Manufacturing Champion Profile: Mark Harris
The Council of Industry has named the recipients of its annual Manufacturing Champion awards. The award recognizes individuals from the private sector, public sector, and education, along with an organization, who through vision, dedication, hard work and tireless involvement have helped to overcome some of the many obstacles faced by manufacturers in the Hudson Valley community and have made it possible for manufacturers and their employees to prosper.
For the first time this year the Council has named a Manufacturing Champion in a fourth field, Educator, to join the existing categories of Public Sector, Private Sector, and Organization. While educators have always been eligible to be named a Public Sector Champion, (indeed, this year that award will be presented to Cliff Wood, the president of SUNY Rockland) our board of directors felt that educating and inspiring future STEM leaders was so important it warranted its own category. And for the first ever recipient it’s hard to think of a more deserving recipient than Mark Harris.
Harris is a teacher in metal trades at the Ulster County BOCES program. He is also the lead mentor and Custom Robotics Design & Manufacturing Instructor, as well as the leader of the Solar Car project, the MIT robotic arm project, and the NASA prototype project. During his tenure there Harris has worked to build the CNC classroom at Ulster BOCES and has encouraged countless young people to pursue careers in machining. “He is passionate about manufacturing, machining and teaching. He is committed to the success of his students and he is constantly looking for new experiences that will motivate them and empower them.” Says the Council’s Executive Vice President Harold King. “He has quietly built one of the premier High School Machining programs in the state. If ever there was a person who could be called ‘Manufacturing Champion Educator’ it is Mark Harris. We are fortunate to have him in the Hudson Valley.”
ICYMI check out our profile on Private Sector Champion Mike Ratliff. Check back on Tuesday to learn about our Organization Champion, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. And be sure to get your tickets to our annual Manufacturing Champions Breakfast.