Home » Business Sector Partnerships » Biotech

Biotech Sector  Last updated 3/5/2013

Westchester and Putnam Counties are home to a thriving biotechnology industry, and includes companies involved in life sciences, pharmaceutical, engineering, manufacturing and sales. The Biotech Sector employs approximately 20 percent of the total biotech workforce in New York State. This increasingly important market sector is a major contributor to today and tomorrows workforce, as a driver of economic vitality for our region, and for New York State.

The Westchester-Putnam One Stop Employment Center, in partnership with Aureon Biosciences, Inc., is leading the sector partnership. The work of the partners is to engage with employers in the region in order to identify the workforce gaps and needs that exist to determine the education and training programs that are necessary to meet the needs of employers.

Biotech Sector Partnership activities to date include:

• The Mini-MBA Program (September 26-28, 2011) – Led by Aureon, this public-private partnership includes the WPWIB, area Life sciences and Biotech employers, and Westchester Community College. The first three-day program was offered to Aureon personnel, and focused on developing essential leadership skills. The skills and curriculum are transferable to other industries, and will be offered to Biotech Sector Members in the future.
• Management Skills for New Managers—This Biotech Sector Training program was offered by Aureon and the public-private partnership among the WPWIB, life sciences/biotech employers, and Westchester Community College in September and October, 2011.
• “Harassment & Code of Conduct Training- This Biotech Sector Training program was offered by Aureon and the public-private partnership among the WPWIB, life sciences/biotech employers, and Westchester Community College in September and October, 2011.
• Westchester Youth Summit 2012- A representative from ContraFect represented the Biotech Sector at the first annual Youth Summit on May 24^th 2011. The Summit was created to expose young people to the world of work and provide them with specific information about how to prepare for jobs in important industries in Westchester County.

Current Partners Include:

• Progenics
• Regeneron

For more information about the Biotech Sector Partnership contact:

Donnovan Beckford, Director
Westchester/Putnam Workforce Investment Board
Telephone (914) 995-3707 E-Mail: dpb2@westchestergov.com

Walter Recher, WPWIB Sector Management
Hospitality Resource Group, Inc.

Telephone (914) 761-7111 email: walter@hrginc.net

If you feel that your company fits the criteria add your company to the Biotech Sector.