MACNY, PEB honor achievement in workforce development at award ceremony

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It was an event that included recognition for registered apprentices and those supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers and education as well as scholarships for students. They were all part of the 2024 Workforce Development Awards that MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, and Partners for Education & Business, Inc. (PEB) hosted on Wednesday, June 12 at Le Moyne College. The nonprofit PEB is MACNY’s K-16 (education) arm, per the MACNY website. The awards celebrated the accomplishments of students and registered apprentices pursuing an education or careers in manufacturing and other industries. In addition, “as a testament to their commitment to upskill and bolster the talent-development pipeline,” MACNY concluded the program with a first-ever apprentice signing for four of its own employees to “signify the beginning of their apprenticeship journey.” “This year was especially meaningful for MACNY because four of our own staff members signed their apprenticeship paperwork, demonstrating our belief in the effectiveness of the program and the value of building our workforce through upskilling,” Randy Wolken, president and CEO of DeWitt–based MACNY, said in a statement. “On behalf of the MACNY Board of Directors, staff, and the manufacturing community, we would like to extend our congratulations to all of those that were honored at this year’s event.” The ceremony also recognized 29 registered apprentice graduates that earned their Journeyworker credential in 2023 from the New York State Department of Labor. The companies that received recognition for expanding their registered-apprenticeship programs from January 2023 to April 2024 included 110 Metalworks Inc.; Allen Tool Phoenix, Inc.; Bausch + Lomb; Belden Inc.; Bush Industries; Consolidated Precision Products (CPP); EMCom, Inc.; Hardinge, Inc.; Hubbard Tool & Die Corp.; Indium Corporation; Knowles; North Country Dairy; Superior Metals Manufacturing; and Thompson & Johnson Equipment Co., Inc. PEB also used the event to announce its 12th cohort of CNY STEM Scholars, which includes 11 Central New York students, each of whom had a company sponsor, MACNY said.