CONTACT: Wes Smith
wsmith@vamanufacturers.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2026
Virginia Manufacturers Association Expands Workforce Offerings with Blue4 International
–New MSI & Blue4 Collaboration Delivers Measurable Performance Gains for Manufacturers–
RICHMOND, VA—The Virginia Manufacturers Association is announcing a new partnership between its workforce development partner, the Manufacturing Skills Institute, and Blue4 International, a global leader in evidence-based leadership development and diagnostics. Through this partnership, Virginia Manufacturers Association members will gain access to a research-validated leadership development program that has been proven to strengthen organizational performance and improve key operational metrics.
Developed from more than 40 years of statistically validated research by organizational psychologist Dr. Steve Glowinkowski and his team, Blue4 is grounded in data from more than 70,000 leaders and nearly 400 organizations worldwide. Their research identifies the leadership behaviors that consistently create a high-performance organizational climate—one that drives engagement, effective collaboration, and measurable improvements across every major manufacturing KPI.
“Manufacturers today face unprecedented challenges in productivity, retention, quality, cost, environmental performance, and customer satisfaction,” said Wes Smith, Executive Director of the Manufacturing Skills Institute. “Leadership behavior is a strong predictor of operational success, and this partnership ensures our manufacturers have access to the best, most rigorous development system available.”
Blue4 offers validated diagnostic tools, accompanied by custom training and integration that help organizations move from intuition to quantifiable data:
- Blue4 GPI®: identifies natural leadership predispositions to tailor development
- Blue4 360®: measures the frequency of leadership behaviors that help or hinder performance
- myTeamRadar®: assesses organizational climate and identifies operational risk
Together, these tools provide a clear, evidence-based roadmap for leader development and organizational improvement.
Blue4 pairs its diagnostics with customized leadership development programs, workshops, and one-on-one mentoring. Leaders learn how to increase the frequency of Blue4 behaviors, build sustainable habits, and apply those behaviors directly to real operational challenges.
As part of the new partnership, Virginia Manufacturers Association members can work directly with the Manufacturing Skills Institute to implement the Blue4 leadership development program within their organizations.
Manufacturers interested in learning how Blue4 can strengthen key performance indicators can complete a brief form to be connected with the Manufacturing Skills Institute team.
About the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA)
The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) is the unified voice of Virginia’s manufacturing sector, advocating for public policies that strengthen the Commonwealth’s business climate and supporting manufacturers through a wide range of workforce, professional development, and business services. The VMA works to advance a competitive manufacturing economy by engaging industry leaders, policymakers, and partners to ensure manufacturers in Virginia can innovate, grow, and succeed.
About the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI)
The Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) provides education, skills training, and consulting solutions for careers in advanced manufacturing through world-class programs delivered by MSI and its education partner institutions. In partnership with industry, employers set the skill standards for all MSI offerings—ensuring training and advisory services are directly aligned with employment, productivity, and career advancement opportunities. MSI partners with manufacturers to assess workforce needs, design customized training and talent strategies, and implement solutions delivered through on-the-job training, classroom-based instruction, and online learning.