A collaboration between Fairfield University’s School of Engineering and Computing, Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC), and Southwest Connecticut Manufacturing Partnership is demonstrating how academic partnerships can drive innovation while preparing students for the workforce.
Through Fairfield Engineering’s senior design project course, students partnered with Bridgeport-based Calzone Case Company to address a real-world business challenge involving the company's bill of materials system. In the 2024-25 academic year, Phuc Nguyen ’25, Maureen VonHassel ’25, and Matthew Grohs ’25 worked on the project while Nicole Reagan ’26, Alyssa Watral ’26, and Ryan Lindley ’26 continued the work this past year. Their efforts helped improve operational efficiency for the manufacturer and led directly to an employment opportunity for Nguyen, who is now an assistant engineer at Calzone.
“Calzone knew how to build the product. What they needed was a different kind of partner to help modernize the system behind it, and that's exactly what Fairfield University brought to the table. That's the value of the Southwest Connecticut Manufacturing Partnership, and it's exactly why BRBC is proud to power it,” said Dan Onofrio, BRBC president and CEO. “When a student like Phuc Nguyen can go from contributor to full time Calzone employee, you're not just solving a business problem. You're building a career pathway right here in our region.”
