‘MADE in New Jersey’ Held October 1, 2021 Was Back In-Person and These Six Manufacturers Took Home the Title, ‘Manufacturer of the Year’
‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day 2021 was a massive success with hundreds of industry professionals all coming together to celebrate with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc at the Marigold in Somerset, New Jersey on October 1st.
Pre-Register for ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day 2022
This is New Jersey’s largest manufacturing networking event of the year and after a virtual year in 2020, the event was back in-person with an optional virtual attendance aspect. With ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day being back in-person, the Manufacturing Awards also made a comeback. Six manufacturers in six unique categories were recognized for their stand-out achievements and brought home the title of ‘Manufacturer of the Year’! IN 2020, all New Jersey manufacturers were recognized as Manufacturing Heroes for their work during the pandemic. Now with the world returning to relative normal, it was once again time to highlight select businesses for being true pioneers and thought-leaders.
Celebrating ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day Both In-Person and Online
All Content is Available On-Demand!
To give everyone the option to attend, regardless of any COVID restrictions, ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day 2021 was a hybrid event. People could purchase tickets for either the in-person or virtual event. The virtual event would give people access to follow along with the in-person celebration. Virtual attendees even had access to exclusive breakout sessions to make up for them missing out on breakfast, lunch, and cocktails. A hybrid event is a new concept for NJMEP but it was exactly what was needed to make sure the entire industry could celebrate together.
Celebrating All the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ Award Winners
‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day hosts the Manufacturing Awards every year except during the pandemic in 2020. The Awards ceremony made a comeback this year which sets out to honor select manufacturing businesses that went above and beyond in their service to customers and the local community. All the New Jersey businesses that took home a Manufacturer of the Year award can be found below:
- Innovators of the Year: CompoSecure, LLC
- Manufacturing Cares: Carl Stahl Sava Industries, Inc
- Start-Up: Bellus, LLC
- Large: Keystone Industries, LLC
- Medium: Norwalt Design, Inc
- Small: Groezinger Provisions, Inc
Each of these businesses are the perfect example of stand-out manufacturing operations. To learn more about each one, be sure to review the latest edition of Manufacturing Matters magazine!
Welcoming the Latest Members of the Manufacturing Honor Roll
Each year NJMEP thanks stand-out supporters of the industry by inducting them into the ‘Manufacturing Honor Roll’. These individuals can be industry professionals, legislators, organizations, or anyone else that shows unwavering support to New Jersey manufacturing. In 2021, 7 new names have been added to the Manufacturing Honor Roll. Find them all, below:
- Senator Robert Menendez
- Congressman Josh Gotteimer
- State Senator Tom Kean, Jr.
- Peter Connolly, ShockTech President, Chairman of the Board of Directors, NJMEP
- Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Development Board
- SETC
- Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
The Never-Ending Value
Over the past 2 years the true value of manufacturing was made apparent. Relying on overseas production caused the supply chain to fracture when the pandemic closed borders and interrupted production. New Jersey saw many businesses retool and pivot to help alleviate these disruptions. The Garden State is also known as the Medicine Chest of the world, home to many of the top life-science manufacturing companies like Sanofi, Novartis, J&J, and more. The world took notice when New Jersey answered the call to combat COVID-19 in a variety of ways. Whether it was producing hand sanitizer, masks, or working to develop a life-saving vaccine, this amazing state was ready to support.
During a normal year, ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day hosts some amazing keynote speeches. This year in particular brought together the most impressive line-up of speakers, ever. Rallying around the amazing work accomplished over the past 2 years, prominent federal and state legislators came out to share a few words with the attendees; thought leaders like Kevin Depew, Deputy Chief Economic, RSM US LLP shared invaluable insight into the current and future status of the industry; and even the global CEO of Sanofi, Paul Hudson took the time to address all those that joined the celebration. All the Keynote Speeches and opening remarks are available on-demand for anyone that purchased a ticket. Those recordings can be found right here.
Never before has ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day brought together so many prominent industry leaders. The industry garnered an unprecedented amount of support and attention by working day and night for 2 years to combat this global pandemic.
Manufacturing businesses are all unique and require specific resources, support, and skills to succeed. Each year, the industry is reviewed and break-out sessions are designed around topics that are having a direct impact on these organizations. 2021 was no different. Breakout sessions were offered on the following topics:
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology in Today’s Facilities
- Cyber Threats & Cyber Solutions
- Diversifying Workforce Development: Encouraging & Retaining Women in Manufacturing
- Resiliency always matters, Pre-and Post-Pandemic: Cash Flow (Virtual Only)
- If you are in the Department of Defense Supply Chain are you CMMC compliant?
- Overcoming Common Hurdles in Food Manufacturing
- Real Workforce Solutions: Recruitment, Retention, & Upskilling
- Resiliency always matters, Pre-and Post-Pandemic: Digital Marketing (Virtual Only)
There was even a special lunchtime conversation with the Manufacturing Caucus. Senator Michael Testa, Senator Vin Gopal, and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling came together to discuss some of the most disruptive challenges the industry was facing today. This hour-long discussion was an insightful and production conversation aimed at getting to the root cause of issues holding back New Jersey manufacturing.
Everyone that purchased a ticket to ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day can review all these breakout sessions by clicking here.
Of course, this celebration wouldn’t be complete without the endless supply of food and drinks for all those that attended in person. Every year ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day includes breakfast, lunch, and a specialty cocktail. This year’s cocktail was ‘MEAD in New Jersey’. Mead was provided by a local New Jersey manufacturer, Beach Bee Meadery. Not only was this unique cocktail a hit, but it also gave a local business the opportunity to show off its product and introduce more people to this specialty beverage.
Just because ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day is over doesn’t mean the industry has to fade away. Every manufacturer in the state needs to leverage this momentum and continue engaging with the local community. To explore more ways to drive a ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day business forward, contact NJMEP today to get involved. Without speaking up for the industry, manufacturing will continue to be overlooked. National MFG Day 21 is the perfect excuse to bring the industry together to celebrate all its accomplishments and economic impact.
Special Thanks to These Manufacturing Allies
‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day is not held to generate profit. 100% of any proceeds are donated directly to local community foodbanks. Without the amazing businesses that sponsor the event, there would be no way NJMEP could host such a grand celebration. Each of the businesses listed below played an essential role in making New Jersey’s largest manufacturing networking event of the year possible.
Awards Sponsor
Registration Sponsor
Break-Out Session Sponsors
- LB Goodman & Co.
- SAX LLP
- Grassi & Co.
- Cytellix
- PEN & Team Eagle Foundation
- ZaGO
- Alan Zakin Associates
- Platinum Sponsors
- Provident Bank
- HINJ
- NJ Advance Media
- Crowe LLP
Gold
- JP Morgan Chase
- SobelCo
- Columbia Bank
- Vistage
- Rowen University
- The Knotts Company
- Team Eagle Foundation
- Sanofi
- Cimquest
- NJEDA
- Sompo Global Risk Solutions
- ROI-NJ
- Berkeley
Silver
- David Taylor Design
- CCM – Community College of Morris
- TDK-Lambda
- Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC)
- New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
- Bogue Systems, Inc
- UNEX
- Spear Travel Group
- Genova Burns
- eMazzanti Technologies
- Techminds, llc
- NJBIA
- NJII
Bronze
- Garden State Precast, Inc
- Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences / Eastwick College
- Hy-Tek
- Concord Energy
Blue
- ACV Enviro
- K&C Partners
- Think Tree
- Firestorm
- JMR Recruiting
- MF Supply
- Kabeer Consulting
- 20lemons
- Porzio