Manufacturers feted at PBN event, highlight role of all workers

GOV. GINA M. RAIMONDO speaks with Maria Kasparian, executive director of Manufacturing Award-winning Edesia, before the program began Thursday at Bryant University. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
GOV. GINA M. RAIMONDO speaks with Maria Kasparian, executive director of Manufacturing Award-winning Edesia, before the program began Thursday at Bryant University. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

SMITHFIELD – If there was a theme to Providence Business News’ Manufacturing Awards program Thursday at Bryant University’s Bello Center, it was that teamwork helps an enterprise function at a level much greater than the sum of its parts.
The dozen winners recognized in the program, ranging from Toray Plastics (America) Inc., the largest maker of film used for snack packages in the country, to Wardwell Braiding, a more than century-old builder of machines used to braid everything from candle wicks to Internet cable, to Hayward Industries, which makes sensors and controls for its line of swimming pool devices, all engage their employees to improve efficiency, innovate products and services, and create a smarter workforce.
The winner of the award for Strategic Leadership, Todd Blount, president and CEO of Blount Fine Foods, credited his staff for executing on his vision, one that has transformed a company known primarily for clam chowder into a $200 million maker of fine soups and sides with a burgeoning retail presence.
Among the 280 company officials and manufacturing industry insiders at the event were President and CEO of Toray Michael Brandmeier (whose company was recognized for Safety Performance and Records Excellence) and the general manager of General Dynamics Electric Boat’s North Kingstown facility, Sean Davies (which is one of the partners in New England Institute of Technology’s winning entry for Collaboration in Manufacturing). The total attendance represented a 30 percent increase from attendance last year.
Also attending were Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and U.S. Reps. David N. Cicciline and James R. Langevin. The three officeholders pointed to the success of the honorees as evidence that Rhode Island’s manufacturing sector, while not as large as it once was, is still highly competitive in the global economy, is full of great success stories and is an important part of the state’s economy.
The winners of the event will be profiled in a special section inserted in PBN’s April 6 edition.

Presenting sponsor for the second PBN Manufacturing Awards program is Polaris MEP. Partner sponsors include BlumShapiro; Bryant University’s John H. Chafee Center for International Business, Executive Development Center and the Graduate School of Business; Cox Business; Gallo/Thomas Insurance and Hope Global. The media partner is AM790.

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