MACNY And Your Manufacturing Workforce
Randy Wolken, President & CEO

The workforce needs of MACNY members have never been greater. We have created and now are growing our efforts to meet this need. MACNY has helped members engage with and hire the finest talent our area has to offer.

Several years ago, we initiated a partnership with Partners for Education and Business, Inc. (PEB), so we could work together with members to be in local schools engaging with students, informing students and educators on the great jobs available in manufacturing and technology, and creating a pathway for them to have those jobs. PEB will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. It has changed the lives of thousands of students and their families.

We have also developed a world-class approach to creating Registered Apprenticeship programs in our member companies and throughout New York State that not only attract the best talent but is a proven way to retain the talent.

Our training opportunities, leadership development offerings, coaching programs, and networking councils provide effective methods for everyone in our membership to prepare for their future.

We are poised to increase all of the above efforts significantly to meet the need of existing members and the companies that will soon be moving to our region. These approaches and programs have never been more critical with the announcement of the historic Micron investment. But we will be doing even more.

Last month, MACNY participated in the first-ever Manufacturing Institute Workforce Summit. This one-of-a-kind conference brought together manufacturers, educators, community partners, association leaders, and more. It offered an opportunity to network, hear from manufacturing and workforce leaders, and create solutions to help manufacturers. Mike Frame, our SVP of Workforce Development and COO, joined over 900 other individuals to forge partnerships and share our highly successful approaches. The conference focused on key themes: attracting, training, and retaining quality employees; and how partnerships enable success across all three. Specifically, strategies that highlighted efforts to tap into hidden talent, veterans, and growing talent within an organization were discussed.

Our team at MACNY has learned how to support companies ready to launch and develop a customized approach to finding and growing the manufacturing talent you need. We can do this for all sizes of manufacturers and other employers. Whether you are small, medium, or large, our team can sit with you and guide you in this critical task. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team to get started. With the changes coming, now is the right time to begin.