By AFRO Staff
The Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI) has issued a call for entries for stories of innovation, leadership, goodwill, transformation, and resilience.
With support from the Maryland Department of Commerce and in partnership with 12 of Maryland’s leading business organizations, the 2020 Champions of Maryland Manufacturing program is actively seeking stories from individuals, companies, organizations, agencies and academic/training entities efforts of how their products, services or efforts have impacted or supported the manufacturing industry in some way in 2019-2020 in any of these six categories: Battling COVID-19, Digital Transformation, Workforce, Diversity & Inclusion, Community Engagement, Energy Efficiency & Sustainability.
Submitted stories will be featured in RMI’s new online “Champions Directory.” The directory provides each champion with a full page to feature their story along with photos and videos illustrating how they are championing manufacturing here in Maryland. The directory and its stories will be promoted through RMI and the media channels of its many Champions’ Partners over the next several months.
“We know there are so many great, innovative manufacturing-related efforts taking place statewide and those efforts deserve recognition,” says RMI President Mike Galiazzo, “The Champions Directory serves as an incredible resource for legislators who want to know what’s happening on the manufacturing front in their districts or educators, parents and students who want to get an idea of the career opportunities the manufacturing industry provides, and the entities providing the necessary training.”
There is no cost to submit a Champion story. RMI anticipates featuring more than 300 stories in the Champions Directory October 2, 2020, which is National Manufacturing Day, and the deadline for submissions.
Once the Champions entries are all submitted, RMI will open the voting for the 2020 Champions of Maryland Manufacturing People’s Choice Awards. The public is invited to review all Champions in the Directory and vote for their favorite (one vote per email address) October 7-16, 2020.
The top three Champions in each of the six categories that receive the most people’s choice votes will be designated as the 2020 Champions of Maryland Manufacturing People’s Choice winners. Winners will be announced on Oct. 21, and featured on RMI’s website and recognized at a special ceremony in Annapolis (the ceremony is subject to change per COVID-19 state guidelines). For more information about the Champions of Maryland Manufacturing and RMI, visit www.RMIofmaryland.com.