Manufacturing, tech, distribution combine at PEAK 2016
It was a little over a year ago when the robots took over the hotel and the drones circled the parking lot, capturing images of the tiny humans below.
It was no scene from “Terminator.” The reality was more friendly and promising.
The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce launched the PEAK Industry Showcase in 2015. The 2016 event is coming up from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, with a special kickoff keynote at 4 p.m.
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The robots and drones will be back, along with displays by St. Vrain Valley manufacturers, entrepreneurs and startups. In fact, PEAK takes place during Longmont Startup Week, June 6-12.
While StartUp events are all over Longmont, PEAK will be headquartered at the Plaza Convention Center, 1850 Industrial Circle. PEAK is produced by the Industry Council of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce. Pinnacol Assurance is the presenting sponsor.
Elton Rivas, well-known “serial entrepreneur” from Jacksonville, Fla. kicks off the showcase at 4 p.m. Rivas launched CoWork Jax, downtown Jacksonville’s first co-working space, and co-founded One Spark, a six-day event for creators, billed as the world’s largest crowdfunding festival. In its first three years, One Spark brought together more than 1,500 creators and more than half a million people. Rivas is a partner in Prota Ventures, a venture-building and early-stage investment firm based in Chicago, Seattle and Jacksonville.
City of Longmont
• Ranks second highest in Colorado for the number of patents per capita.
• Has a gigabit fiberoptic network recently ranked as the fastest ISP in the country.
• Is home to some of the largest and most successful biotech and aerospace companies.
• Is a well-known hub for disk-drive technology, and has been since the 1980s.
• Is home to the manufacturer of the optical support structure and active-support mirror cell for the world’s largest solar telescope.
Source: Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce
PEAK will feature more than 40 exhibits from local manufacturers, distributors and technology companies.
“You’ll find 3-D printing, robots, drones, precision metalworking and more,” said Scott Cook, event and program director for the Chamber. “PEAK spotlights the growing sectors of manufacturing, technology and distributing — all paving the way for a robust 21st century economy.”
Many exhibitors will welcome students interested in internships. Look for the special signs at their exhibits.
The Chamber’s Industry Council is a unique committee comprised of local manufacturers and distributors. Each member is vested in the local community with a desire to promote Longmont and the Northern Colorado region as a premier place to do business.
The Chamber’s Industry Council’s has three goals for PEAK:
• Showcase products of local manufacturers.
• Spotlight Longmont and Colorado as an excellent place for businesses to call home.
• Encourage technically inclined people to pursue a career in these high-paying fields.
“Our city, community and business leaders all realize the importance of local manufacturing and distributing. Products made here are used all over the world, and beyond. More than a dozen products from Longmont are on the Mars Rover,” said Scott Gilbert, industry council chair and Chamber board member.
To be an exhibitor, contact the Chamber at 303-776-5295 (main) or Cook at 720-864-2872 or scook@longmontchamber.org, Karen Mastie at 720-864-2878 or kmastie@longmontchamber.org, or Bruce Partain at 720-864-2874 or bpartain@longmontchamber.org.
More information on PEAK is online at www.longmontchamber.org, and more on StartUp Week is at www.LongmontStartUpWeek.com.
Bruce R. Partain is president and chief executive of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce.
