Over the years, Strongwell has been one of the business stops for MBA students from King University. Prior to this year’s visit, the group toured KVAT operations, a regional grocery chain headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia. The purpose of this visit to Strongwell was to learn how market diversity and innovation keeps manufacturing competitive in a global environment.

During the students’ visit, Keith Liskey (Senior Advisor) provided an operations and product presentation on the advantages and benefits of using FRP as a structural alternative to steel, aluminum, or wood. He was also able to reflect on the transformation he underwent to evolve his executive business acumen from manufacturing to the nonprofit sector upon retirement. Today, in addition to serving as a Senior Advisor for Strongwell, Keith serves as a pro-bono Senior Advisor to the Birthplace of Country Music.

Meghan Carty (Corporate Purchasing and Pricing Manager), Todd Berthold (National Accounts Sales Manager), and Te-Kai Shu (Social Media and Business Development Manager) provided a facility tour to showcase the transformative process of raw materials becoming finished industrial goods for the global market. In addition, the students were shown the supportive roles of how engineering, R&D, and corporate operations interpret and use data and information to support the manufacturing process as a whole.

As an eager advocate of promoting manufacturing and fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) within the community, Strongwell would like to thank Brendia Morrison (Assistant Professor of Business) for coordinating and visiting with Strongwell.