# 299: Inside Connecticut's Manufacturing Ecosystem: Innovation, Workforce Development, and Industrial Leadership, Live from Hartford, CT

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-08-18
- Length: 46m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Cici Bevin, sixth-generation president of Bevin Brothers Manufacturing, Andrew Gibson, CEO of AlphaQ, and Dustin Nord, Foundation Director at CBIA, discuss the unique manufacturing ecosystem in Connecticut. They cover how Bevin Brothers maintains relevance as the last U.S. bell maker, how AlphaQ achieved #1 global supplier status at Rolls-Royce through turnaround strategies, and how the state’s Chief Manufacturing Officer role and workforce development initiatives support high-precision, low-volume production. The conversation highlights cross-state collaboration, the importance of a strong education pipeline, and the specific products made in the region, from Black Hawk helicopters to Wiffle balls.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Reads
- [6:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development#t=390) Cici Bevin and Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Overview
- [16:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development#t=965) Andrew Gibson’s Turnaround Story at AeroCision/AlphaQ
- [24:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development#t=1489) Connecticut’s ‘Coolest Thing Made’ Products and Defense Cluster
- [33:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development#t=1986) The Role of Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer
- [35:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-08-18-299-inside-connecticuts-manufacturing-ecosystem-innovation-workforce-development#t=2136) Cross-State Collaboration and Workforce Development

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

established companies, companies scaling up, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Bevin Brothers Manufacturing (company)
- AlphaQ (company)
- Sikorsky (company)
- Rolls-Royce (company)
- Pratt and Whitney (company)
- GE (company)
- Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence (company)
- MaintainX (company)
- Clifton Larson Allen (company)
- CBIA (company)
- Sesame (other)
- General Mills (company)
- Rensselaer Polytech (company)
- AeroCision (company)
- Medtronic (company)
- Ensign Bickford (company)
- BD (company)
- Kilbasa (company)
- Calzone (company)
- Lee Company (company)
- Wiffle Ball (product)
- Pez (product)
- Black Hawk helicopter (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Inside Conexus Indiana: The Industry Network Driving Manufacturing Tech and Talent | Ep. 46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-31-inside-conexus-indiana-the-industry-network-driving-manufacturing-tech-and-talen) (Lights Out)
- [Mastering Operational Excellence and Customer Partnerships in EMS with Worthington Assembly CTO Chris Denney](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-mastering-operational-excellence-and-customer-partnerships-in-ems-with-worthingt) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Stronger Relationships, Stronger Manufacturing: The Power of Trust w/ Michael Kornuta](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-06-17-stronger-relationships-stronger-manufacturing-the-power-of-trust-w-michael-kornu) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [From Garage Startup to EMS Excellence with Out of the Box COO Allison Budvarson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-from-garage-startup-to-ems-excellence-with-out-of-the-box-coo-allison-budvarson) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [The Shared Responsibility of Upskilling the Workforce w/ Bill Berrien](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-03-14-the-shared-responsibility-of-upskilling-the-workforce-w-bill-berrien) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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