The employees of Coghlin Companies support "Boston Strong."

After the tragic events at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2013, Coghlin Companies shed a glimmer of light and hope throughout the company and community by participating in Boston Spirit Day on Friday, April 19th.

In recent reports by the Boston media, city residents have been profoundly touched by individuals wearing Boston paraphernalia. So, to show their support for the city of Boston and all who were impacted by the terrible events, Coghlin Companies’ Associates came to work wearing hats, t-shirts, and jackets with various Boston logos to raise morale and lobby for the people affected by these events.

WE ARE…

Cogmedix employees represented all four top Boston sports teams to support "Boston Strong."

Boston support was strong at DCI Engineering.

Columbia Tech employees at our facility on Otis Street in Westborough show their support for "Boston Strong."

A lot of employees of Columbia Tech participated in the "Boston Strong" event on April 19.

When our customers think about Cogmedix, I would like to think that they consider us ‘Masters of the Details.’  As a proven leader in the field of medical device contract manufacturing, we have built a successful reputation on efficiently and effectively introducing new Class I and Class II medical devices to the marketplace.  Our commitment to compliance and quality are second to none.  We have developed a proven, successful process that enables us to clarify and understand our customers’ expectations. We then provide them with a detailed plan and path to making those expectations a reality.  As one would imagine, the need for attention to detail is staggering.  We live in a world of details, yet few people or companies take the time to think strategically at that level of granularity.  At Cogmedix, we not only think at that level, we plan, organize, document and execute at that level.  It is part of the DNA of what makes us successful.  Attention to detail is a behavior that is ingrained in all of our teammates and associates.

The products we manufacture come in all shapes and sizes.  The companies that we partner with are at varied stages of their life cycle and maturity.  Regardless of where the product or company is in their development, a very wise business leader once told me that they all have two things in common, a present and a future.  What lies in between the present and future is process.  The quality of the process determines the quality of the results. Our goal is to provide the framework, the structure, and the expertise to ensure the quality of the process and in turn, the success of the results.  To get to that level of detail we have to “peel back the onion,” one layer at a time.  We do this by asking tier II and tier III level questions to get to the critical level of detail.  Once we have determined all of the necessary details, we document, organize, and share them with our customers as a key component of the overall execution process.  This can take the form of Gantt charts, project plans, key performance metrics, goal planning sheets, action lists, etc.  These are monitored by our team continuously and used as a tool for both milestone achievement and mutual accountability.  Care and attention, checking and double checking, and meticulously following procedure are all behaviors that demonstrate our commitment to excellence.

In the end, our customers determine whether or not we have met or exceeded their expectations.  We continuously seek their feedback as a key quality component and measure of our overall effectiveness.  When you boil it down, what matters most, after all of the transactions are complete and the details are covered, is whether or not our customers would refer us to their friends and business associates. Our goal at Cogmedix is to ensure that each and every customer is a key partner, ally, and reference.  If we manage the details effectively and pay attention to the “little things,” I am quite confident that we will continue to enjoy a level of success that is uncommon in today’s business climate.

David Keeler
Project Manager, Cogmedix

Cogmedix is growing fast and always looking for medical contract manufacturing opportunities with innovative medical device companies around the globe, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.  A leader in medical device contract manufacturing, servicing, and order fulfillment services, Cogmedix assists companies with the production of Class I and Class II medical devices.  With decades of experience, and an experienced world class staff, the Cogmedix team always strives for excellence, ultimately supplying the medical field with high quality, compliant medical device contract manufacturing services.

Joshua Paquette
Director of Program Operations, Cogmedix

Worcester Technical High School (WTHS) opened in 2006, replacing the old Worcester Vocational High School that dated back to 1909.  Once considered the lowest performing high school in the city, today the school boasts a 96 percent graduation rate.  Math proficiency has soared from 4 percent to 74 percent.  Seventy-seven percent of students go on to college.  Much of the funding for this $90M school was raised through private contributions from the local business community under the leadership of Ted Coghlin with support from the Coghlin family.

