Connsys and Northeastern Electronics ask a County Agency for $12,500 Apiece in Training Grants

Originally posted on October 14th, 1993 by Rick Moriarty for The Post-Standard

At a time when many manufacturers are cutting jobs, two in Elbridge are hiring so quickly, they can’t train their new workers fast enough.

Northeastern Electronics Co. and ConnSys Inc. asked a county agency Wednesday for $12,500 each to help train their growing work forces. Northeastern officials said they have 70 production employees and 15 support personnel, and plan to boost their employment level to more than 100 by January.

A ConnSys representative said his company’s work force has grown from five in June to 10 currently, and will expand to at least 20 by the end of the year.

Northeastern makes cable and wire assemblies for computer and telecommunications equipment.

ConnSys manufactures devices that connect electronic cables to computers.

The Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency gave its support to the grants, subject to a final OK by an agency subcommittee.

Mark Vilardi, quality manager for Northeastern, said his company had just 35 employees six months ago.

The company has grown rapidly because it recently won new contracts with big customers such as IBM and American Telephone & Telegraph Co., he said.

“For a small company to grow that quickly is incredible,” Vilardi said. “We’re adding new people weekly, and it’s very difficult to keep up with that.”​

He said most of the people the company is hiring have no experience in the industry. The company started in the early 1980s in East Syracuse and moved to Elbridge three years ago.

Debra Case, human resources director for Northeastern, said assembly workers at the company are paid $5 to $5.50 an hour.

Eugene Gilson, director of business planning for ConnSys, said his company has benefited from a recent trend among some large computer makers such as IBM to manufacture their products in the United States, instead of other countries.

ConnSys recently beat out companies from Mexico, Scotland, Taiwan and Thailand for a contract for 150,000 connectors, he said. ConnSys was incorporated in June 1992 by Gilson’s son, Gregory.

Money for the grants would come from fees the industrial development agency has received for helping to finance company expansions.

Agency Chairwoman Harriette McDowell said the agency may require Northeastern and ConnSys to meet certain employment levels as a condition of the grants.