By: Barry Miller
I had the pleasure of attending the dedication of the Larry A. Ward Machining Technologies Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport in April. I previously communicated that Larry had provided over $1 million to Penn College to upgrade their equipment bank, which significantly improves the skill development of the machining students. Student placement in industry is 98%!
But more on why Larry is a manufacturing hero. In addition to providing such a generous grant to Penn College, Larry has supported DVIRC and the manufacturing community by going with us to Washington, DC and to Harrisburg, where Larry “firmly” encouraged legislators to support Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Centers (IRCs), of which DVIRC is one, and the National Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Larry also has been very active in supporting Penn College over the many decades since he graduated from there by hiring graduates of the school and speaking to the students to encourage them to be the next generation of “makers!”
Please take a few minutes to read the attached background of Larry, founder and former CEO of Pacproinc, and his contributions to the Pennsylvania manufacturing community!