“Nick Gilson was 14 years old when he decided to try to build a snowboard inspired by boats. He’d often sailed in his native Rhode Island and once helped his father build a catamaran. The vessel’s parallel twin hulls make it faster than traditional yachts. Gilson wondered if a similar design could be applied to snowboards, which typically are flat on the bottom. So he started to work on a prototype.” By Karen Angel

Click here for full article by Bloomberg Businessweek

Nine companies with headquarters located in the Central Pennsylvania region were named on Inc. Magazine’s 2017 list of the 5000 fastest growing private companies in America. The 36th annual list is organized according to the percentage of revenue growth over the past three years.

The companies listed include: Fresh Roasted Coffee (727), Century Support Services (859), Homeland Manufacturing Services (920), Sunny Days In-Home Care (1925), COE Distributing (3623), Advanced Powder Products (4255), Applied Training Solutions (4279), Diamondback Truck Covers (4280) and Venetia Partners (4972).

Selinsgrove-based Fresh Roasted Coffee continues to top the list in the region. The coffee distribution / manufacturing company has experienced a three-year growth of 631 percent and made $4.8 million in revenues last year. In Pennsylvania, they ranked as the 24th fastest growing company.

In third is State College-based Homeland Manufacturing, which brought in $2 million in revenues last year and has a three-year growth of 479 percent.

In total, Pennsylvania had 185 companies on the list, 78 of which were in the top 50 percent.

* IMC Clients

A manager tasked with introducing a lean approach should not downplay the challenge, writes Peter Anthony, CEO of UGN.  Face-to-face communication is valuable, as is developing ambassadors for lean among the staff.

Read more

The PA CareerLink of Columbia/Montour Counties announces:

Today, more than ever, the Department of Defense (DoD) relies upon external contractors to carry out a wide range of missions and shares sensitive data with these entities. Under an interim rule issued in 2015 by the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), DoD contractors (including small businesses) must adhere to two basic cybersecurity requirements:

(1)  They must provide adequate security to safeguard covered defense information that resides in or transits through their internal unclassified information systems from unauthorized access and disclosure; and

(2)  They must rapidly report cyber incidents and cooperate with DoD to respond to these security incidents.

Failure to comply with the above requirements may prevent you from being able to conduct business with the DoD as of January 1, 2018!

Read DoD Article

NIST Interagency Report 7621 Rev. 1

If you are a supplier to DoD and have questions regarding compliance, contact IMC at info@imcpa.com or call 570-329-3200×8074.

Meet one-on-one with Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade Representatives.

PA’s 15 international trade experts covering more than 50 unique markets will be available to discuss opportunities and offer insight to the markets they represent.

The following trade representatives will be available for meetings:

• Arab Gulf (UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Yemen)
• Australia (New Zealand)
• Canada
• Central & Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine)
• China
• Germany (Italy, Switzerland, Austria)
• India
• Mexico
• Middle East (Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Turkey)
• Netherlands (Belgium)
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam)
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom (Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland)

Locations:

State College on September 15 from 8:00 am top 4:30 pm.  Click here to register for State College by August 30th.

Johnstown on September 18 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Click here to register for Johnstown event by September 7.

Check out this great video released by the Keystone Wood Products Association featuring a number of IMC clients and the products they make using Pennsylvania hardwoods.

WEDnetPA FY 17-18 Application Deadline Extended to August 11th. WEDnetPA brings training funds to qualified companies across PA. If you are planning to send staff members to any of IMC’s upcoming Lean Manufacturing programs in September, be sure to get your application submitted.

To learn more and to apply visit http://wednetpa.com/ or call IMC at 570-329-3200×8085 and we’ll get you connected to your local rep.

The Small Business Advantage Grant provides 50% matching grants, up to a maximum of $9,500 ($7,000 for lighting-only upgrades), to enable Pennsylvania small businesses with less than 100 employees to purchase energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment or adopt waste reduction processes. The program is open July 25, 2017 through June 30, 2018, or until funds are exhausted.

A 1-Hour webinar will be held on Friday, July 28 at 11:00 a.m.  The Internet and call-in information is:

Internet and Audio:

Web Link https://copa.webex.com/copa/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0aad04ff0552bbd7ca8f72a708eb4860

For Audio only:

Phone Number: 650-479-3208

Passcode: 648 338 625

The full 2017 Grant Guidance, including all requirements, step-by-step instructions, and other necessary forms can be found on DEP’s Small Business Advantage Grant webpage.   Spread the word, and apply early, as these grants are first come, first served.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is conducting a study to determine the use and value of manufacturing credentials.

There are many choices of credentials, but a significant lack of independent research regarding the quality, market value and effectiveness of manufacturing specific credentials. This research will provide information to U.S. manufacturers, career counselors and job seekers in reducing training costs and narrowing the skills gap.

On behalf of NIST MEP and IMC, we are asking you to participate in this important initiative. Please use the link below to access the survey before June 30th. Thank you for your time.

Click here to access the survey.