MRC Recognized by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Center
On Wednesday, November 19, Jack Pfunder, President and CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), located in Allentown, PA, was invited to speak at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Center for Education and Workforce National Conference in Washington D.C.
The “Managing the Talent Pipeline: A New Approach to Closing the Skills Gap” conference focuses on improving education and workforce development systems so manufacturers have a talent pool of skilled workers with the training and qualifications they need to enable them to expand, grow jobs, and compete in the global economy. The Lehigh Valley’s model approach to this issue precipitated this invitation to share the successful strategies MRC and its community partnerships employed to gain national attention.
Pfunder’s passion about solving the manufacturing skills gap is because he has an extensive background in manufacturing and knows the issues full well. He held president, vice president and general manager positions with firms such as Microcom, REMEC, Loral Corporation & Lockheed Martin. He co-founded REMEC and is known in the Lehigh Valley as the President/CEO of Ani-Motion, Inc., of Bethlehem, PA. He co-founded Ani-Motion based on patented technologies that use fiber optics to produce lighted, animated displays on flexible and hardened surfaces. He built the organization from concept through start-up and management, successfully selling the business in late 2003.
“Our focus will remain on sustaining the pipeline with skilled and knowledgeable employees and giving manufacturing companies the support they need,” says Pfunder, “We have been able to make an impact on the Lehigh Valley’s perception of manufacturing careers, and increase the number of students enrolling in career and technical schools. I am honored to have the opportunity to discuss the keys to our success.”
For more information regarding the “Managing the Talent Pipeline: A New Approach to Closing the Skills Gap” conference, please visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation at http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/.