Lawmakers Tour Manufacturing Facility, Encourage Students to Pursue Careers

Photo: State Representative Devin Carney and Sen. Paul Formica talk with Kelli Vallieres, PHD/President – CEO Sound Manufacturing Inc. about increasing awareness in manufacturing and sparking interest in potential career opportunities among high school students. 

OLD SAYBROOK – As part of Manufacturing Month, State Representative Devin Carney (R-23) joined State Senator Paul Formica (R-20) and students from three area high schools at Sound Manufacturing, Inc. and Monster Power Equipment, Inc. to see first-hand the types of the career opportunities the industry has to offer.

Employees from Sound Manufacturing provided students from Windham, Old Saybrook and Hebron High School with an up close look at the metal fabrication work being done and the large leaf and debris management equipment Monster Power Equipment is creating at the facility.

“During this legislative session we were able to pass a series of bills that highlighted the hands on careers that companies like Sound Manufacturing are looking to fill. We were able to expand manufacturing certificates and pilot programs, provide employment placement assistance to veterans and continue to enhance the manufacturing pipeline for high school students who want to pursue a career in the industry,” Rep. Carney said. “I applaud Sound Manufacturing in Old Saybrook for inviting Connecticut high schoolers to learn about manufacturing. Sound continues to be a leader in encouraging our youth to consider manufacturing as a career choice and hosting these open houses is a perfect way to get young men and women interested in an industry that provides good jobs and incredible potential for growth.”

“Rep. Carney and I are doing everything we can at the State Capitol to help businesses like Sound Manufacturing grow and thrive,” Sen. Formica said. “We are also working to get more and more students interested in pursuing careers in manufacturing right here in Connecticut. Taking a tour like this and hearing directly from Sound Manufacturing employees and area students provides us with crucial firsthand knowledge. We take that knowledge with us to Hartford and work with our fellow lawmakers to craft policies which make our state more business friendly and make manufacturing careers more appealing. We thank everyone at Sound Manufacturing for hosting this informative tour, and we urge area residents and businesses to contact us whenever they have questions about the state’s business environment.”

According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), manufacturers in Connecticut account for 10.74% of the total output in the state, employing 9.49% of the workforce.