On Tuesday afternoon, we were proud to attend the Worcester Business Journal’s inaugural Manufacturing Summit & Excellence Awards to support our client. We cheered on Coghlin Companies and their subsidiary, Columbia Tech, as they accepted the award for Collaboration in Manufacturing.
Applied Interactive attended Worcester Business Journal’s Manufacturing Excellence awards in support of Columbia Tech’s win in the category of Collaboration in Manufacturing. L to R: Sarah Fisher, Manager of Marketing and Communications; Ryan Mannion, Business Development Specialist; Bill Laursen, Senior VP Sales and Strategy; John DeCarlo, Chief Technology Officer; Alexis Vallejos, VP Product Transitions and Successful Customer Launches; Gerry Burns, Executive VP and General Manager; Jason Bourque, Director, Finance & Administration; Laura Deming, Senior VP Engineering
Successful Online Marketing Strategy Leads to Higher Recognition in Manufacturing Community
The relationship between Applied Interactive and Coghlin Companies is built on a history of collaboration, trust, and growth. As one of the first clients to approach us for our web marketing services, Coghlin Companies has had a profound effect on Applied Interactive’s evolution. Through collaboration with the their leadership team, we have developed and executed an effective web marketing strategy for Coghlin Companies; this has increased their website traffic by more than 100% year-over-year, while simultaneously refining the company branding strategy.
Their ability to work so well with our team comes as no surprise; collaboration is the core philosophy of Coghlin Companies and their subsidiaries, Columbia Tech and Cogmedix. Cogmedix specializes in providing FDA-compliant medical device manufacturing for innovative medical device OEMs, while Columbia Tech provides world-class product engineering, contract manufacturing, global fulfillment, and field-service solutions to a diversified group of capital equipment innovators, device manufacturers, and venture-backed technology companies throughout the US.
At Applied Interactive, we work with a wide range of companies, many of which represent a variety of specialized skills and disciplines in the manufacturing sector. While all are deserving of recognition in their particular niche, Coghlin Companies has set the standard for collaborating with vendors, suppliers, customers, and fellow manufacturers while focusing internal processes on interdepartmental communication and cooperation. When we saw an opportunity to highlight this important quality in our client, the Applied Interactive marketing team stepped forward to nominate Columbia Tech for recognition in the first annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards.
The complex web of Columbia’s partnerships includes Applied Interactive, a Worcester marketing firm that reaches out to innovators who are just in the process of developing their ideas. When those entrepreneurs respond, they need fast, smart guidance, [Chris Coghlin] said. “When that phone rings or when that lead comes in, it means they need help now,” [he] said. “We can help them ourselves or get them in the hands of a partner.”
Manufacturing Client, Columbia Tech, Wins Award for Collaboration
The nomination process required a written submission and the answers to questions relating to all aspects of the company’s participation and innovation as a member of the manufacturing community. In this written submission, Applied Interactive discussed Columbia Tech’s internal programs that encourage employees at every level of the company to regularly submit ideas for company improvement. These suggestions often include ways to improve manufacturing processes and increase efficiency in day-to-day office operations. This allows the entire Columbia Tech workforce to share solutions and knowledge while contributing to the overall well-being of the organization. We also highlighted Columbia Tech’s Referral Alliance Network (RAN), which establishes mutually beneficial relationships in a strategically aligned network of manufacturers. This network combines each of their individual skills and specialties, allows them to tailor services to customer needs, and helps make sure they are connected with the appropriate manufacturing partner.
Finally, we touted Columbia Tech’s active participation in a variety of manufacturing associations and their vocal promotion of STEM and skilled manufacturing education:
Columbia Tech is heavily involved with a variety of local and national manufacturing organizations, including MDG, MassMEDIC, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Key team members have made presentations to different types of startup incubators, providing basic knowledge and guidance to those just starting out in the engineering or manufacturing process. Columbia Tech has also hosted events in conjunction with schools to encourage and educate tomorrow’s workforce, strengthening the future of manufacturing and the community as a whole. In the spring of 2015, West Boylston High School students were invited to tour Columbia Tech and learn about engineering and manufacturing opportunities and career paths.
At the award ceremony, Coghlin Companies was represented by several members of their leadership team, including Bill Laursen, Senior VP of Sales and Strategy, who spoke as part of a four-person panel focused on collaboration and growth in the manufacturing industry. One of the proudest moments of the evening happened in the presentation of the award itself, when presenter Terry Goldstein emphasized their exemplary demonstration of collaboration by saying, “Everything you heard on this panel, these guys have done.”
We take pride in the all the ways we contribute to the growth and success of our clients, but facilitating significant recognition for such a deserving company gives us a special satisfaction that we will enjoy for a long time. Congratulations to the staff and management teams at Coghlin Companies from everyone at Applied Interactive. We look forward to a bright future full of collaboration and success!
View photos from the event courtesy of Worcester Business Journal.