Shifting Gears: Lavoie Heads to UNH

After three years as Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, Paul Lavoie is stepping down to take a position at the University of New Haven.

Lavoie, who was appointed by Gov. Ned Lamont in February 2022 to succeed Colin Cooper—the first person to hold the role—will coordinate the development of an advanced manufacturing campus.

“I’m very happy as chief manufacturing officer and I think the Connecticut economy is strong and will continue to be that way because of all of the programs we have in place,” Lavoie told Hearst Connecticut Media.

“But this is a once-in-a-career opportunity and I believe the timing is right for it.

“This is going to be a first-in-the nation example of how you combine the education sector with the private sector and build best-in-the nation relationships and collaborations.”

Research Park

Lavoie will begin his new role as the university’s first vice president of innovation and applied technology next month.

UNH acquired a 12-acre lot with a 130,000 square foot commercial building across the street from its main campus in West Haven last December.

University president Jens Frederiksen expects redevelopment of the site as UNH’s Research and Development Park to take 18 to 24 months once construction begins.

Frederiksen said the park will provide “the next generation of an elite workforce for Connecticut with transformational hands-on learning experiences.”

“This is an unprecedented economic development opportunity, with the promise of catalytic impact across the key industry sectors that have traditionally defined Connecticut’s core economic and comparative advantages,” he said.

UNH has relationships with a number of Connecticut-based manufacturers, including Sikorsky, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Medtronic, Otis, RBC Bearings, Pratt and Whitney, The Lee Company, and Raytheon Technologies.

Search

Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Dan O’Keefe is leading the search for Lavoie’s successor as chief manufacturing officer.

The position oversees the state’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund, which has spent $111.1 million since its inception in 2015—$108.6 million for programs and $2.5 million on administrative costs.

CBIA, affiliates CONNSTEP and ReadyCT, and the Connecticut Manufacturers’ Collaborative championed the need for the chief manufacturing officer position, which the state legislature created in 2019.

“We look forward to continuing to be a close partner with the next chief manufacturing officer.”

CBIA’s Chris DiPentima

Manufacturing entrepreneur, CEO, and aerospace design engineer Colin Cooper was appointed later that year to the role, serving until he retired in 2022.

“Paul Lavoie certainly helped elevate the profile of Connecticut’s critical manufacturing sector and generated increased awareness of key industry issues,” CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said.

“Connecticut has been been very fortunate to have two highly committed people in that role and we look forward to continuing to be a close partner with the state’s next chief manufacturing officer.”