Connect with the AIM Higher Consortium

Connect to consortium members and partners who can assist with defense industry efforts.

Contact Us

Petra Mitchell

President and CEO

Matt Minner

Senior Consultant, Technical Services

Connie Palucka, NPDP

Vice President, Consulting

Mark Sewell

Senior Consultant

ABOUT PARTNERS & FUNDERS

DoD OLDCC

DoD OLDCC

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation leverages capabilities of state and local partners through grants and technical assistance to enhance readiness of our installations and ranges, and to deliver safe places for our members and their families where capabilities in Department of Defense do not otherwise exist. OLDCC’s program portfolio is presently comprised of over 200 separate grants, exceeding $1.3 billion, and represents partnerships between the Department and most states and communities that host Department of Defense installations. The OLDCC is a funder of the AIM Higher Consortium.


DoD OLDCC
Arlington, VA
oldcc.gov


Catalyst Connection

Catalyst Connection

Catalyst Connection is a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We provide consulting and training services to small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, accelerating revenue growth and improving productivity. Through active collaboration with our clients and the manufacturing community, they contribute to the growth, vibrancy, and ongoing robustness of manufacturing in our region. Catalyst Connection is supported, in part, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Catalyst Connection serves as the lead partner in the AIM Higher Consortium initiative. They communicate and promote activities including training, workshops and events planned for AIM Higher.


Catalyst Connection
4501 Lytle Street Pittsburgh PA 15207
catalystconnection.org


Point of Contact

Matt Minner, Senior Consultant, Technical Services

mminner@catalystconnection.org (412) 918-4278

Tom Reed, Director, Communications and Community Outreach

treed@catalystconnection.org (412) 918-4269

ARM Institute

Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute accelerates the development and adoption of robotics technologies that are the foundation of every advanced manufacturing activity today and in the future. The Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of over 300 members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen the U.S. economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Founded in 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA by Carnegie Mellon University and operating as an independent public-private partnership funded by the Department of Defense and other federal and private organizations, the ARM Institute is part of the Manufacturing USA® network.


Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute
Pittsburgh, PA
arminstitute.org


Point of Contact

Ira Moskowitz

ira.moskowitz@arminstitute.org

America Makes

America Makes

America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce, and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and the first of the Manufacturing USA networks, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).


America Makes
Youngstown, OH
americamakes.us


Point of Contact

Nick Leone

nick.leone@ncdmm.org

John Wilczynski

john.wilczynski@ncdmm.org

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University has been the birthplace of innovation since its founding by Andrew Carnegie in 1900 as a school of applied arts and technology for the children of Pittsburgh’s steel workers. Today, CMU is a renowned global leader for its interdisciplinary programs in computer science, engineering, business, public policy, and the arts. CMU educates 14,000 graduate and undergraduate students annually and has more than 100,000 alumni in 130 countries. Award-winning faculty and students closely work together to solve major scientific, technological, and societal challenges. CMU engages with government and industry partners, which further advances the university’s position at the forefront of education, research, and innovation in western Pennsylvania and around the world.


Carnegie Mellon University
cmu.edu


Point of Contact

Gary K. Fedder

fedder@cmu.edu

Sandra DeVincent Wolf

sandradevincentwolf@cmu.edu

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) is a nontraditional, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development organization. Together with its affiliates, Enterprise Ventures Corporation and CTC Foundation, CTC leverages research, development, test and evaluation activities to provide transformative, full lifecycle solutions—from design to build and sustainment to retirement. CTC formed nearly 35 years ago with a focus on metalworking and manufacturing technology solutions; its current work falls in these broad categories: engineering and manufacturing, readiness and training, and advanced information technology.


Concurrent Technologies Corporation
Johnstown, PA
ctc.com


Point of Contact

Dan Markiewicz

markiewi@ctc.com

IN-2-Market, Inc

IN-2-Market, Inc

IN-2-Market (I2M) is a non-profit organization serving the Tri-State (OH/PA/WV) Region. They are a catalyst for industrial innovation through collaborative programs that leverage the unique strengths of our region. I2M brings industrial companies together with universities, technology innovators, and other enabling partners to identify and address shared innovation challenges, where industry collaboration is important. I2M’s collaborative process and network accelerates transformative solutions that can drive significant business outcomes for participating companies and economic benefits for the region.


IN-2-Market, Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
in2market.org


Point of Contact

Pat Getty

pgetty@in2market.org

Innovation Works

Innovation Works

Innovation Works is a nationally-recognized venture development organization growing Southwestern Pennsylvania’s entrepreneurial economy through direct investment, business expertise, and hands-on support. IW gets software, hardware, and life sciences tech entrepreneurs to the next stage from any stage of the startup journey.

Innovation Works
Pittsburgh, PA
innovationworks.org


Point of Contact

Matt Verlinich

mverlinich@innovationworks.org

The Johnstown Area Regional Industries

The Johnstown Area Regional Industries

Catalyst Connection is a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We provide consulting and training services to small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania, accelerating revenue growth and improving productivity. Through active collaboration with our clients and the manufacturing community, they contribute to the growth, vibrancy, and ongoing robustness of manufacturing in our region.

