2025 American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Front row, left to right: Ray Coombs, Jr, President, Westminster Tool of Plainfield, CT; Chris Moore, FIRST® CEO, accepting for Innovator of the Year Dean Kamen of Manchester, NH; Youth Innovator of the Year 14 year-old Nolan Kosciukiewicz of Newington, CT; Presenter LindyLee Gold, American manufacturing Hall of Fame Board Member; Katy Toburen, Induction Chair; Presenter Rich Dupont American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Emeritus Board Member; Back row, left to right: Lutz Labisch, President & CEO, TRUMPF North America; Chancelor Wyatt, Vice President & General Manager, Ward Leonard, located in Thomaston, CT; Presenter John Feeney, Vice President, RBC Bearings of Oxford, CT; Presenter Brett Bushnell, Principal, CLA and American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Board Member

Innovate

The American Manufacturing Hall of Fame aspires to cultivate innovation among manufacturers in terms of product development, production methodologies, and workforce enhancement. Hence, commencing in 2025, AMHoF has created the Innovator of the Year Award.

To pay tribute to those at the forefront of manufacturing and innovation, we present the esteemed past inductees and leadership recipients of the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame:

AMHoF Inductees:

  • 2014: Bridgeport Machines, Bullard Machine Tool, Hubbell, Inc., Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Warner Brothers Company
  • 2015: Bridgeport Brass, Moore Tool, Inc., Wheeler & Wilson/Singer, A.C. Gilbert, Brewster Carriage & Auto and Sargent Co.
  • 2016: Bead Industries, The Benedict & Burnham Mfg. Co., C. Cowles & Co., Chance Vought & Platt Brothers & Co.
  • 2017: Better Packages, Inc., MacDermid Performance Solutions, R.C. Bigelow, Inc., Stanley Black & Decker, & Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Specialty Metals
  • 2018: Cheney Brothers, Farrel Corporation, Handy & Harman/Steel Partners and Timex Group USA.
  • 2019: Ashcroft, Inc., Medtronic, Microboard Processing, Pratt & Whitney, Sonics & Materials, Inc.
  • 2023: ASML, General Dynamics Electric Boat, RBC Bearings
  • 2024: Arburg, Inc., Collins Aerospace, HORST Engineering, Otis Worldwide Corporation
  • 2025: TRUMPF Inc., Ward Leonard, Westminster Tool

Leadership Award Recipients:

  • 2014: Anita Gliniecki, Retired President, Housatonic Community College
  • 2015: Kris Lorch, President, Alloy Engineering & Kathy Saint, President, Schwerdtle Stamp Co
  • 2016: Jerry Clupper, Executive Director, New Haven Manufacturers Association
  • 2017: Jack Crane, Director of Growth & Innovation Services at CONNSTEP
  • 2018: Robert Klancko, Klancko & Klancko LLC
  • 2019: Frank D. Gulluni, Ret. Director Development & Operations, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, Asnuntuck Community College
  • 2023: Doug Johnson
  • 2024: Marcia LaFemina, Mary Fitzgerald

2024 Women of Distinction in Manufacturing

Connecticut is home to the best trained, best skilled workforce on the planet. So, it is no surprise that women are helming many of those efforts. In 2024, AMHoF honored twenty Women of Distinction in Connecticut Manufacturing:

  • Cindi Bigelow President/CEO, Bigelow Tea
  • Jessica Chavez Head of Service Training & L&D, Trumpf, Inc.
  • Shelley Fasano CEO, Dymotek Corporation
  • Dr. Jacquelynn Garofano Chief Technology Officer, CCAT
  • Laura Grondin President/Owner, Virginia Industries
  • Marcia LaFemina President, Penn Globe
  • Janet Link SVP/General Council/Secretary, Stanley Black & Decker
  • Jill Mayer CEO, Bead Industries
  • Martha Prou VP of Admin & Compliance, Phoenix Manufacturing
  • Kathy Saint President, Schwerdtle
  • Stephanie Blackwell Owner, Aurora Products
  • Mary FitzgeraldPresident, ACME Wire Products Co., Inc
  • Beatriz GutierrezPresident/CEO, CONNSTEP
  • Brittany IsherwoodPresident, Burke Aerospace
  • Marietta LeeCEO, Lee Company
  • Judy MarksChair & CEO, Otis Worldwide Corporation
  • Claude-Helene McIntyreVP/CFO, Arburg, Inc.
  • Nicole RussoPresident/CEO, Microboard
  • Dr Kelli-Marie VallieresChief Workforce Manager, CT Office of Workforce Strategy

Innovator Awards Recipients:

Youth Innovator of the Year:

  • 2025: 14 year old Nolan Kosciukiewicz,
    Newington, CT

Innovator of the Year:

  • 2025: Dean Kamen, Manchester,
    New Hampshire