Manufacturing, Technology Leaders Meet at Chesapeake College

Published in Times-Record | Jack Rodgers | March 25, 2019

The Maryland Department of Commerce hosted a networking event for leaders and representatives of the manufacturing and technology field at Chesapeake College, March 21.

Food and drink was served as manufacturing and technology business owners mingled with Kent, Talbot, Queen Annes and other Eastern Shore County Chamber of Commerce representatives.

Tours of Chesapeake College’s Skilled Trades Lab were given by Director for Skilled Trades Tom Ellis.

Chesapeake College President Clifford Coppersmith spoke briefly about Ellis’ mission of bringing more opportunities for students in the field of applied technology. He said while the college’s facilities were “fairly humble,” the college was working to maximize their potential with programs offered.

“We’re really trying to move the needle. We know the need, certainly that was part of my interview process, hearing that message loud and clear,” Coppersmith said.

Anthony Casey, representing Shoreline Vinyl Systems, said Caroline County had a lot of manufacturing businesses that might be secret.

“This is just part of the steps that we have to take to keep growing those businesses and see what we can get done for the businesses that are already here,” Casey said.

Talbot County Economic Development Coordinator Sam Shoge said bringing manufacturing opportunities to Talbot County is what the department is looking to do. He said the county has a great history in manufacturing and a lot to offer.

“In many ways it speaks to our strengths,” Shoge said. “Those are industries that are cutting edge, and are innovating extremely quickly and those are all things that we as Talbot County want to be associated with.”

Shoge said looking to the future and to bring companies into Easton, any company would feel at home with the offerings of gigabit data connectivity through fiber optic internet.

“Being a gigabit city on the Eastern Shore in a rural area is pretty darn cool,” Shoge said. “You get the benefits of a rural lifestyle and a quality of life but you’re still connected at speeds that are unprecedented.”

Dorchester County Economic Development Director Susan Banks said manufacturing was the backbone of the county. She said meeting other business leaders and county representatives in the atmosphere of Chesapeake College was invaluable.

“It creates an environment where you can share and businesses can learn from each other and share their successes or concerns and maybe even do businesses with each other,” Banks said.

Kent County Economic Development Coordinator Jamie Williams said the county was already based on manufacturing. A lot of their largest companies rely heavily on applied technologies, she said. She said right now, the county is working to attract technology-based companies with low environmental impact and high paying jobs.

“27 percent of our wages (are) earned in the manufacturing industry sector,” Williams said. “So we’re really focused on manufacturing, as well as technology with investment of the dark fiber broadband.”

Queen Anne’s County Economic Development Manager Jean Fabi said the county is working on building existing opportunities in it’s niche manufacturers, like Paul Reed Smith Guitars and NRL Associates.

Fabi said Queen Anne’s County was added to the Baltimore #74 Foreign-Trade Zone, where companies can get relief from duties and tariffs when brining in goods from other countries.

“The key to any good business attraction or expansion strategy is workforce,” Fabi said. “Chesapeake College is an excellent partner in helping us develop our workforce pipeline and also to enhance the existing skill-set of our residents.”