The WAI’s New England Chapter announced the six 2025 winners of its scholarship program, which includes one candidate who qualified as a sponsored intern. Each scholarship was for $2,500.

Jack Bienvenue is the stepson of Walter Parsell, facility engineering manager, Prysmian Group. He is attending the University of Connecticut, where he is seeking a degree in statistical data science.

John Hartline is the son of Christopher Hartline, vice president of operations, RichardsApex. He is attending Pennsylvania State University, where he is seeking a degree in computer science.

Luke McComiskey is the son of Thomas McComiskey, vice president, The MGS Group. He is attending the University of Rhode Island, where he is seeking a degree in nursing.

Erin Mulligan is the daughter of Alan Mulligan, sales representative, Vandor Corporation. She is attending at High Point University, where she is seeking a degree in business administration. She also won a scholarship from the Southeast Chapter.

Michael Russo is the son of James Russo, electrical engineer, MGS Manufacturing. He is attending Salve Regina University, where he is seeking a degree in biochemistry.
Ryan Delage, the recipient of the Intern Scholarship, was sponsored by Gary Collette and Michael Renner of Sjogren Industries Inc.

The New England Chapter returned to the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut, for its 31st annual golf outing on what proved to be an utterly gorgeous day for the 143 golfers.

Coming out on top was the Lloyd & Bouvier team (pictured with trophy) of Michael Tucker, Darren Tucker, Joe Yabba and Gibson Yabba that shot a very respectable score of 15 under par. In second place, at 12 under, was the Web Industries team of James Evans, Trevor Lucas, Dave Morgan and Jordan Pihl. Third place went to the Little Falls Alloys team of Jeff Lawrence, Mike Sarni, Jake Pelletier and Sean Donnelly, 11 under.

The day had begun with the tee-off breakfast sponsored by James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp., and during play players could stop at designated lunch shacks—sponsored by Teknikor and Carris Reels—scattered throughout the course. Though golfers took their game seriously and the competition was fierce, players had a great time. Multiple golfers commented on how much they appreciated the brisk pace of play.

Following the tournament, players gathered at the pavilion for the dinner and awards ceremony, where the coveted New England Golf Tournament trophy was presented. The victorious team will keep it until the competition returns next year.

Event participants could also win an array of raffle prizes donated by a slew of generous sponsors. The winner of the grand prize—a set of TaylorMade Irons valued at $800—was Chris McCormick of Lightera, although the biggest winner was the chapter’s scholarship fund. Players dug deep for raffle tickets, adding nearly $4,000 to the chapter’s scholarship fund. See the six winners who won scholarships.

Event sponsors included: Amaral Automation Associates, Carris Reels Inc.; Electronic Drives & Controls, Inc.; Fluorogistx; Gem Gravure; Gendon Polymer Services Inc.; GEON Performance Solutions; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; Joe Snee Associates, Inc.; Lake Cable, Lake Copper; Lenze Americas; Little Falls Alloys; Lloyd & Bouvier; M.Holland; Mathiasen Machinery; Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. Inc.; REELEX Packaging Solutions; RichardsApex; SIKORA; Teknikor; The MGS Group; W. Gillies Technologies LLC; Web Industries; Wire & Cable Consulting, LLC; Wire & Cable Manufacturers’

Alliance, Inc. (WCMA); and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.

Jim Evans, who led the tournament organization, offered special thanks to all the dedicated committee volunteers who participated. “Without them, the event would be nowhere near as enjoyable.”

The WAI New England Chapter has rescheduled its previously planned Aug. 7 educational meeting at FENN’s plant in East Berlin, Connecticut, to October 9. The annual educational meeting will include a plant tour and a networking dinner, featuring food and drink trucks for the celebration.

The cost is $105, or $85 for WAI members. All proceeds support the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund, helping invest in the next generation of industry professionals.

The Ohio Valley Chapter (OVC) will hold its golf tournament and target shooting event on Thursday, Aug. 21. As with its prior event, the OVC will offer a unique split activity format. Golfers will play at the Kensington Country Club (www.kensingtongolf.com), while the OVC shooting event will again be held at the Training Range (www.thetrainingrange.com) in nearby Austintown. Following both events, the Ohio Valley Chapter will hold an educational program.

Meanwhile, the New England Chapter returns to the Tunxis Country Club (www.tunxisgolf.com) on Monday, Sept. 8, for its highly anticipated 31st annual Golf Tournament, with 140 golfers expected to participate. The event will feature a DJ, raffle prizes, awards, and ample time to reconnect with colleagues and make new industry connections in a relaxed setting. If you’re not interested in golf, you can register for just the afternoon portion.

