them ‘get’ that a career in manufacturing takes many forms and to open their eyes to options they may not have thought about was incredibly inspiring,” said Adine Viscusi, owner of Casa Visco.
“Everyone wants to hear from the millennials as they are our future and future customers. It’s important to know what’s important to them. Flavor of Schenectady was organized because there are so many local fantastic food manufacturers in and around Schenectady. It’s a vibrant scene that we wanted to highlight. We collaborate and have a genuine willingness to help one another succeed, not necessarily compete,” added Viscusi.
Details:
What: 4th annual Manufacturing Week events in Schenectady held during the first week of October offers three signature events in the city of Schenectady: a panel discussion, press conference and Flavor of Schenectady lunchtime social.
Who: Schenectady Manufacturing Week Committee participants include: City of Schenectady, Center for Economic Growth, Congressman Paul Tonko’s office, miSci, Casa Visco, Tough Traveler, Capital Region BOCES, STS Steel, SI Group, Global Foundries, Ballston Spa Central School District, Mohonasen Central School District and Schenectady City School District.
Manufacturing Week Events Schedule:
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 – Wise Labs (433 State Street, 4th Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305)
- 9 a.m. – Millennials in Manufacturing Panel discussion, Moderated by Torie Wells, CBS 6 Colleen Costello of Vital Vio, Inc.; Amanda Kiyanitsa of Ecovative and Sandro Gerbini of Gatherer’s Gourmet Granola
- 10:30 a.m. – Manufacturing Week Kick-off Press Conference Speakers:
Welcome / Host & Moderator–Dr. Mac Sudduth, President of miSci – highlighting GE Archives and history of innovation in Schenectady; Mayor Gary McCarthy – Welcome on behalf of the City of Schenectady; Congressman Paul Tonko – (NY-20th district); NYS Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara; Andrew Kennedy, President & CEO Center for Economic Growth; Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School – Dr. Valerie Kelsey, Deputy Director, CTE and Dr. Lynne Wells, Assistant District Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction; Kathleen Spring, Superintendent, Mohonasen Central School District; Student Innovator (Mason Varga) from the Mohonasen Central School District; Laurel King, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Assessment & Pupil Services, Ballston Spa Central School District – Clean Tech ECHS; Student Innovator (Julia Amodeo) from Ballston Spa Central School District’s – TechSmart; and Adine Viscusi, owner of Casa Visco offers invitation to Flavors of Schenectady – Lunchtime Social on MFGDay (Oct 7)
Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 – MiSci (15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, New York 12308)
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12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Flavor of Schenectady lunchtime social
The event will be co-hosted by Adine Viscusi, owner of Casa Visco and City Council President Leesa Perazzo & (remarks around 12:30 p.m.)
The Flavor of Schenectady lunchtime social includes culinary samplings from: Casa Visco (sauce), PeDe Brothers (pasta), Sindoni (sausage) and Gatherer’s Gourmet Granola, Mohonasen High School – (MS FACS), Beekman 1802’s Mercantile edible products and SCCC’s School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism (HCAT).
Additional Details:
Manufacturing Week is the creation of an ad-hoc, informal committee of invested parties which came into existence following the screening of the American Made Movie at Proctors back in 2013. Invested parties participated in a strategic planning sessions facilitated by the Center for Economic Growth and their efforts have been endorsed by Mayor Gary McCarthy and City Council President Leesa Perazzo.
The local committee decided to take National Manufacturing Day and expand it into Manufacturing Week in Schenectady, and beyond, in order to expand the opportunities that were provided to people and most especially students. One of the group’s goals is to highlight the variety of manufacturing industries and jobs in the Capital Region.
“If we are going to continue to build our local economy, we have to focus on ways to help New York manufacturers create and grow good paying American jobs. Every year, Schenectady Manufacturing Week highlights the good work done throughout the year to produce sustainable jobs in the community for generations to come. I look forward to continuing my work with Mayor McCarthy and local business leaders who work tirelessly to develop our area and build on past successes,” said Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY 20th District).
“Schenectady has a long and proud history of innovation and manufacturing, and we are pleased to be able to honor that heritage with a robust manufacturing week full of events which highlight the successes and innovations that many local companies have achieved, as well as inviting the next generation of entrepreneurs and manufacturers to participate and pursue their dreams,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy.
“miSci is proud to be the steward of a rich collection and archive that chronicles the region’s history of innovation in manufacturing and technology. Through our informal STEM education and interactive exhibits, we aim to inspire the next generation of ‘tinkerers’ and fill the pipeline of skilled workers needed by Tech Valley’s manufacturers,” said Dr. Mac Sudduth, executive director of miSci.
Students in Mohonasen High School’s “Fitness and Nutrition Through the Life Span” class will provide healthy snacks during Flavor of Schenectady lunchtime social. The class is part of Mohonasen’s MoTech program, which gives students relevant, non-traditional learning opportunities as they work toward high school graduation.
“Participating in Flavor of Schenectady allows our students to take the skills they have learned in the classroom and apply them in a real-life environment,” said family and consumer sciences teacher Amy Stott. “It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase their knowledge and give back to the community.”
For more information, please visit: http://www.mfgday.com/events?country=US&state=NY&city=Schenectady#filter