Forging the Future: Pittsburgh’s Manufacturing Renaissance with Petra Mitchell

Welcome to another episode of the Manufacturing Momentum podcast! Today, Matt Bogoshian hosts Petra Mitchell, President & CEO of Catalyst Connection and a distinguished leader in Pittsburgh’s manufacturing scene. With Petra’s deep roots and expertise in the manufacturing industry, this episode promises a riveting conversation between Matt and Petra about the Pittsburgh region’s manufacturing leadership and the evolution of their manufacturing sector.

📢 Episode Highlights:

From Engineering to Economic Development:  Petra’s story begins with her father, a machinist, instilling in her a lifelong passion for manufacturing. She describes her journey from a mechanical engineer to a leader in the field taking on a pivotal role in economic development, impacting the supply chain and competitiveness of manufacturing in Pittsburgh.

Collaborative Growth: Learn about the importance of public and private partnerships in strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem and how Pittsburgh stakeholders’ participation in initiatives like the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program have propelled growth since 2015.

Workforce Development in Pittsburgh: Petra shares her perspective on Pittsburgh’s designation from the Biden-Harris Administration as a National Workforce Hub for advanced manufacturing, underscoring the region’s progress and potential.

Strategic Use of Federal Initiatives: Petra outlines how the Pittsburgh region efficiently leverages a variety of federal initiatives, such as the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge and the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, to bolster local manufacturing.

Institutional Capacity Building: Petra shares her incremental approach to developing institutional capacity, focusing on common themes of technical assistance, capital assistance, workforce development, and entrepreneurial support that have become the pillars of their economic strategy.

DEI in Manufacturing: Petra discusses how they employ educational tools like podcasts, eBooks, and self-assessments to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce, recognizing the necessity of creating environments where diverse talent can thrive.

Reframing Manufacturing for the Next Generation: Matt and Petra talk about the need to reach families early to reshape perceptions of manufacturing, educating them on the modern, clean, and technologically advanced nature of 21st-century manufacturing jobs.

Tune in, subscribe, and contribute as we continue to delve into the stories shaping American manufacturing today! Join us in two weeks as we hear from nationally-recognized expert, Phillip Singerman Ph.D on the recent proliferation of federal initiatives driving bottom-up, systems leadership.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the pro bono expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike!

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.