MACNY, The Manufacturers Association recently announced the promotion of three team members whose leadership and expertise continue to advance the organization’s mission and statewide impact.
These individuals will play a pivotal role in advancing the Manufacturers Talent Institute (MTI), MACNY’s talent development engine dedicated to connecting talent, training and industry through its continuum of career exploration, pre-apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship programs.
They are:
• Colleen Blagg — She has been promoted to director of pre-apprenticeship. In her previous role, she played a key part in supporting and expanding pre-apprenticeship programming, helping connect students and job seekers with meaningful career pathways in manufacturing. In her new role, she will oversee the strategy, development, and execution of MTI’s pre-apprenticeship programs, including Advance 2 Apprenticeship and Real Life Rosies, while strengthening partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and community organizations. She will also lead efforts to grow participant engagement, enhance program outcomes, and expand access to high-quality talent pipelines that support the region’s workforce needs.
• Samantha Wessing — She has been promoted to senior workforce development specialist. In her previous role, she worked with employers, education partners and participants to strengthen workforce training initiatives and talent pipelines across the region. In this expanded role, she will focus on serving the Mohawk Valley region, leading efforts to expand talent development and apprenticeship programming and deepen engagement with local partners. Her responsibilities will also include leading employer training initiatives on registered apprenticeship programs and collaborating with key stakeholders to develop pathways for youth into registered apprenticeship opportunities.
• Amanda Rice — She has been promoted to director of workforce operations. Since joining MACNY, she has been instrumental in managing state and federal grants, sourcing and administering new funding opportunities= and helping develop and implement key processes that strengthened reporting and coordination across departments. In her expanded role, she will lead efforts to research, develop and apply for new grant opportunities while collaborating closely with the finance team to optimize the use of grant funding. She will also oversee critical operational initiatives, including the development and maintenance of data and time tracking systems and other workforce development technologies that support program effectiveness and organizational growth.
