Manufacturing is an amazing career choice and people seem not to understand that they can have a wonderful life taking up a career in this industry. Our guest today is passionate about informing kids and their parents that just because you go into a trade and start working right out of high school, does not mean that you lose the opportunity to go to college. More often than not, employers like herself want to invest in their employees and companies. Today, we welcome to the show, Kristin Carlson, who is President of Peerless Precision, Inc. in Westfield, Massachusetts. Peerless is a small, precision machine shop specializing in the manufacturing of complex mechanical components, mainly for the aerospace and defense industries. Kristin is the previous president of the Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association. She also currently serves as trustee, a member of the board, and sits on advisory/steering committees for Westfield Technical Academy’s Manufacturing Program, West Springfield High School’s Pathways to Prosperity Program, Agawam High School’s Manufacturing Program, and Forge. Kristin has extensive experience in purchasing, sales, supply chain management, and operations management. She is extremely passionate when it comes to changing the outdated narrative that encompasses manufacturing, bringing more women into manufacturing, and educating students on the many career paths and opportunities that are available in advanced manufacturing. Stay tuned for this insightful conversation as we hear all about it from Kristin herself in today’s episode.
#142 (Re-air) Leading Youth Into the Manufacturing Industry with Kristin Carlson
Frances Brunelle
Frances Brunelle is the founder of Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers, Inc., which specializes in the sale of lower middle-market manufacturing companies nationally. Fran and her team help to ensure the continuity of U.S. Manufacturing by transitioning ownership to the next generation of entrepreneurs. Fran writes on topics that help manufacturing business owners prepare their companies for sale and navigate the sale process to ensure a positive financial result in support of their retirement. Her articles can be found here. Recently Fran was named to 2020 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A by Mergers & Acquisitions.
To learn more about Fran and her company, click here: About Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers, Inc.
Kristin Carlson
Kristin Carlson is President of Peerless Precision, Inc., in Westfield, MA; a small precision machine shop specializing in the manufacture of small, complex mechanical components mainly for the Aerospace and Defense Industries. Kristin is past President (2016-2020) of the Western MA Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (WMNTMA) and currently serves as Trustee, a member of NTMA’s AMPED (Advanced Manufacturing Practices and Education Development) Board and sits on Advisory/Steering Committees for Westfield Technical Academy’s Manufacturing Program, West Springfield High School’s Pathways to Prosperity Program, Agawam High School’s Manufacturing Program and Forge. Beginning January of 2021, Kristin will begin a 6-year term as Chair of the State of Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund’s Advisory Board.
Kristin has been with Peerless Precision, Inc. since 1997, and has held a variety of positions with the company since then. She assumed the role of President from her late father in 2012. Kristin has extensive experience in purchasing, sales, supply chain management and operations management. She is extremely passionate when it comes to changing the outdated narrative that encompasses Manufacturing, bringing more women into Manufacturing and educating students on the many career paths and opportunities that are available in Advanced Manufacturing.
