Senator Hassan Discusses Importance of Career and Technical Education Programs to Granite State Businesses at Williams & Hussey Machine Co. in Amherst

Senator Hassan with Steve Carter, Owner and CEO of Williams & Hussey Machine Co.

AMHERST – Senator Maggie Hassan today visited Williams & Hussey Machine Co. Inc., where she toured the facility, met with employees, and discussed the importance of career and technical education programs to New Hampshire’s businesses and workforce. Williams and Hussey Machine has been manufacturing molders and profile knives for more than 60 years for woodworking professionals. For more information, visit here.

“Ensuring that innovative businesses like Williams & Hussey Machine have the strong workforce they need to succeed is critical to our economy and our state,” Senator Hassan said. “Strengthening career and technical education programs is critical to those efforts, helping students develop the skills they need to thrive in the 21^st century economy while meeting the needs of our businesses. I will continue working across party lines to strengthen career and technical education programs in New Hampshire and across the country to help our people, businesses, and state thrive.”

“For more than 60 years Williams & Hussey Machine has manufactured molders and profile knives for the woodworking professional, and having a strong and skilled workforce has always been important to our success,” said Steve Carter, Owner & CEO of Williams & Hussey Machine Co. and President of Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America. “We are thankful for Senator Hassan’s commitment to strengthening career and technical education programs in New Hampshire, particularly through her support of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act, which will support businesses like ours.”

During the visit, Senator Hassan highlighted the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act, which she recently helped advance out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. This bill will help strengthen the workforce pipeline and better prepare New Hampshire’s students for jobs in the 21^st century innovation economy by requiring that CTE programs collaborate with local industry and workforce development organizations to better meet the needs of innovative businesses. Senator Hassan fought for important New Hampshire priorities to be included in the bill, including emphasizing the importance of ensuring that students who face additional barriers to completion have access to direct support services through career guidance and academic counseling and that more CTE students have the opportunity to obtain a postsecondary recognized credential.

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