Our Collective Impact

Just like the previous two gatherings, the third annual SPIE Photonics Industry Summit did not disappoint. Both aspects of AmeriCOM’s mission – workforce development and optics manufacturing technology research – were well covered. Remarks from representatives of the Departments of Commerce, Energy, and Defense;  NASA; the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST); the Economic Development Agency; and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory highlighted AmeriCOM’s impact. 

Farooq Mitha, Director of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs speaking on funding updates from the DoD. (Photo credit: SPIE)

New this year was a reception the afternoon prior to the Summit on Capitol Hill with Congresspeople who support our industry as members of the Optics & Photonics Caucus. With an introduction by AmeriCOM CEO and President, Dave Shelton, co-chair and founder of the O&P Caucus, New York State Congressman Joe Morelle kicked of the event. Congressmen Donald Norcross and Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey and Juan Cusimano from Arizona then delivered remarks reminding us all of the impact of our work. They also reinforced the importance of engaging with our Congressional representatives to grow our industry, expand our businesses, and build our optics workforce.

Speakers at the Photonics Industry Summit: (Left photo) Representative Joseph Morelle (D) NY, District 25. (Right photo) Jenn Cable from Thorlabs and Representative Josh Gottheimer (D) NJ, District 05. (Photos credit: SPIE)
Representative Donald Norcross (D) NJ, District 01, speaks at the Industry Summit. (Photo credit: SPIE)

AmeriCOM is proud to be a sponsor of this event. We were well represented by our board members, Jenn Cable, President, Thorlabs, and Kirk Warden, President, LaCroix Precision Optics, and by many of our partners in industry and education.

Industry Summit attendees representing New York State, left to right: Pete Kupinski, Alexis Spilman Vogt, Dave Shelton, Representative Joseph Morelle, Pano Spiliotis, Leah George Van Scott, and Joe Spilman.
(Photo credit: SPIE)