Materials & Manufacturing Technology Network (MMTN)

The Materials and Manufacturing Technology Network brings together companies and academic institutions using coatings, adhesives and other polymer substances. Members include paper and plastics companies, with areas of common interest including manufacturing, environmental and technology commercialization issues. The network exists to increase business opportunities and competitiveness for member companies by promoting complementary resources and shared technologies. It accomplishes this by:

• Learning more about each other; resulting in more joint ventures and partnering.
• Providing business mentoring, support and improved linkages to each other, higher education, and business service providers.
• Increasing the rate and development of technology into and by firms, as well as to improve firms' productivity and cost positions.
• Addressing industry workforce skill needs that change as rapidly as technology changes.

MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY NETWORK (MMTN) IS OFFICIAL!

February 11, 2008

We are very proud to announce that, after several weeks of work carefully laying its solid foundation, the MMTN is open again for business. Its Steering Committee has determined the best mission, practices and priorities of this important network in order to meet the many challenges facing today's manufacturers. The MMTN became official on Friday, 02/08/08, with the election of Officers. Congratulations to the following outstanding people elected to Office by the MMTN Steering Committee:

Chair*
Ann Latham, President & CEO, Uncommon Clarity, Easthampton, MA

Vice Chair
Charles Blanker, VP of Strategic Development, Southworth Company, Agawam, MA

Treasurer
Ann Pieroway, Western Massachusetts Program Director, Massachusetts Export Center, Holyoke, MA

Secretary
Suzanne Parker, Executive Assistant, Regional Technology Corporation, Springfield, MA

*As Chair of the MMTN, and according to its Bylaws, Ann Latham automatically becomes a member of the RTC's Board of Directors. Ann is the President of Uncommon Clarity, Inc., a firm that specializes in helping businesses develop clear and competitive strategies - and implementing them. Ann has been both a consultant and an employee in companies such as Control Data, Boeing, and National Grid (UK) for more than 25 years, primarily in Minneapolis, Boston and the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. Her work has taken her to Japan, throughout the U.S. and Europe, and to South America.

Ann has worked with a wide range of companies. Some examples include:

• laser additive manufacturing
• force and motion control testing systems for material, cars and more
• earthquake simulation
• energy management systems
• service companies
• and not-for-profits

Ann is the author of numerous published articles and is a public speaker. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University with a degree in mathematics. Ann is a member of The Society for the Advancement of Consulting and the Human Service Forum.

We are very proud of this new slate of Officers. I wish to acknowledge and thank the highly dedicated work of the very robust MMTN Steering Committee:

• Tony Peterson, President, Atlantic Fasteners, West Springfield, MA
• Bob Hyers, PhD (MIT) Dept of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, UMass, Amherst, MA
• Chuck Hatch, General Manager, Packaging Corporation of America, Northampton, MA
• Kyle Richard, Director of Sales and Marketing, Elm Electrical, Inc., Westfield, MA
• Jim Capistran, Director of CUMIRP, Polymer Sciences & Engineering Dept., UMass Amherst, MA
• Paul Horak, Quabbin Sales & Engineering LLC, Belchertown, MA
• David E. Rodrigues, PhD, Cantor Colburn LLP, Bloomfield, CT
• John Holmes, Connecticut Valve & Fitting Co., Shelton, CT
• Mark Gregoire, President, Group Insurance Management Services, Inc, Springfield, MA
• Dawn Creighton, Account Executive, Masslive.com, Springfield, MA
• Zvi Rozen, President, Integrated Strategies Group, LLC, Amherst, MA
• April Cloutier, Director of Operations, RTC, Springfield, MA

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