New England Talent Pipeline Program (TPP) Mid-Year Event at Babson College
Bill Sapp from Consolidated Precision Products
January 31, 2024 - This year's Mid-Year Event brought together leaders from the manufacturing industry across New England to address and develop strategies for overcoming the common gaps in Recruiting, Onboarding, Hiring, and Retention within Talent Acquisition and Retention (TA&R).
With nearly 80 attendees, the event was a resounding success! Guest speaker Bill Sapp from Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) opened with an inspiring talk on how a refined TA&R process can significantly impact any organization, regardless of size. As an active member of the TPP, CPP exemplifies best practices this year. Thank you for your dedication, and congratulations on this impressive milestone!
Guest speakers included the Flag Sponsor Meganne Atkins (Executive Director, AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Program) and Deputy Flag Sponsor Gigi Lee (Deputy Program Manager, PEO Strategic Submarines), who emphasized the importance of collaboration over competition in today’s manufacturing landscape, united by a mission to maintain our global leadership.
Capping off the day was Captain Joe Meier (Commanding Officer, Submarine Maintenance & Engineering, Planning, and Procurement, US Navy), who shared a compelling anecdote about the drastic changes in manufacturing timelines. Once able to supply critical parts in just days, the timeline has now stretched to months or even years. This was a surprising revelation! Despite advancements in technology that allow for the rapid delivery of countless products online, our Navy struggles to receive essential parts with the same speed.
Key Takeaways from Our Event:
A robust manufacturing industry, supported by collaborative and talented individuals, is more critical than ever to the Maritime Industrial Base.
As technology evolves and a new generation enters the workforce, we must adapt our culture and recruiting strategies to attract and retain the right talent.
Building personal and trusting relationships remains the foundation of a successful TA&R pipeline.
Early and continuous engagement at the sources of our most successful candidates is essential for nurturing those relationships.
Winners of Teammates of the Day:
Meghan Abella-Bowen from Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Charles Biederka from Collins & Jewell
These two representatives were selected from four individuals, each sharing content discussed in focus groups related to Recruiting, Hiring, Onboarding, and Retention, for having the most compelling insights in this year's Mid-Year findings.
It’s time for us to unite and re-energize America’s manufacturing industry—starting with the people who make it.