News & Blog
Manufacturing Sector Supplies Women with Challenges & Opportunities
With Women’s History Month entering its final week and International Women’s Day just passed, now is the ideal time to reflect on obstacles and possibilities careers in manufacturing presents to women. Although women comprise nearly half the U.S. workforce, they hold only one-third of positions in manufacturing companies and have lower representation than in other […]
Read More...Catalyst Connection’s 2022 Annual Report Shows How Organization is Helping to Strengthen Southwestern PA’s Manufacturing Sector
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pittsburgh (Hazelwood), March 8, 2023 – Catalyst Connection, a not-for-profit organization that provides consulting and training services that help small manufacturers in the 12-county southwestern Pennsylvania region accelerate revenue growth and improve productivity, has released its 2022 Annual Report. Last year, Catalyst Connection helped bring more than $7.5 million in grant funding to the region which […]
Read More...Assistance for Beaver County Manufacturers Impacted by East Palestine, OH Train Derailment
Beaver County small business owners impacted by the train derailment in nearby East Palestine, Ohio can turn to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and our resource partner network for continued in person and online support. Rest assured, we’re continually working with our federal, state and local partners to coordinate ongoing support efforts for you. […]
Read More...Four Ways That Engaging With Schools Benefits Your Talent Stream
By Egreenews: https://egreenews.com/four-ways-that-engaging-with-schools-benefits-your-talent-stream/ The manufacturing community has long struggled with finding skilled workers, citing, among other things, the misperceptions that manufacturing jobs underpay, are monotonous and involve working in dirty factories. With the adoption of Industry 4.0 – automation and robotics – the task at hand for the industry is as much about raising awareness […]
Read More...Catalyst Connection’s New CFO Sees Position as Opportunity to Give Back
By Todd Miller Whit Little, Catalyst Connection’s new CFO, has spent more than 30 years in senior management at multiple startup technology and manufacturing companies in the Pittsburgh region. In many of those roles, Whit was a loyal client of Catalyst Connection. Those experiences enabled him to gain a solid understanding of Catalyst Connection’s mission […]
Read More...Accounting Considerations for Lean Organizations
by Lindsay Andrews Many manufacturers utilize lean techniques to help improve manufacturing processes. In addition to the manufacturing process, the concepts of lean can extend to various other aspects of the business including accounting. There are five principles of lean and each one of these principles has applications to accounting departments. 1) Creating Customer Value […]
Read More...Manufacturers Can Cross Digital Bridge Through Build Back Better Regional Challenge Initiative
Just as American iron and steel and manufacturing emerged from the Greater Pittsburgh region in the Industrial Revolution, today a new revolution of advanced manufacturing (AM) technologies grows from southwestern Pennsylvania’s innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and other leading-edge digital technologies. According to a McKinsey Global Institute report titled “Making it in America: […]
Read More...Jeanne Straw, Tech & Manufacturing Sector Pioneer, Retiring from Catalyst Connection
by Todd Miller After 34 years of helping Pittsburgh’s technology and manufacturing communities grow, Jeanne Straw is retiring from Catalyst Connection on December 31 as senior vice president of administration. As second in command under President and CEO Petra Mitchell, Straw has been responsible for compliance, government grant reporting, tax, finance, human resources and operations. […]
Read More...Catalyst Connection Awarded $4.8 million in Federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge
Grant will be used to expand robotics and autonomous systems technology to small and medium employers in Southwestern Pennsylvania On September 2, President Biden announced the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative as one winner of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Catalyst Connection will lead the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Robotics Expansion […]
Read More...Catalyst Connection Announces CMfgA Training Program
The Certified Manufacturing Associate training program helps prepare dislocated workers, underemployed individuals, veterans, and more start a new career in manufacturing. The 25-class online training program from Tooling U-SME can be bundled with the nationally recognized Certified Manufacturing Associate credential. This training program prepares individuals for high-demand, entry-level careers including assemblers, manufacturing associates, and production […]
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