Peter Connolly took over as the CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program June 1, and in a recent interview he made it clear that there was one thing he could not do in that role. “As I said at the State-of-the-State, there’s no replacing John Kennedy,” the new leader told NJBIZ last week.

Connolly, who has more than 40 years of experience in aerospace and defense industry manufacturing, joined the NJMEP board of directors in 2009 after being a client of the organization. In 2014, he became board chairman. Last September, he was named COO and began learning the day-to-day aspects of the job as the leadership transition process took place over the last several months.

“He [Kennedy] left a playbook of what we need to do,” Connolly explained. “Working with our three pillars: workforce development, supply chain, and advanced technologies.”

Kennedy first announced that he would step down from the role he had held since 2012 in October 2021.

“Ever since I stepped in as CEO, the workforce has been the number one concern among manufacturers in New Jersey and throughout the nation,” Kennedy said during NJMEP’s May summit held in Trenton. “The fact that during my 12 years with NJMEP we helped create and retain nearly 50,000 jobs in the industry is an accomplishment that will stick with me for my entire life. Manufacturers had a need, and we played a direct role in helping them overcome this imposing challenge.”

The annual State-of-the-State, held at the Trenton War Memorial, brought together hundreds of New Jersey manufacturers, industry leaders, state policymakers, media, and other stakeholders with one purpose: bringing more manufacturing to the Garden State. It featured two panel discussions, networking opportunities, and a “MADE in New Jersey” product showcase.

A major discussion point among attendees was cutting red tape to help manufacturers be able to stay here in New Jersey. “This State-of-the-State is bittersweet,” said Kennedy, who described his time serving the manufacturing sector as a unique privilege. “From the first State-of-the-State NJMEP hosted in 2017 until the most recent, and while strides toward fostering a pro-manufacturing New Jersey, there’s still more work to be done. I’ll still be around, advocating for the industry and supporting NJMEP’s National Supply Chain database implementation. As long as the industry continues coming together and speaking up, it will only continue moving forward.”

During his tenure, Kennedy helped NJMEP become the top-rated Manufacturing Extension Program in the country, bringing the organization from a 12-person operation to supporting nearly 50 full-time employees and over 200 independent industry resources, while navigating some daunting challenges.

“I want to thank everyone that has worked alongside me and NJMEP, for their energy and push that helped us get through Superstorm Sandy, COVID, and – now – how we’re handling the supply chain and reshoring issues that includes the offshore wind build-up,” said Kennedy when he officially announced his retirement in April. “None of these things can be handled by a single individual.”

Connolly now picks up the leadership mantle at the organization. He stressed that apprenticeship programs represent a crucial workforce development initiative, and that supply chain is a big issue—a reality the pandemic laid bare.

Funding and partnerships

During last month’s summit, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority announced it had already approved more than $8 million in vouchers to 69 Garden State manufacturers under the New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program. The initiative awards vouchers to purchase equipment and help New Jersey manufacturers upgrade their businesses. NJMVP was unveiled last fall as a $20 million pilot. Due to the robust demand in this first year of the program, the NJEDA’s board voted in March to increase available funding to $33.75 million. And the state’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget calls for another $20 million for the program.

“New Jersey’s manufacturing sector continues to be a strategic component of our state’s economy, by creating essential products for people and businesses and creating skilled jobs,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Tim Sullivan. “The New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program is providing manufacturers with the support they need to drive economic activity, boost our supply chain, and ensure New Jersey’s strong economic future.”

Last month, NJMEP announced a partnership with County College of Morris to educate and train veterans and their families for manufacturing careers at no cost. The New Jersey Defense Manufacturing Community Consortium is being funded through a $5 million U.S. Department of Defense grant, awarded to the NJMEP by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. The partnership has a two-fold mission of supporting veterans on their path to civilian employment and bolstering the DOD supply chain by identifying companies and technologies that will allow Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton to strengthen innovation.

The training opportunities will focus on foundational manufacturing skills such as CNC and welding as well as certifications in safety and production processes. The program will assist up to 1,200 participants over the next five years.

“Over the last several years, CCM has developed and gained wide recognition for its advanced manufacturing programs and its state-of-the-art training facility, the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center,” said Anthony Iacono, president of CCM. “It is an honor to broaden that into assisting greater numbers of veterans who have served our country with respect and dignity.”

And last week, NJMEP received $400,000 in National Institute of Standards and Technology grant funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.

“With the $400,000 in federal funding, the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program will ensure that small and medium-sized manufacturing companies remain connected to over 140,000 U.S. producers and suppliers, assisting companies and entrepreneurs across the state to innovate and thrive,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.

“This funding will NJMEP to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers in our state while strengthening domestic supply chains nationwide,” added U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.

“COVID-19 showed our country what happens when supply chains aren’t transparent,” said Connolly. “NJMEP secured a grant to support NIST MEP’s effort of developing a National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network here in New Jersey. NJMEP is utilizing these funds to bring on supply chain experts to the team, implement the latest supply chain technologies, and give New Jersey manufacturers access to these technologies at no cost for as long as possible.”

Regional focus

When asked about other areas of importance as he begins his tenure leading NJMEP, Connolly stressed South Jersey.

“I think it’s an underserved market. We need to assist companies down there,” Connolly explained. “If you take all six counties in South Jersey, it’s still smaller than Bergen County for the amount of employers and employees. That being said, we need to serve that.”

He said those efforts will entail more potential academic and community partnerships as well as trying to bridge the transportation logistics that can often make it difficult to reach jobs in the region.

Of course, the burgeoning offshore wind sector will bring major logistical and manufacturing operations to South Jersey, which will provide a huge shot in the arm for the area in terms of economic impact and job creation.

“Offshore wind is going to be to be big and it’s going to happen,” commented Connolly, who said he was steering clear of the much-publicized marine mammal safety debate. “When people ask us, we say, ‘That’s not our issue. Our issues are supply chain and jobs.’ They’re looking for 10,000 people.”

As for how his role with NJMEP will evolve/change now that he is at the helm, Connolly explained that it will be a bit less about the day-to-day operations and more about advocacy and working with partners. He said what excites him the most is being able to visit manufacturers and check out their sites and facilities with his own eyes and hear what support they need.

“When they realize that you’ve been in their situation and know what it’s like,” he said. “That’s the part where their eyes go, ‘great, you guys can help.’”

Connolly said that includes all staff, not just him, so that even account managers have manufacturing experience and can walk into a facility and be able to identify and/or understand what help their clients may need.

This next chapter of the NJMEP and these latest developments converge amid a broader backdrop of the vulnerability and realization that the nation faced regarding supply chains in the wake of the pandemic, which has created a real moment for manufacturing to tell its story and tout its impact on everyday life.

“We try to promote that every day,” said Connolly, pointing to initiatives such as MADE in New Jersey, a partnership with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, and highlighting companies on the NJMEP website. “Again, something that John started. Get on that peak and just start yelling, just keep hammering away that there’s 11,000 manufacturers in New Jersey. There’s 36,000 to 40,000 open manufacturing jobs. That’s three per company.”

He pointed out that a lot of these manufacturers are smaller companies with less than 100 employees.

“And we’re trying to give them that voice,” said Connolly.

Connolly said he has been on the road as part of the effort to meet with manufacturers, learn their needs, help tell their stories, and give them that voice.

“I love it,” he said. “I’m seeing parts of the state that I haven’t seen in a long time.”