Knowledge Park Welcomes New and Expanding Partners with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
YORK, Pa. — Continued growth of Knowledge Park was the theme of the day at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, January 16. York College officially welcomed MANTEC, Dataforma, and JDB Engineering as new and expanding partners within the collaborative innovation hub.
It’s another milestone in the College’s efforts to strengthen connections between higher education, industry, and the regional workforce. College leadership, community partners, and representatives from each organization gathered to officially welcome the three companies. The ceremony recognized the role these partners play in advancing applied learning and economic development in York County.
“Together, Dataforma, MANTEC, and JDB Engineering represent the future of what Knowledge Park is designed to be—a hub for innovation, collaboration, workforce development, and economic vitality,” said York College President Dr. Thomas Burns. “We are grateful to our partners, our Board of Trustees, our elected officials, and our economic development colleagues for their continued support of York College and this important initiative.”
The new partners are a mix of established industry leaders and growing companies, each aligned with Knowledge Park’s mission to foster innovation, collaboration, and workforce development.
MANTEC, a not-for-profit industrial resource center, recently established its headquarters at Knowledge Park. Employees with manufacturers to improve productivity, expand global reach, and drive innovation. Those efforts also create opportunities for York College students to gain hands-on experience in engineering, business, finance, and supply chain management.
“Manufacturing excellence is driven by people, ideas, and collaboration, and this location puts us at the center of all three,” said Bruce Newell, President of MANTEC. “We’re so excited, not only about the opportunities that we can already see, but about the opportunities we haven’t even discovered yet. The partnerships, the ideas, and innovations that come from being in the right environment.”
Dataforma, a cloud-based business management software company serving the construction industry, is expanding after graduating from York College’s J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship’s business incubator. Its move to Knowledge Park reflects the park’s role in supporting emerging companies as they grow and scale.
“We need a partnership with government, education, our local business leaders to educate young students,” said Mark Zeleznock, CEO of Dataforma. “They’re going to come here, and entrepreneurs are going to build businesses because it’s a great environment to do so.”
JDB Engineering, a consulting firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and civil engineering, brings a full-circle story to Knowledge Park. The firm played a key role in designing the building itself and now joins the park as a resident partner.
“From an academic perspective, we’re looking at opportunities reengaging with the faculty in order to see how we can get proactively involved in helping the faculty help raise awareness of our specific industry, so we can help retain some of this talent,” said Timothy Warren, President of JDB Engineering.
“Each of these partners adds new value to the Knowledge Park ecosystem,” said Jeff Vermeulen, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Community Engagement at York College. “Together, they create a space where students, faculty, and industry professionals can learn from one another, collaborate on meaningful projects, and contribute to long-term economic growth in our region.”
Knowledge Park is projected to generate significant economic impact for the York area, including millions in local income and hundreds of employment opportunities over time. Beyond the numbers, College leaders emphasized the park’s value as a bridge between education and industry, one that benefits students, employers, and the broader community alike.
