Updates from the North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment
NAmTrans at Rendez-Vous du Transport 2019
NAmTrans and the North Country Chamber of Commerce were recently in Boucherville for the Quebec Ground Transportation Cluster's Rendez-Vous du Transport (RVT) 2019 event.
RVT 2019 brought together over 100 transportation industry leaders, stakeholders, and support organizations for a full day of networking, sharing of best practices, and informational panels.
NAmTrans proudly exhibited at the event, speaking with attendees about the continued growth of our transportation equipment & aerospace cluster and the many support services we offer to our cluster companies.
Garry Douglas - North Country Chamber of Commerce President & CEO - and Joel Wood - Director of NAmTrans - also led a presentation, "Maximizing Your Success in the U.S." This presentation covered a number of topics including: why the Plattsburgh-North Country region is the gateway for entering the U.S. market, the services we offer, and an update on current/future NAmTrans activities.
We would like to thank our partners at Le Pôle d’Excellence Québécois en Transport Terrestre for their mentorship and guidance over the years, and express our sincere appreciation for allowing us to attend, exhibit, and present at RVT 2019!
NAmTrans Partners for Training Opportunities
In July, the North Country Chamber of Commerce was awarded a $28,000 United States Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development (USDA RD) Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) for the purpose of offering supervisory and leadership skills training and on-site training assistance.
Our partner, the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), also generously provided a $10,000 match - bringing the grand total of training assistance funding to $38,000 .
We wanted to take this opportunity to bring you up to speed on what we and our partners have been able to accomplish with this funding and what we have planned for the future!
What We Have Accomplished:

  • Subsidized Lean 101 and Lean Kaizen training for three (3) NAmTrans cluster companies.
  • Lean training being conducted by CITEC Business Solutions.
  • 145 employees in total benefited from this training.
  • Currently offering a series of Supervisor Skills Training classes at the North Country Chamber of Commerce
  • 30 employees, from a variety of industries and backgrounds, are participating.
*Please note this training has sold-out.

  • Subsidized the cost for one employee of a NAmTrans cluster company to attend CITEC Business Solution's Project Management training.

What We Have Planned for the Future:

  • "North Country Connection" Professional Development and Leadership training which will run from February - May 2020.

  • Management Skills Training Series at the North Country Chamber of Commerce which will run from June - August 2020.

  • Ongoing, site-specific training assistance.

If you are interested in our training programs, and want to learn more, please contact Joel Wood at (518) 563-1000 or email Joel@northcountrychamber.com.
CITEC Project Management Training
Cluster News
Nova Bus Unveils LFSe+ Fully Electric Bus
Nova Bus, in partnership with BAE Systems, recently announced the launch of the LFSe+, a fully electric, long-range bus with dual charging options, at the American Public Transportation Association’s TRANSform Conference in New York City.
The new LFSe+ integrates traction motor and power electronics from BAE Systems, which uses advanced materials such as silicon carbide to improve heat management. The lower weight and increased power density of the BAE system also contribute to bus performance and durability. Powered by an integrated modular system, the electric motor significantly decreases maintenance costs and emits no greenhouse gas emissions.

With a total battery capacity of 594 kWh, the LFSe+ can run between 211 and 292 miles (340 to 470 km) before needing a charge, depending on power demands and operating conditions.

NAmTrans would like to congratulate Nova Bus and BAE Systems, both valued NAmTrans cluster companies, on the launch of the LFSe+, and thank them for their continued investment and commitment to the North Country.

To read more about the LFSe+, click here.
Photo included in Nova Bus Press-Release
Prelco, Inc. Honored with Prestige Award
Please join us in congratulating Prelco, Inc. as they were recently honored by the Chamber of Commerce of Rivière-du-Loup RCM with the "Transportation, Manufacturing, and Processing Business" Prestige Award.
This award was presented to Prelco's Vice-President of Innovation, Engineering, and R&D at the Chamber of Commerce of Rivière-du-Loup RCM's Annual Gala event.

