New England Talent Pipeline Program Hosts 2024-2026 Team Kickoff
WALTHAM, MA - September 26, 2024. The New England Talent Pipeline Project held its Team Kickoff Event at The Westin Waltham Boston in Waltham, MA, uniting employers, training provider, facilitators, and the US Navy to discuss their hiring needs, discuss tool implementation plans, and share pipeline strategies for finding candidates. For this program year, employer partners have collectively identified a hiring demand of over 284 jobs across the New England Flag.
Deputy Program Lead, Kevin Barto speaking
The New England Flag, encompassing Connecticut, represents a network of over 50 manufacturers and defense-connected businesses. These companies are vital to the defense supply chain, providing products in all metal forms, electronics, parts, and other critical areas.
Each year, an employer partner is selected as a best practice model, receiving all of the comprehensive tools to enhance their talent acquisition and retention process, ultimately strengthening their business. The Best Practice Models for New England are Hutchinson Aerospace and Industry (2023) and Consolidated Precision Products/Wollaston Alloys (2024), who shared their successful experiences within the Program.
The event began with a welcoming from Deputy Flag Sponsor Geraldine “Gigi” Lee, Deputy Program Manager, PEO Strategic Submarines, highlighting the importance of the Talent Pipeline Program. Followed by Keynote Speaker LCDR Joelle Schmitz from the US Navy. Each Employer Partner was then given time to brief all participants on their unique demands and what this Program has done to help them find and retain critical talent and ultimately run a better business. The event was closed out with some words of encouragement and guidance by Capt. Joe Meier, Commanding Officer, Submarine Maintenance Engineering, Planning and Procurement, US Navy, followed by the “Teammate of the Day Award”.
Teammate of the Day recognition
The "Teammate of the Day" recognition highlights Partners that are actively engaged and have made significant contributions to the Talent Pipeline Program. Congratulations to Barry Doyle, Kennebec Technologies, and Tim Neeley, BlueForge Alliance, for winning the Teammates of the Day Award.
The event also offered a valuable networking platform, allowing employers, training providers, facilitators, the US Navy, and interested future partners to forge new connections, exchange insights, and engage in meaningful discussions.
With 51 employer partners in New England and counting, we’re excited to continue advancing our mission. We look forward to the Mid-Year Program Review on January 23, 2025, at Babson College located in Wellesley, MA!
For more information: dibtalentpipeline.com
About Talent Pipeline Program: The US Navy Talent Pipeline Program TEAM will energize and engage the American manufacturing economy by creating and sustaining a defense and maritime industrial base-focused talent pipeline, enabling EMPLOYERS to re-capitalize their workforce through recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining workforce for 1-year as productive and engaged new employees.