EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – October 12, 2017 – Inquisitive young minds will gather with leading women in manufacturing at the fourth annual “Making it Real: Girls & Manufacturing Summit” next week.
As part of the Connecticut Center for Technology’s (CCAT) Dream It. Do It. initiative, the Summit taps into today’s female manufacturing talent to engage and inspire the next generation skilled workforce. Presented in partnership with Massachusetts Dream It. Do It. The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Hartford-Windsor Marriott in Windsor, Conn.
“The percentage of women entering the manufacturing workforce lags far behind other industries and shows little growth. Sparking interest in future careers among girls is a priority to ensure manufacturers can attract, retain and advance women in skilled positions,” said Susan Palisano, CCAT’s director of education & workforce development.
The Girls & Manufacturing Summit will provide more than 170 middle and high school girls from Connecticut and Massachusetts with information about career and educational pathways in manufacturing through exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on activities that showcase today’s manufacturing workplace. The students will also hear from leading women in the industry, who will share their inspiring, personal success stories.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who has proclaimed October as “Connecticut. Dream It. Do It. Manufacturing Month,” will deliver opening remarks. After their morning workshops, attendees will hear from Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith, followed by a keynote address from Carolyn Lee, executive director of Washington DC’s Manufacturing Institute, which is the not-for-profit arm of the National Association of Manufacturers. The Summit concludes with a roundtable panel of female leaders and practitioners from the field.
The Making It Real: Girls & Manufacturing Summit program has been recognized as a national best practice by The Manufacturing Institute.
“Women represent 47 percent of the total U.S. labor force, but only 27 percent of the manufacturing workforce. That is why it is so critical to begin engaging young women in manufacturing activities and events, like Making It Real,” said Carolyn Lee. “This program gives young girls an opportunity to learn about modern manufacturing and the careers available directly from female leaders in the industry.”
Connecticut. Dream It. Do It., licensed and led by CCAT and financed by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund, is part of The Manufacturing Institute’s nationwide campaign to create a positive image of manufacturing today and attract the industry’s future skilled talent and leaders.
To learn more about Connecticut. Dream It. Do It. Manufacturing Month and the Girls & Manufacturing Summit events go to ctdreamitdoit.com.
Several Hartford radio stations will air a broadcast with Susan Palisano and Michelle Allinson, vice president of sales & marketing at Aerospace Alloys and member of the CCAT Board of Directors. Dates and air times are: ESPN (97.9 FM) on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 8 a.m.; WPOP News Talk (1410 AM) on Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. and New Haven WELI (960 AM) on Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. The radio show is produced by Metro Hartford Alliance.
About Connecticut. Dream It. Do It.
Connecticut. Dream It. Do It. is part of The Manufacturing Institute’s nationwide effort to create a positive image of manufacturing today and to develop an awareness of the variety of rewarding career opportunities it offers. Connecticut. Dream It. Do It. is taking the lead in enhancing Connecticut’s current and future manufacturing workforce pipeline. Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT) licenses and leads Connecticut. Dream It. Do It. Learn more at www.ctdidi.com
About CCAT
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT) is a nonprofit organization, headquartered in East Hartford, Conn., that creates and executes bold ideas advancing applied technologies, IT strategies and information security services, energy solutions, STEM education, and career development. By leading state, regional, and national partnerships, CCAT helps manufacturers, academia, government and nonprofit organizations excel. Learn more at ccat.us, or follow CCAT on Twitter – @CCATInc.
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