Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | OCTOBER 20, 2025 21 BUILDING FROM WITHIN: FORUM PLASTICS' INVESTMENT IN SUPERVISORY TRAINING How CONNSTEP Supervisor Bootcamp Lays The Foundation for Growth | BACKGROUND Founded in 1992 in Waterbury as GM Tool & Forum Molding Inc., Forum Contract Manufacturing is a full-service global contract manufacturer specializing in injection molding. Over the years, they have expanded their capabilities to include cleanroom manufacturing, laser marking, and automated assembly. Forum provides complex molding solutions for the medical device, life science, industrial, and military industries, leveraging in-house tooling and engineering expertise. Forum holds quality certifications, including ISO 14385:2016 (medical devices) and ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management). They are U.S. FDA registered, have ISO Class 7 Clean Room certification, and are ITAR compliant, enabling them to serve military and defense applications. Forum's commitment to client support, delivered seamlessly from project initiation to completion by all 160 employees, who they consider "partners in innovation," sets the company apart in the industry. | CHALLENGE Forum Contract Manufacturing believes in cultivating and retaining a skilled workforce, understanding that strong leaders are key to driving team performance and organizational value. Recognizing the potential in two long-time employees—a new Engineering manager (six years at Forum) and a new Tooling supervisor (ten years)—the company took proactive steps. Forum's leadership sought out external training for these team members to enhance their managerial and problem-solving skills, ensuring they succeed in their new supervisory roles. | SOLUTION Forum chose to enroll its new manager and supervisor in CONNSTEP's Supervisor Bootcamp due to the organization's reputation for delivering results and industry knowledge. This workshop series provides essential knowledge and skills for effective people management through a mix of presentations and interactive activities. The training provides practical tools in leadership, communication, delegation, and conflict resolution to help managers effectively achieve their team goals. RESULTS Described as "transformative" by the HR Manager, CONNSTEP's Supervisor Bootcamp helped Forum's new leaders gain a renewed sense of confidence and practical expertise. The training provided a comprehensive curriculum covering time management, conflict resolution, active listening, effective coaching, and assessment of their unique supervisory styles. Successfully applying these skills led to improved communication, healthier teams, and stronger departmental operations, prompting Forum to enroll additional leaders in later workshops with similar positive outcomes. | METRICS CONNSTEP's work with Forum Plastics resulted in the following metrics for the company: Retained Sales: $3,900,000 Cost Savings: $10,000 Unnecessary Investments Avoided: $10,000 Jobs Created: 1 "Since completing the training, we have observed a significant improvement in team dynamics and productivity. The supervisors are now better equipped to handle challenges, motivate their teams, and drive positive outcomes. This has led to a more cohesive and motivated workforce, benefiting our company 's growth and success. We highly recommend CONNSTEP's Supervisor Bootcamp Training program to any organization looking to invest in their leadership team. The benefits are tangible and have made an impact on our company." — Lisa Leonard Human Resources Manager, Forum Plastics To read additional case studies, view client spotlight videos, and keep up with CONNSTEP news and updates, visit: https://connstep.org/industry-insights. CONNSTEP is your partner in Connecticut manufacturing. As your trusted advisor and all-in-one resource, our expert team brings the strategic knowledge and practical expertise necessary to help you achieve your goals, drive business success, and boost productivity in a rapidly changing market. 860.513.3200 https://www.connstep.org/

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