August 27, 2015
Currey praised the collaboration among academia, industry and labor leaders that made the establishment of the center possible. The new 30,000-square-foot manufacturing building, currently leased from Goodwin’s neighbor and partner Pratt & Whitney Co., serves as the new center of Goodwin’s manufacturing school.
Officials attending the celebration included Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. John Larson, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Representatives Henry Genga and Jason Rojas, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc, manufacturing industry professionals, local business owners and educational leaders.
The officials lauded the college’s advancements in manufacturing education as important not only to the state and local economy but also to the nation’s security because many of the school’s graduates will go on to work in the defense industry.
“Goodwin is moving at light speed,” said Joe Sylvestro, vice president of manufacturing operations for Pratt & Whitney. “It’s tremendous.”
In January, Pratt & Whitney donated $125,000 to the program for the purchase of equipment to grow its Certified Production Technician initiative. Sylvestro said that over the next decade Pratt & Whitney will be doubling its manufacturing requirements and is looking forward to continuing its close relationship with Goodwin.
“Partnerships like we have with Goodwin are essential to make sure we have the talent” needed to continue to be a manufacturing leader in the state and the nation, Sylvestro said.