Skilled Workforce, Prime Location Help Build World-Class Reputations
business, diversity, international, skilled, sperry marine, workforce,
Situated in the scenic foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville thrives with a diversity of international businesses drawn to the area by its prime location and skilled workforce.
Charlottesville is the worldwide headquarters of Sperry Marine, a business unit of Northrop Grumman. An international leader in the marine electronics industry, the company moved to Charlottesville from Long Island, N.Y., more than 50 years ago. Sperry Marine now staffs 800 employees in Charlottesville – also the headquarters for the Naval and Marine Systems Division of Northrop Grumman.
“Charlottesville is ideally located to support U.S. Navy customers in Washington D.C., and also support the customers in the Newport News and Norfolk areas,” says Kevin M. Cheney, division director of Human Resources. “The highly educated, stable workforce combined with the attractive location have provided the foundation for Sperry to be highly successful in our industry.”
With locations in 11 countries, the Klöckner Pentaplast Group is another example among a growing number of global entities that have chosen to call the Charlottesville area home. A leading producer of plastic films used for packaging and printing and specialty film applications, Klöckner Pentaplast opened its first facility in nearby Gordonsville in 1979. Today, the company operates two plants and a transportation company in Gordonsville – home to its regional corporate headquarters for operations and business activities in North and South America.
Michael Tubridy, president and COO of Klöckner Pentaplast/Americas, says Gordonsville’s central East Coast location, outstanding workforce, proximity to the interstate, railroad and airport transportation systems, and cooperation from state and local governments all have helped Klöckner Pentaplast become a global industry leader.
“The healthy, stable economic environment of Central Virginia on the whole serves as an extremely cooperative environment to do business in and allows us to provide our workforce with additional benefits as part of our corporate family,” Tubridy says. “Gordonsville is just minutes away from world-class amenities and a variety of cultural activities for adults and children alike. It is a wonderful area for employees to live.”
Charlottesville also is home to pioneers in the medical device industry. MicroAire Surgical Instruments, which relocated from California in 1995, manufactures, assembles and sells an expansive line of 1,500 orthopedic powered instruments from its Charlottesville headquarters.
In 1977, MicroAire’s surgical drills, saws and bone chisels allowed surgeons unprecedented precision and unobstructed vision during operations. In 1981, the company initiated the industry’s first line of pre-sterilized, packaged, disposable burs, blades, and drills for its instruments, giving MicroAire a competitive edge in the medical device market and distinguishing the company as a leader in its field. Today, more than 130 employees make up MicroAire’s headquarters.
Story by Melanie Hill
Photo by Ian Curcio
