Description

ALL Southwest Connecticut Manufacturing Regional Sector Partnership (SWCMP) In-Person Meeting Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM at the University of New Haven.

You’re Invited!

Join Us for the Q2 2026 All Southwest Connecticut Manufacturing RSP In-Person Meeting

Why Attend?

• Hear from Paul Lavoie, now Vice President of Innovation and Applied Technology at the University of New Haven, share what he’s seeing across manufacturing and how companies can better partner with educators to build their workforce.
• Learn about fraud prevention from M&T Bank.
• Connect with leaders shaping the future of manufacturing in Southwest Connecticut.

This session is designed to spark follow-up conversations and connect manufacturers directly to the right resources.

Who Should Attend?

All Southwest Manufacturing Executives

The Regional Sector Partnership (RSP) brings together key stakeholders from across the manufacturing ecosystem to foster collaboration and drive progress.

• Employers: Manufacturing leaders and business owners who are invested in shaping the future of the industry.
• Government Agencies: Policymakers and government representatives who can offer public policy support and resources.
• Education Providers: Schools, colleges, universities, and training providers that focus on workforce development and career guidance for Manufacturers.
• Community Organizations: Nonprofits and community groups that support individuals entering or advancing within the manufacturing workforce.

Agenda coming soon! Here are some of the sessions:

Session #1: The State of Manufacturing (15 minutes) 

In this session, Paul Lavoie, Vice President of Innovation & Corporate Partnerships will provide manufacturing CEOs with a succinct, strategic view of the current state of manufacturing—and the leadership choices it demands. Drawing on deep engagement with industry, workforce, and technology leaders, Paul will cut through the noise to highlight what CEOs need to know to have a competitive advantage. Leaders who can integrate advanced technologies with adaptable operating models, build strong supplier ecosystems, and have a clear value proposition for skilled workers will win in the future.

Session #2: The Manufacturing Ecosystem is Broken – Roundtable discussion (20 minutes) 

Manufacturing CEOs operate within a vast ecosystem—technology vendors, consultants, workforce partners, government programs, universities, accelerators, and associations—yet many leaders feel unsupported, overwhelmed, or disengaged.

Paul Lavoie will lead a roundtable discussion to create a space for Manufacturers to speak honestly about:

• Where the ecosystem creates friction instead of momentum
• Why fragmentation prevents action and slows adoption
• What kind of support would help them move faster

The focus is to clearly articulate:

What manufacturing CEOs want — and no longer want — from the ecosystem meant to support them.

Session #3: How to engage with the Education System (15 Mins) 

In this session, Paul Lavoie will focus on how manufacturing leaders can engage more effectively with educators to build a stronger, more aligned talent pipeline. Too often, industry and education operate in parallel rather than in partnership.

He’ll outline practical ways manufacturers can work with K‑12 schools, community colleges, and universities to better communicate workforce needs, influence curriculum, provide real‑world experiences for students, and co‑develop talent for the future.

The session emphasizes education as a strategic partner—not a charity—and shows how intentional engagement can strengthen workforce readiness, improve retention, and support long‑term growth for manufacturing organizations.

Questions?

Contact Denise Weaver at Denise@brbc.org, 203-335-3800, ext.118 or visit CTMakesIt.org.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ED22HDQ3070186, awarded to the State of Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.