New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program

“We watered the seeds – and the seeds are growing into plants,” Connolly, the CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, recently told NJBIZ about the organization’s successful 2024. “It was probably the best year in NJMEP history.”

Among last year’s highlights were the largest ever Made in NJ Manufacturing Day and the delivery and implementation of NJMEP’s Mobile Training Lab.

And Connolly and the organization enter 2025 riding that wave of momentum – with a number of innovative and ambitious initiatives planned. At the center of those efforts is a focus on continuing to build more partnerships, which he described as perhaps the most important things he spends his time on.

“Partnership 2.0,” Connolly said of the 2025 mantra. “I don’t think we’re done with partnerships.”

Connolly was also elected to serve on the board of directors at the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, an area of the state where NJMEP has paid particular attention.

“I think the team’s energized,” said Connolly about the year ahead. “This is going to be a better year.”