Finalists for the award were selected, via vote, by Chamber members; t he selection of the winner was determined by a jury in individual interviews with each of the finalists.
To read more, click here.
About Prelco:
Prelco is a manufacturer of value-added glass products for the architectural, transportation, and defense markets.

In the transportation sector, Prelco manufacturers a wide variety of safety glass products (windshields and side/rear window frames) for rail, bus, recreational vehicles, and more!

Prelco is a valued NAmTrans cluster company, with a facility located in Rouses Point, New York.
Photo of Prelco, Inc.'s Prestige Award
Wabtec Corporation Celebrates
150th Anniversary
Please join us in congratulating Wabtec Corporation, a high-tech supplier for the freight and transit rail industries, as they recently celebrated their 150th Anniversary!

Vapor Stone Rail Systems, a Wabtec company, is a manufacturer of door systems and air conditioning system accessories for the rail industry.

Vapor Stone Rail Systems is a valued NAmTrans cluster company with two facilities in Plattsburgh, New York.

Check out the video below or click here to read more.
NAmTrans Announces Advisory Board
The North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment is pleased to announce the formation of an Advisory Board, comprised of representative leaders from different sectors of the 54 company cluster and from educational/training partners.

The Advisory Board will work closely with NAmTrans Director Joel Wood, offering guidance, feedback and strategic advice on NAmTrans' plans and priorities.
 
The members of the NAmTrans Advisory Board are:

  • John Vermette, GM, SpencerARL

  • Ryan Karp, Director of Operations/Site Leader, Norsk Titanium

  • Rob Carr, GM, Bombardier Transportation

  • Greg Cody, GM, Nova Bus/Prevost

  • Bill Kleftis, VP of Engineering, New York Air Brake

  • Alain Aumais, Director of Operations, Vapor Stone Rail Systems, a Wabtec Company

  • Mimi Lane, President, General Composites, Inc.

  • Manna Doyle, Plant Manager, Artik/OEM

  • Chris Parent, Plattsburgh Site Manager, Luminator Technology Group

  • Tom Webb, Director of Business Development, BAE Systems

  • John Zielinski, Executive Director, CITEC Business Solutions

  • Greg Hart, Regional Director, Workforce Development Institute

  • William Jemison, Dean of the Walter H. Coulter School of Engineering, Clarkson University
Fort Drum
Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program
The Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) is an Army program that is a partnership between the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Small Business Administration. These partners work together to assist military service members, their adult family members, and veterans with transitioning and making career decisions and establishing career goals. SFL-TAP has a two-part mission: Prepare and Connect. 

SFL-TAP connects service members with a variety of employment, education, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Fort Drum SFL-TAP hosts a quarterly career fair/hiring event, employer days, and industry days. The program also reaches out to connect with community, regional, and state agencies and employers to educate them about the pool of talent available to them in the form of transitioning service members.
The Career Skills Program (CSP) connects soldiers with employers for opportunities to train or gain employment experience. Soldiers must be within 180 days of separation from active duty to participate. Soldiers may receive training and experience via employment skills training or internships. If the training is within 50 miles of Fort Drum, soldiers may participate for up to the full 180 day as long as they have time to out-process from the installation. If the training is outside of the 50-mile radius of Fort Drum, they may participate for up to 120 days. Soldiers still receive all pay and benefits from the military, so internships are unpaid and employers are responsible for arranging housing.
For more information about SFL-TAP or CSP, contact the following:

Lorrie Guler, Transition Services Manager, 315-772-3284, lorrie.s.guler.civ@mail.mil

Desmond Jones, Transition Services Specialist, 315-772-2048, desmond.c.jones.civ@mail.mil

Patti Shields, Career Skills Program Installation Administrator, 315-774-3410, patti.j.shields.ctr@mail.mil

Lorilei Matteson, Career Skills Program Installation Administrator, 3150-772-1022, lorilei.a.matteson.ctr@mail.mil
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