Closing out the schedule will be the WAI Southeast Chapter’s Annual Golf Outing on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa (www.rockbarn.com) in Conover, North Carolina. See more in the next issue.

Registration for all these events can be made through the individual chapter pages at www.wirenet.org. These events, a perfect blend of camaraderie and competition, are an excellent way to meet peers, support good causes (such as college scholarship programs), and enjoy a day on the links.

While the exact date was not finalized by press time, FENN has offered to host the WAI’s New England Chapter for its educational meeting at the company’s site in East Berlin, Connecticut, and the chapter is looking forward to it.

The annual event will include a tour of the plant as well as a networking dinner that will include food and drink trucks coming for the celebration. Registration for the event can be done at the chapter page online at
www.wirenet.org. “This looks to be another good chapter event,” said chapter President Annaliese Sviolka, Gem Gravure. “FENN has a long history in the industry, and being able to be there is really special.”

Fenn Torin this year celebrates its 125 anniversary. FENN is a global supplier of customized metal forming machinery that includes rolling mills, wire flattening and shaping lines, Turks heads, drawbenches, swagers and spring coilers used across a wide variety of industries. Its history traces back to Jan. 15, 1900, when Wison Lee Fenn received his first purchase order. Using rented space in Hartford, Connecticut, he began to manufacture plug and ring gages, built marine engines, printing presses, special milling and drilling machines.

Led by three generations of Fenn men and over a dozen presidents throughout the years, Fenn has adapted to significant historical events and altered operations to contribute to the advancement of manufacturing. Their influence is widespread, found in your office, kitchen, car, printing, and aircraft as well as for military applications such as machine gun parts and other war materials.

The WAI New England Chapter’s Annual Dinner will return to the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Feb. 6.

The event will again be held this year inside the Cabaret Theatre, starting with the reception at 5:30 pm, followed by the meeting. Registration opens at 5 pm. The program is still being finalized, and the January WJI will have a full preview. The meeting will include the introduction of the 2025 officers, the raffle and the perfect setting to catch up with friends and colleagues. The event remains a key fundraiser for the chapter’s Scholarship Fund, and companies/individuals can help further that goal by becoming a meeting sponsor. Registration is now open through WAI’s event registration system. WAI Chapter members in good standing receive discounted rates.

There will be a review of chapter activity in 2024. Looking back to the last meeting, Jan. 26, Keynote speaker Michelle Dray—creator of the “Getting Unstuck & Leading Fearlessly” program—presented a different focus on personnel. Her 11-week program is designed for women, but she told attendees that it also applied to men. She explained the different signs of “career stuck-ness, and how they were different for industry newcomers (0-five years) or those who have been around longer but also face plateau issues. Her message worked, and she had very good reviews.

One of the highlights was the annual golf tournament on Sept. 11 at the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut. A total of 135 golfers played, with the Fluorogistx-sponsored team of Jim Elliott and Rick Larson from New England Wire Technologies, and Jim Bliss, Marmon IEI, winning with a score of 60, 12 under par. The chapter’s scholarship fund was also a big winner, as the raffle once again saw members dig deep to support the cause.

Another was the WAI’s New England Chapter annual educational event on Nov. 7 at Accel International’s plant in Cheshire, Connecticut, followed by a networking dinner. Including WAI staff, a total of 46 people from 30 companies took part.

Accel International Holdings CEO and Founder Tony Oh talked to attendees about the company’s history and gave an overview, followed by attendees splitting into small groups to walk through the facility. That was followed by a dinner at Viron Rondo Osteria, where participants enjoyed a networking dinner.

The New England Chapter, the WAI’s largest one, currently has 209 members.

Members of the WAI’s New England Chapter, the Association’s first founded and largest chapter, were treated to a stirring speech about manufacturing in Connecticut, hear about its 2023 activities and more at its annual dinner on Jan. 25 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Following a reception where members got to meet up with their chapter colleagues, the event started with outgoing 2023 Chapter President Jessica Foss, Electric Cable Compounds, Inc., welcoming attendees. She thanked all the chapter members who have volunteered for different programs as well as the companies that have pitched in, providing essential support.

For the 2024 meeting, that included Platinum Sponsors James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp., Gold Sponsors Carris Reels and Multi Cable Corp.; Silver Sponsors Conneaut Industries Inc., Flourogistx and Electric Cable Compounds Inc.; and the Bronze Sponsor was W. Gillies Technology. A special callout went to Lloyd & Bouvier for its generous $2,000 sponsorship for the event.

