Chroma Technology Corp. of Bellows Falls, Vt has announced the appointment of Mara Rae Neufeld-Rivera as Head of People and Culture. Neufeld-Rivera comes to Chroma, a worker-owned company founded in Brattleboro 28 years ago, from PC Construction, an employee-owned general contractor based in Burlington, Vt, where she served as Chief Administrative Officer and VP of Human Resources.
“We are really excited that Mara is joining Chroma,” stated Chief Executive Officer Paul Millman, adding: “It is another important step in growing our company. We compete in a world-wide market and adding someone with big company experience is a significant step forward. I’m especially excited because her experience includes working for two of Vermont’s great employee-owned companies, PC Construction and Resource Systems Group, Inc.”
Neufeld-Rivera has more than 20 years experience as a senior human resources strategist and executive business partner, and describes herself as having “a deep passion for helping organizations build best-in-class workplace cultures.” She worked as an independent consultant for local firms throughout the Upper Connecticut River Valley and Vermont’s Chittenden County. Prior to that, she held executive positions at several companies including the well-known Simon Pearce art glass company in Windsor, Vermont, and the Estee Lauder cosmetics firm in New York City.
She holds a Master of Science degree in HR Management from the New School for Social Research and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Queens College, City University of New York. Born and raised in New York City, Mara relocated in 2007 to New London, NH, where she lives with her husband and daughter, and their rescued dogs and cats.
Chroma has received significant media attention for its importance in modern biological science and the fact that it is a 100% employee-owned company. The firm reported 2017 revenue of $35 million. Currently employing 145 people world-wide, Chroma manufactures optical filters for the scientific, biomedical, photonics and imaging and detection industries. These specialty items are used in microscopes, DNA sequencers and clinical diagnostic devices, among other applications. The company has a global customer base with offices in Germany, China and Japan.
The company recently opened up a new, 28,000-square-foot clean manufacturing addition to its Vermont plant. Chroma also owns and manages a subsidiary, 89 North, in Williston, Vt, which specializes in innovative products for biomedical imaging.
About Chroma Technology Corp.
Chroma Technology Corp. is a manufacturer of interference filters for the ultra-violet, visible and near-infrared portions of the spectrum. We are 100% employee owned and proud to be an active and caring member of the communities in which we live and that we serve.