Boulevard is ‘Machining the Future’

Aerospace, defense work powers growth

By L ORI STABILE Special to The Republican hen Susan M. Kasa considered taking over Boulevard Machine, she recognized the company’s potential.

“It was something I was willing to learn,” Kasa, Boulevard Machine’s president, said in a recent interview.

Kasa, who worked in public relations, knew the customer base could grow. She bought the company in 2006, when it had only eight employees. And, she said, Boulevard has been steadily growing ever since she took ownership, noting the company that has been in existence since the 1950s is now a multimillion-dollar company with 25 employees.

WThe past three years were the best yet with double-digit growth. She expects the same sales increases again in 2023.

“I see the coming year as a year for us to blossom,” Kasa said.

Because the company is private, she declined to ty to unlock up to $50,000 from a humble national foundation if we receive up to $50,000 in new or increased gifts through March 31. Unlocking extra dollars will allow us to provide two-year grants in this year’s grant cycle. A one-year grant is about survival and a multiyear grant provides the conditions to thrive. We trust the organizations we invest in. Trust-based philanthropy encourages us to provide freedom on how the dollars are spent. Our partners know how to best use these grant dollars to make positive change. Receiving $50,000 will allow us to issue a new Status of Women, Girls, and Non-binary People Report in 2023 and, what’s more, it will allow our organization to thrive.

Just over 25 years ago, our vision is expanded passenger rail in the valley. As we shared during a press conference last year with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Metro Hartford-Springfield stands to gain a nearly 10-to-1 return on investment in regional GDP by reestablishing an inland rail route connecting Boston and New York via our valley.

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In 2020, the company moved from Springfield to Westfield. Boulevard had outgrown its space in Springfield — it was spread over three buildings for a total of 9,000 square feet — and Kasa felt the small space was not projecting the image its customers were expecting.

Boulevard was looking into expanding the Springfield location when the Westfield spot — a former manufacturing facility — became available. The company now has just under 21,000 square feet, in a space renovated to suit its specific needs. It also has room to expand, if needed, she said.

“It’s a great fit for us. This was a win-win. It’s highly technical work we are doing. We’re projecting a very different image,” Kasa said. “We finished a year of rebranding because we moved into a new building. We have a new logo and a new tagline that we trademarked, ‘Machining the Future.’”

The company is “aggressively hiring” machinists and has been looking for more employees since it moved into the building, she added.

One of its new customers is SpaceX. Boulevard Machine also does business with General Dynamics Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp. and Collins Aerospace.

Because Boulevard is a small company, it can offer shorter lead times, quicker turnarounds and can give customers a quality product at a lesser cost, according to Kasa. Products also are shipped all over the world, she said.

Aerospace is one of Boulevard’s main business lines, along with defense, Kasa said,

Sullivan

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Massachusetts Anchor Collaborative. The collaborative will deploy a number of strategies and initiatives to support the business community to create career pathways for various occupations, so that people who enter the workplace can then in turn earn a living wage, gain ongoing professional growth, and can contribute to their respective businesses in Western Massachusetts.

The passage and implementation of this pilot is a major step to helping solve the cliff effect in Massachusetts. Thank you to state Rep. Patricia A. Duffy, D-Holyoke, state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, noting it also makes parts for F-35 Lightning II and F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets.

SpaceX, she said, approached Boulevard as it had specific deadlines and needed fast turnarounds. Boulevard had made a sun shaft for the company, which Kasa described as an intricate, large piece with gears for rockets.

Boulevard also makes parts for both manned and unmanned vehicles that go into space, as well as the satellite market, Kasa said.

“Space became very strong for us during COVID which allowed us to grow,” she said.

“Space is a huge market for a lot of us in the area. The U.S. has been behind the eight ball for many years. Now it’s a great area to be in.”

D-Springfield and state Sen. Eric P. Lesser, D-Longmeadow, for sponsoring the bill. Thanks also to state Rep. Michael Finn, D-West Springfield, and state Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield, for their support and advocacy as co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, and, lastly, to former state Reps. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke and Jose Tosado, D-Springfield, and state Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield, for supporting and filing this legislation at the inception of the program’s creation.

The bill sponsors, the Western Massachusetts delegation and the Economic Pathways Coalition, co-led by Springfield WORKS, an EDC community initiative, and

She added that the military-related business also “is taking off.”

Kasa said Boulevard has been doing a lot of development for new products, including those for SM-6 missiles. “We’ve been fortunate,” she added. “When machinists really hear where the parts are going more excitement is generated.” the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, all collaborated for several years to advocate for this important pilot program to demonstrate how public policy can support working families better to become food secure and economically stable. This is a true commitment to create an economy that works for everyone.

Kasa, who described herself as a “woman in a man’s world,” said the customers also appreciate knowing she is a “working owner” of a woman-owned business. She said she is involved in the day-today business and has been growing the management team, noting a new business development manager has recently been hired.

Richard K. Sullivan is president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, a private, not-for-profit corporation that provides resources and information to businesses operating in or entering the region by aiding in expansion, relocation and networking. To learn more about the council and its work, go online to westernmassedc. com.

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Recently, the company hosted the machine program from Westfield Technical Academy, the city’s vocational high school, so students could get a firsthand look at how a local precision machining manufacturer operates. She also does outreach to other vocational schools in the area, including Chicopee Comprehensive, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical, Smith Vocational and Agricultural and William J. Dean Vocational Technical high schools and Springfield Technical Community College.

“They can see what our environment looks like, and it helps educate the parents. Not everyone needs four to eight years of college,” Kasa said. “It’s such

“It’s a great fit for us. This was a win-win. It’s highly technical work we are doing. We’re projecting a very different image.”

Susan M. Kasa, president of Boulevard Machine, on company’s move from Springfield to larger facility in Westfield a viable market, and they can make a very good wage. We’re always looking for more people. Our machinists can work an average of 60 hours a week. They make anywhere from an entry level $18 to $20, or up to high $30s, an hour.”

Kasa said the company has been fortunate to receive several grants, including a $95,838 grant in 2022 from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program that was used to purchase new machine tooling equipment to meet demand from the space sector. It’s also a family business. Kasa’s son Kristian is the vice president of operations at the company. She said she is proud to be at the helm of a woman-owned, small manufacturing business, adding small businesses are “the heartbeat of America.” www.westernmassedc.com

“As corporate America continues to downsize, we’re here to grow,” Kasa said.

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