Alex Co: What is your role in your organization and in Pittsburgh?
Adam Kenney: I’m the Director of the Monmade trade group at Bridgeway Capital, where we identify growth opportunities for regional “producers” (mostly artisans and designers). The Monmade and Bridgeway teams provide them with greater access to capital, guidance, markets, peers, space, and workforce. By empowering producers, we create a vibrant craft manufacturing ecosystem that revitalizes the Pittsburgh region’s disinvested areas and produces quality jobs.
AC: What are you most excited about at this year’s Living Product Expo?
AK: I was there last year and am excited to bring back our Monmade initiative in a bigger and better way. The trade show is a prime opportunity for our producers to connect to potential clients and stay on the forefront of green building opportunities locally and beyond.
AC: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at the Expo?
AK: As a group, we’ll be exploring the unique challenges for small producers looking to enter the green building and architectural projects sector. The Declare process represented a reasonable way to accomplish this, so I hope to share some insights from the producers’ perspective and inspire others in the audience to take up the challenge. We want other design-focused small manufactures to understand that the work that goes into it can yield positive results.
AC: Where do you think we should be focusing as a sustainable Pittsburgh region in 2018?
AK: I think adding the regional production dimension to green building products is a step in the right direction. It enables development projects to result in sustainable buildings, while boosting their economic impact for a greater number of small business.
AC: What’s the most exciting thing that has happened to you in the past few years?
AK: Well, as far as the past few years, I would say the development of Monmade in general still feels pretty fresh. We hit our first year in May, and remain excited and grateful for the momentum. With over 60 producers on the platform working together and receiving support, we see a small but important sector of the regional economy take shape and having impact. Our work with the Living Product Hub deepens that potential.
The Living Product Expo is this September 11 – 13, 2018, in Pittsburgh. To learn more about the Expo, Adam’s session, and more, visit our website here: productexpo.living-future.org