The new chapter president, Ryan Carbray, Alphagary, introduced the keynote speaker, but speaking at different points in the program, he covered a lot of ground. “The WAI New England Chapter board will continue to organize and support opportunities to bring this regional industry together and strengthen our fraternity,” he said, noting that it could not be done without the continued leadership and support from the chapter members. The other officers for 2024 are Vice President Michael Roussel, ExxonMobil, Annaliese Sviokla, Gem Gravure Co., and Thomas Rosen, Wire & Cable Consulting, LLC.

Carbray highlighted the chapter’s achievements in 2023, which include the continuation of the scholarship program and another successful golf tournament. In 2023, the chapter awarded six scholarships of $2,500 each. One of the 2024 chapter scholarships will go to either an intern or employee in the industry who is pursuing continued education at a college or university. He reminded attendees that applications for the 2024 scholarship must be sent by March 31.

Scholarship winners for 2023 were Kyle Albrinck, son of Alice Albrinck, Teknor Apex; Amarra Cruz, daughter of Luis Cruz, Times Microwave Systems; Katherine Fritz, daughter of James Fritz, Marmon Industrial Energy & Infrastructure Group; William Goyette, son of Richard Goyette, MassMEP; Roma Kale, daughter of Rina Patel, Marmon Industrial Energy & Infrastructure Group; and John Stecker, grandson of David Stecker, a WAI Past President.

Carbray also introduced the members of the newly elected 2024 Board. New members include David Fisher, James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; Thomas Rosen, Wire & Cable Consulting LLC; and Paula Butkevich, Hueson Corp. Re-elected/returning board members include Lori Parent, Cable Components Corp.; Jim Evans, Web Industries Inc.; and Jeff Lawrence, Custom Wire Products. Continuing board members include Jessica Foss, Annaliese Sviokala, Jon Mello, Cheryl Stewart, Joel Cacopardo, Mike Mathiasen, Michael Sarni and Michael Roussel.

Carbray also thanked the members who helped make the chapter’s fund-raising efforts a success. He also singled out fellow Board Member Jim Evans, who heads the Annual Golf Tournament Committee, for outstanding work. He then introduced the keynote speaker, Paul S. Lavoie, Chief Manufacturing Officer for the State of Connecticut, who had been mingling with the audience and remained there later, talking to attendees.

Lavoi talked about the biggest problem in the manufacturing industry being labor and finding people to work. He discussed alternative ways to strengthen the workforce such as collaborating with local schools to attract talent or offering flexible/shortened shifts to accommodate parents whose children take priority.

Up next for the New England Chapter is its annual golf tournament. Look here for more details on that, as well as a future educational program this year, or go to the chapter web page. 

The WAI’s New England Chapter is known for holding memorable annual meetings, and its upcoming one this month at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, promises to follow that tradition.

The event will again be held this year inside the Cabaret Theatre, starting with the reception at 5:30 pm, followed by the meeting at 6:35 pm. The keynote speaker will be Michelle Dray, the creator of the “Getting Unstuck & Leading Fearlessly Program.” She has worked for more than 10 years as a coach and creator of her 11-week women’s leadership program that identifies five signs or symptoms of “career stuck-ness” to look out for. She notes that her talk is not limited to women.

“I think the fact that the majority of the audience has historically been men, and the expectation is the same for the upcoming event, will add an interesting dynamic as I believe these signs and symptoms to be true for both women and men,” Dray said. She will discuss employee learning objectives that apply to both industry newcomers (0-5 years) as well as veterans.

The meeting will also see the introduction of the 2023 officers, the raffle and the invaluable experience of networking and catching up with friends and colleagues. The event is also a key fundraiser for the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund. Registration is now open through WAI’s event registration system. The cost is $140, and WAI Chapter members in good standing receive discounted rates. The 2022 meeting, held Feb. 24, saw total attendance of 97, and attendance is expected to easily top a hundred this year.

The memories do not have to be fleeting as an award-winning photographer, Ashley Abel, will be at a photo booth where attendees can get a free professional headshot (perfect for your LinkedIn profile, company website, etc.) or take a fun group photo with industry colleagues. The booth is sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier.

The grand raffle prize, also sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier, is for two tickets to a Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game. The second top raffle prize, provided by the Mohegan Sun, is two tickets to an Air Supply concert.