Vermont State University and Nolato Vermont Celebrate Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program Graduates
Four‑year employer‑sponsored program strengthens Vermont’s manufacturing workforce
Randolph Center, Vt. — Vermont State University (VTSU), in partnership with Nolato Vermont, recognized the graduation of three seniors from the Nolato Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program. Benjamin McCoy, Jackson Pierson, and Amanda Merrill successfully completed the four‑year, 22‑credit program and presented their senior engineering projects, earning certificates recognizing their program completion.
The Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program is an employer‑sponsored partnership between VTSU and Nolato Vermont. The academic initiative is grounded in mechanical engineering and designed to provide career advancement opportunities for current employees of the company. The curriculum, developed collaboratively by VTSU engineering faculty and industry partners from Nolato Vermont, aligns coursework directly with the technical and leadership needs in advanced manufacturing.
McCoy, Pierson, and Merrill are the fifth graduating cohort of this partnership. The credits they’ve earned may be applied toward VTSU degree pathways, supporting continued education and making meaningful contributions to Vermont’s skilled manufacturing workforce.
“This program exemplifies the value of intentional collaboration between higher education and industry,” said Jeffrey Higgins, Ed.D., Academic Coordinator of Employer Sponsored Programs at VTSU, who oversees the program. “By integrating academic coursework with real manufacturing challenges, participants gain practical engineering skills while delivering immediate value to their employers.”
Nolato Vermont, located in Bethel and Royalton, is part of the global Nolato Group and specializes in scientific injection molding, and contract manufacturing for the medical device market.
“What makes this program so valuable is its direct connection to our day‑to‑day manufacturing challenges,” said John Therriault, Managing Director and President of Nolato Vermont. “Employees are gaining education that translates immediately into process improvements, innovation, and stronger collaboration across teams. This partnership with Vermont State University delivers real results for both our workforce and our operation.”
As part of the graduation celebration, McCoy, Pierson, and Merrill delivered formal Engineering Project presentations. Each project required students to investigate an existing challenge within their company’s manufacturing process and implement an engineering‑based solution.
Jackson Pierson, CNC/EDM Specialist at Nolato Vermont, emphasized the program’s impact on both professional growth and education.
“The program has supported my career growth in multiple ways. It has allowed me to learn things outside of work that I will use to benefit me in the workplace. It has also allowed me to work towards getting a Degree in Engineering that can be used to further my career.
The most valuable part of the curriculum to me was the diversity of things we learned. We learned a lot of the basics of machining and also learned CAD and other online benefits. It was a great way to learn a lot of the aspects of what we do,” Pierson said.
Amanda Merrill, Lead Quality Assurance Technician & Training Specialist at Nolato Vermont, highlighted the value of the program in building both technical and collaborative skills, sharing, “through this program, I gained invaluable skills that enhanced my ability to find innovative solutions and collaborate effectively across different teams. The program not only provided me with practical knowledge but also empowered me to make a greater impact within my organization.”
In addition to completing the Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program, Merrill used Nolato Vermont’s tuition reimbursement benefit to take additional credit‑bearing courses through VTSU and is on track to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree this May.
Vermont State University continues to expand employer‑sponsored academic programs that connect classroom learning with industry needs, strengthening Vermont’s workforce and supporting pathways to engineering and technical careers.
To learn more about Nolato Vermont and current openings, please visit www.Nolato.com or reach out to Amy Larkin, HR Manager, at 802-763-3699.