PENTA Scholars Visit Columbia Tech During National Mentoring Month
WESTBOROUGH _ During this National Mentoring Month, the PENTA Marketing Mentorship Scholars™ received an inside look at innovation in action while visiting the engineering design, manufacturing, global fulfillment and aftermarket services company Columbia Tech, a subsidiary of the Coghlin Companies. Twelve Westborough High School (WHS) seniors, who were specially selected for participation in this high-level PENTA program, received insight and learned from leaders at one of the nation’s most successful contract manufacturing organizations at Columbia Tech’s 68,000-square-foot facility located at 27 Otis Street in Westborough, Massachusetts.
Unseasonably warm weather greeted the students as they arrived, notepads in hand, for an up-close look at the daily operations of a successful manufacturing business. Coghlin Companies’ largest facility houses Columbia Tech, the product manufacturing portion of the business. Two separate facilities were merged into the new state-of-the-art building in 2013, to provide the company with additional space to support an increase in demand. Cogmedix, which specializes in medical device contract manufacturing, and DCI Engineering are also owned by Coghlin Companies.
Students met with Columbia Tech’s management team for an engaging session where c-level executives shared stories about their journeys and how the company grew from a staff of 15 to having over 500 employees over the years. A presentation about Columbia Tech, what it does, and how it performs interested the mentees and brought to life the notion of bringing a product from idea to market. Many were excited to learn about the innovations happening with numerous brand recognizable companies, producing consumer products they use in their daily lives. The session was followed by an on-site lunch generously provided by UNO Pizzeria & Grill, a corporate partner for the PENTA Marketing Mentorship Scholar™ program, and an extensive behind the scenes tour of the Company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and design engineering spaces.
“It was a true pleasure to host the PENTA Marketing Mentor Scholars™ at Columbia Tech and the Coghlin Companies today. We are always so happy to provide any type of insight, experience, mentorship, and guidance to such a talented and bright group of future leaders. I found them to be universally impressive in every aspect from the firm handshake to the direct eye contact and thoughtful questions they asked. Their futures are so bright as each of them identifies their passion and goes after it with vigor. The PENTA Marketing Mentor Scholars™ are always welcome at the Coghlin Companies,” said Chris Coghlin, President and CEO of Columbia Tech.
“The PENTA Marketing Mentorship Scholar™ Program was designed to bring together high achieving college bound business students seeking to experience and explore management facets of real-world companies,” said Deborah Penta, CEO of PENTA Communications, Inc. “We are truly grateful for our corporate partners for joining us on this journey in providing our mentees with significant first-hand knowledge and the ability to make high-level connections to positively impact their futures. Columbia Tech exemplifies a partner that truly understands and prioritizes the necessity to commit the time and energy into opportunities that support the development of our future leaders.”
The PENTA Marketing Mentorship Scholars™ presented Columbia Tech with a partnership recognition certificate, for its dedication and commitment to fostering innovation and education and expressed gratitude for its participation as a host site for its mentees.
For nearly three decades, PENTA has been a devoted supporter of the development of future leaders and is committed to promoting a healthy economy by providing them with impactful and holistic learning opportunities. During January’s National Mentoring Month and all year long, PENTA is proud to share learning experiences with its Westborough High School mentees. The National Mentoring Partnership reports that those who have a mentor are 78% more likely to engage in community service activities and 55% more likely to register for college.
To learn more about the PENTA Marketing Mentorship Scholar™ program, visit: https://pentamarketing.com/community/.