Over one weekend in mid-March, as the coronavirus was spreading across the United States, Michael Bednark transformed his business to one that mass produces a single item: Face shields for frontline medical workers.
- Name: Michael Bednark
- Title: Owner
- Company: BEDNARK Studio
- Region: Brooklyn, NY
- Industry: Manufacturing
- Vistage Chair: August Ceradini
Located in the famed "Can Do" Brooklyn Navy Yard, BEDNARK studios answered New York City's call to local manufacturers.
The Challenge: Over one weekend in mid-March, as the coronavirus was spreading across the United States, Michael Bednark, owner of BEDNARK Studio, transformed his business from one that builds large custom installations for companies like Google and Nike to one that mass produces a single item: Face shields for frontline medical workers.
Leadership Opportunity: On Friday, Bednark started workshopping ideas; by Saturday night they had the prototype; on Sunday morning he met with the city's Health Department and revised the design throughout the day. By 9 p.m. Sunday night, the city had ordered 120,000 face shields.
Says Bednark: "We will continue to make more than 20,000 shields per day into mid-April. Today we are on target for 25,000 shields assembled."
Story credit: Edited from Reuter's and: https://gothamist.com/news/can-do-brooklyn-navy-yard-snaps-into-action-to-help-nyc-respond-to-covid-19-outbreak
