Q&A and Cocktails, a free virtual happy hour featuring talkbacks with experts from Rhode Island’s heritage, arts, culture, and business sectors, continues on Wednesday, June 3 at 4pm with an exploration of Rhode Island manufacturers’ response to COVID-19.
Join the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association’s President Dave Chenvert, along with local manufacturers Clare King, President of Propell LLC, that is creating cloth face masks; Mike Reppucci, President and Founder of Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co., that is producing hand sanitizer; and Robert Nangle, President and Owner of Meridian Printing, that has created an app to screen employees before they come to work each day, as well as lawn signs and face masks. They will discuss how our state’s manufacturing sector has stepped up and re-tooled to support the need for various products during the response to COVID-19, as well as RIMA’s efforts to support one of the few industries that has remained open during the pandemic and ensure employee safety.
The public may register to receive an invitation to this Zoom event by emailing mowc@rihs.org.
Chenevert has been Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association since 2017. A Rhode Island native and graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Chenevert previously owned and operated the 65-employee Swissline Precision Mfg. Inc. in Cumberland for 31 years.
King is President of Propel LLC, Pawtucket RI. She has had a varied and extensive career in technical textile and garment product development. Her company is focused on bridging the gap between textiles and technology, with a particular focus on protection for US military personnel. Current Propel project’s include advanced wireless textiles and stitchless engineering of future sailor clothing systems. In response to COVID 19, Clare developed a cloth face mask that is now available at Propelmasks.com. In just six weeks Propel has made and sold tens of thousands of this comfortable solution for social distancing. Just a week ago Propel was awarded new funding to develop an advanced 3D knit cloth mask for the US Navy, which is expected to reach the market within weeks. Clare holds degrees from Princeton and Oxford Universities and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences globally.
Reppucci launched Sons of Liberty in 2011 with unique whiskies distilled from flavorful beers and has now won over 100 awards in domestic and international competitions. Sons of Liberty, while always keeping flavor the focus, has evolved immensely over the last 9 years with increased whiskey specialties, the introduction of Loyal 9 Cocktails, expanded distribution and a busy tasting room. Mike credits any of his success to being “just dumb enough to think he can and just smart enough to pull it off,” a belief that resonates with his team and empowers them to take chances.
Nangle has been President & Owner of Meridian Printing since 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and was previously a CFO in the food industry and held various financial roles in the printing industry. Meridian Printing is a high quality commercial printing company specializing in traditional commercial printing as well as fine art and photography reproduction. Meridian Printing is a great RI story of reaching beyond geographical and cultural borders to bring in clients from all over the country from all walks of life, including corporate business professionals, colleges and universities, publishers, famous celebrities, and artists and photographers. Products range from direct mail, catalogs and calendars, to coffee table books and limited edition posters.