Catalyst Connection is supported, in part, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development, and by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Catalyst Connection serves as the lead partner in the AIM Higher Consortium initiative. They communicate and promote activities including training, workshops and events planned for AIM Higher.


The Johnstown Area Regional Industries
Johnstown, PA
jari.com


Point of Contact

Debra Balog

dbalog@jari.com

Linda Thomson

LThomson@jari.com

Robert C. Byrd Institute

Robert C. Byrd Institute

The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) at Marshall University is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia, with additional facilities in Charleston and Bridgeport, West Virginia. For more than 30 years, RCBI has delivered innovative solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes – from startups to Fortune 500 companies – by providing access to the latest advanced technology, engineering expertise, rapid prototyping services and training to move new products from concept to commercialization, improve manufacturing processes and ensure a highly skilled, just-in-time workforce. RCBI serves as an economic catalyst by leveraging its technology and expertise to assist clients across the United States in multiple industrial sectors, including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, energy, defense, and transportation.

Robert C. Byrd Institute
Huntington, WV
rcbi.org


Point of Contact

Derek Scarbo

dscarbro@rcbi.org

Craig Weber

cweber@rcbi.org

Robert Morris University

Robert Morris University

Robert Morris University (RMU) is a private university with a Carnegie Doctoral/Research classification, located in Moon Twp, PA. RMU School of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science (SEMS) founded in 1999 offers a variety of programs at undergraduate and graduate levels in engineering management, biomedical, industrial, mechanical and software engineering as well as minors and certificates in energy and sustainability, materials, and advanced manufacturing. RMU SEMS is the host of Pennsylvania’s only ABET accredited BS Manufacturing Engineering program, also 1 of 21 such programs in the U.S. In addition to being highly active in research and scholarly environments, RMU SEMS has been supporting regional industries by work-force development efforts, applied research, internships/co-op programs, and placements of its graduates. 

Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA

rmu.edu


Point of Contact

Arif Sirinterlikci

sirinterlikci@rmu.edu

New Century Careers

New Century Careers

New Century Careers (NCC) is a nonprofit manufacturer and technical skills development organization serving the Southwestern PA community through inclusive access to technical training opportunities while helping employers find and develop technicians seeking purpose, passion and success in the workplace.  NCC accomplishes this mission by offering a tuition-free, PA State registered pre-apprenticeship, MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) and as a group non-joint sponsor of a 4-year registered apprenticeship for machinists, and a 2-year registered apprenticeship for robotic technicians. 

New Century Careers
Pittsburgh, PA
ncsquared.com


Point of Contact

Neil Ashbaugh

ashbaugh@ncsquared.com

TechConnect West Virginia

TechConnect West Virginia

TechConnect West Virginia is a non-profit economic development organization headquartered in South Charleston, WV. TechConnect West Virginia’s mission is to diversify and grow the state’s economy through technology-based economic development. Through its suite of programs, they connect entrepreneurs with the resources, specialized technical assistance and access to capital needed to launch new technology-focused businesses. TechConnect West Virginia has received key support, in part, from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the State of West Virginia/Department of Commerce, the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration.  

TechConnect West Virginia
South Charleston, WV
techconnectwv.org


Point of Contact

Anne Barth

anne@techconnectwv.org

University of Pittsburgh Center for Advanced Manufacturing

University of Pittsburgh Center for Advanced Manufacturing

The goal of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Advanced Manufacturing (UPCAM) initiative is to represent the efforts of diverse faculty from every department of the Swanson School of Engineering (SSoE) in the field of advanced manufacturing.  The SSoE has determined that Advanced Manufacturing is an area of significant and future growth, requiring more focus and attention to maximize Pitt’s contribution to the field. Among their many of capabilities, UPCAM focuses on organizing and coordinating research related to additive manufacturing, machine learning and AI, novel sensor systems, and applied data science research to better understand the reliability and lifetime performance of essential materials – supporting both critical discoveries and students’ ability to participate in research efforts. They are advancing the state of manufacturing in society through world-class research, outstanding education, and dynamic industrial, academic, governmental, and regional collaborations. The UPCAM initiative aims to benefit the local and national economy through research discoveries and the collective strengths of Pitt’s Engineering communit

University of Pittsburgh Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Pittsburgh, PA
engineering.pitt.edu/upcam/


Point of Contact

Liza Allison

liza.allison@pitt.edu

The West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership

The West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership

WVMEP, housed inside Mining and Industrial Extension at West Virginia University, is focused on helping West Virginia businesses improve competitiveness in both local and global markets. WVMEP is the official representative of the MEP National Network and NIST MEP in West Virginia. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing

The West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Pittsburgh, PA
industrialextension.statler.wvu.edu


Point of Contact

David Satterfield

David.Satterfield@mail.wvu.edu

David Carrick

David.Carrick@mail.wvu.edu

Consortium Members

Barnes
Belleflex
ccac
exOne
JWF
Mecco
Metal Solutions
re Robotics
Schmidt
Steller
Sustainable
TCWIB
Team Consortium
Tronix3d
Workforce Dev

STAY CONNECTED

If you’re a small or medium-sized manufacturer in the defense industry seeking to expand business and operational capabilities to strengthen the supply chain and create and maintain jobs, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the form and we’ll be in touch soon.