We’re proud to announce Antoinett Dufort, Vice President of Manufacturing and Deployment at Hidden Level, as the 2026 Innovator of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who lead the way in innovation, driving advancements in their industry and reshaping the future.

Dufort joined Hidden Level in 2021 as employee number 20 and the company’s first female team member, taking a leap of faith to join a small team of engineers with a bold vision. Since then, she has played a central role in scaling the organization into a fully integrated, rapidly growing defense technology company.

Dufort’s ability to drive advancement is evident in the operational systems and improvements she has implemented. She introduced a cellular manufacturing design to optimize workflow, reduce inefficiencies, and strengthen communication on the shop floor. She also led major infrastructure investments, including a shop floor execution system and a fully integrated Quality Management System aligned with the company’s enterprise resource planning platform. Together, these initiatives have enabled streamlined deployment processes that consistently outperform industry benchmarks.

Her ability to translate innovation into action is especially evident in moments requiring speed and precision. When called upon to address urgent drone threats to U.S. homeland security, her team successfully deployed sensor systems within 48 hours, demonstrating the agility, coordination, and operational discipline she has instilled across the organization.

As Vice President of Manufacturing and Deployment, Dufort oversees production, hardware delivery, quality, configuration management, facilities, IT, purchasing, supply chain, and deployment operations. She guided Hidden Level’s evolution from producing sensors in an engineering lab to operating a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility capable of meeting growing customer demand.

Committed to quality and continuous improvement, Dufort is leading efforts to achieve ISO 9001 certification and advancing compliance with NIST SP 800-171 requirements to strengthen cybersecurity and protect sensitive data. She leverages Lean Six Sigma methodologies to drive process improvement and deliver consistent performance in high-demand environments.

Beyond systems and processes, Dufort is deeply invested in people. She fosters a culture of empowerment and continuous learning, encouraging her team to take ownership and pursue professional growth. Through this approach, she has built a resilient and engaged workforce prepared to support the company’s ongoing growth.

In addition to her work at Hidden Level, Dufort remains actively engaged in the broader manufacturing community as a member of MACNY and the American Society for Quality, contributing to the continued strength of the industry.

Randy Wolken, President & CEO of MACNY, shared, “Antoinett Dufort is an exceptional leader whose passion for innovation and commitment to advancing the manufacturing industry have made a meaningful impact. Her work at Hidden Level has redefined how complex technologies are scaled and deployed, setting a strong standard for operational excellence. We are proud to recognize her as the 2026 Innovator of the Year and celebrate her significant contributions and continued dedication to innovation.”

“Antoinett has transformed Hidden Level’s operations — driving manufacturing excellence, strengthening supply chain performance, elevating delivery and IT, and leading major milestones like CMMC certification and scaling production with unmatched precision and results,” said Brad Garber, Chief Operating Officer at Hidden Level.

The Innovator of the Year Award celebrates individuals whose work drives progress and shapes the future of manufacturing. Dufort’s leadership exemplifies this mission by showing that innovation is not only about breakthrough ideas, but also about building the systems, teams, and infrastructure that bring those ideas to life.

Antoinett Dufort will be honored by MACNY members and community leaders at MACNY’s 113th Annual Celebration of Manufacturing, presented by M&T Bank, on May 21, 2026, at the SRC Arena & Events Center in Syracuse, NY.

Click here to register for MACNY’s 113th Annual Celebration of Manufacturing and join us in honoring Antoinett and many other exceptional individuals and manufacturers.