a man sitting at a train station

BEDNARK Studio making 20,000 face shields a day for medical workers in New York City

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.

Owner Michael Bednark in face shield production at the famed Brooklyn Navy Yard. Credit: GWYNNE HOGAN / WNYC

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

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