Made in Maryland premieres October 2 on MPT

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by RMI
by RMI RMI

Show highlights Maryland manufacturers in Baltimore, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s,  and St. Mary’s counties and Baltimore City  

OWINGS MILLS, MD – Maryland Public Television (MPT) will air its special presentation of Made in  Maryland on MPT-HD at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 2. The half-hour program, produced in collaboration  with the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI), introduces viewers to some of the Free  State’s most inventive 21st century businesses and looks at manufacturing’s importance to Maryland’s  economy. The show will also be available for viewing on the MPT livestream at mpt.org/anywhere/live stream-mpt/. 

With the Baltimore Museum of Industry as a backdrop,  Made in Maryland host Andrew Michaels takes viewers on a fast-paced journey to shine the spotlight on five manufacturers among the more than 4,000 such businesses that call Maryland home. A short preview of the show is available at https://bit.ly/3CWqmtt. 

“MPT’s high quality programming and storytelling give new meaning to the phrase ‘Made in Maryland,’”  said Dr. Michael Galiazzo, president, RMI. “Viewers will be fascinated to discover the local people, places,  and products that represent Maryland manufacturing and help make our lives better each day.” 

Made in Maryland profiles the following companies whose dedicated workforces apply a wide range of  technologies, cutting-edge precision, and skilled craftsmanship to the manufacturing of products for local,  national, and international customers: 

  • Wave Engine Corporation (Hyattsville in Prince George’s County). This fast-growing company  develops next-generation aircraft and propulsion systems, among them a jet engine without  moving parts that uses pressure waves to move air through the engine. Viewers witness the  engine manufacturing process and hear from CEO Daanish Maqbool, who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, about making the company’s engine technology practical for real-world consumer aviation applications.
  • Lion Brothers (Owings Mills in Baltimore County). One of the nation’s first embroidery  companies, Lion Brothers focuses on integrating design with scientific and technological  advancements to create innovations for the most notable apparel brands, corporations, and not for-profit organizations. “The world’s finest stitching still comes from Maryland,” said CEO Suzy  Ganz. Among its high-profile projects are making emblems for NASA’s Apollo moon missions,  producing Girl Scouts of America badges and insignias for nearly 100 years, and creating the patch  for the first Super Bowl game. 
  • SSI Custom Plastics (Hollywood in St. Mary’s County). During the “Made in a Minute” segment,  viewers learn about how this agile company’s vacuum thermoforming manufacturing process is  used to take plastic sheets and mold them into custom tables used on popular Boston Whaler  boats.  
  • Food Opportunity/DC Sweet Potato Cake (Baltimore City). Food Opportunity operates DC Sweet  Potato Cake and Baked in Baltimore along with a growing food manufacturing facility. Viewers  meet CEO April Richardson and her business partner Derek Lowry, whose family recipe sweet potato cake has become popular throughout the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region.  Richardson has taken the small bakery operation and grown its scale. It now produces upwards of  50,000 cakes per month and has significantly increased product distribution into retail outlets  including Safeway, Starbucks, and Wegmans.
  • PRS Guitars (Stevensville in Queen Anne’s County). During the “Master Maker’ segment, viewers  get a look insider one of the world’s premier guitar and amplifier manufacturers, located on  Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Founder and CEO Paul Reed Smith talks about the three elements that  make an outstanding guitar and COO Jack Higginbotham gives a tour of the manufacturing facility,  showing a process that’s both high-tech and high-touch. Among PRS Guitars’ customers are many  renowned musicians, including Carlos Santana, John Mayer, Mark Tremonti, Jo De Messina, and  Joe Walsh. 

Encore broadcasts of Made in Maryland will air later that evening at 11 p.m. on MPT-HD, as well as 9 p.m.  on Wednesday, October 6 and 11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12 on MPT2/Create. Check MPT’s program  schedule at mpt.org/schedule/ for additional airdates in October and November. 

Major funding for Made in Maryland is provided by CFG Bank and Kaiser Permanente. Additional support  for the program comes from the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Maryland Economic  Development Corporation. 

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About Maryland Public Television 

Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member  offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs,  computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting  Commission. MPT creates local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards.  MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events  and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range  of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.