Today, Columbia Tech is proud to support the senior co-op program at WTHS.  This has been a remarkable success with benefits accruing to the company as much as it benefits the students involved.  Two students, Natalie and Jason of the Electromechanical Technology / Engineering Technology Program are the charter members of the WTHS co-op program at Columbia Tech.  They work alternate weeks in our Manufacturing Engineering Department.  We are amazed how quickly they have become fully contributing members of the Department.  They perform a broad range of tasks from helping process engineering change orders to writing manufacturing work instructions.  We are impressed by their technical knowledge and how quickly they have learned the tasks they have been asked to perform.  They have even become proficient on our new Enterprise Resource Planning System that was just implemented this summer.  Their skills are a testament to the quality of education at WTHS under the leadership of many people like Michael Meagher, the Head of the Electromechanical Engineering Department.  We look forward to seeing Natalie and Jason move on to college and hope they will return to Columbia Tech as engineers!

- Randy Ziffer
Sr. VP Manufacturing Operations

The Coghlin Companies are successful because of 4 Groups of people:
CARING ASSOCIATES
LOYAL CUSTOMERS
RELIABLE SUPPLIERS
SIGNIFICANT STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
Phil Boisseau was the Model Caring Associate. A Man with Integrity, a strong work ethic, a Team Player and a person who genuinely CARED for his fellow man and particularly for his fellow associates here at the Coghlin Companies. Personally I feel Blessed to have Been a Teammate with Phil.
May Phil’s Memory Be Eternal
May God Be Good To Phil
May Phil Rest In Peace!
- Jim Coghlin Sr

Phil was a caring associate whom we loved and respected so much.  He embodied the words WHATEVER IT TAKES … a very helpful and caring human being with a very positive attitude. We will miss him dearly.
- Chris Coghlin

Phil was a man of high integrity, a huge heart and always eager to please… whenever we looked for an extra hand at the Coghlin Companies or within the 15-40 Connection, Phil was always the first to volunteer, and with enthusiasm.  He will be sorely missed.
- Jim Coghlin

Phil was one of those rare individuals you meet that seemed to be here to help; help  anyone and everyone with whatever it was they needed help with. He always had a smile and met a challenging request with a positive attitude.  Phil will be missed by all who had the pleasure to work with him.
- Bob Brunelle

He was always smiling, optimistic and just ready and available to help.
- Eugenia Stein

Phil always had a smile on his face and a nice word to say!  A genuine good guy you liked to be around.  Our Coghlin “family” was lucky to have him in our lives. He will be gone, but not forgotten.
- Nora Leonard

Also known as Uncle Phil. He was loved by all of us and very passionate about his job here.  I will miss him a whole bunch – he was my bud!
- Melissa Fox

I referred to him as Uncle Phil. He was such a sweet guy who always made sure my day was going well whenever I saw him. He was such a hard worker and great friend! He will be greatly missed!
- Ashley Mitchell

Phil had a great sense of humor, and was always asking if his co-workers and company were doing well.
- Pete Zinkus

Phil was a great man who was dedicated to his job and loved his family. He will be missed and my heart goes out to his family.
- Ken Baldez

I am so lucky to have known a man as kind and wonderful as Phil. The times we spent together at the warehouse on month end was always filled with lots of laughter and usually included Phil going back out to the trucks one more time to check for a missing packing slip or two. (Even when he wasn’t asked to and well after everyone else had gone home.) That’s just the kind of guy Phil was; always willing to lend a hand to others; no matter what. I no longer go there for month end so seeing each other at building 17 on occasion had become a very special treat for both of us; I will sincerely miss these surprise visits. The company trucks will never be the same without the friendly smile, wave and occasional beep of the horn from Phil. CT is more than a place to work; it’s a place you meet family members God forgot to give you at birth!  Rest in Peace Little Phil; you will be missed.
- Holly Corliss

Phil was a nice, nice man.  He worked hard, was reliable as the day is long, and was always willing to do “whatever it took.”  He was a great help during preparations for the Mark & David Ungerer Charity Golf Tournament, volunteering his off-work hours to help out.  “Just call me, tell me what you need.” I somehow think the world is a little less good today but Heaven is a whole lot better.
- Susan Cyr

My limited exposure to him was that he was incredible kind and thoughtful and a bit of a ‘jokester’.  He was involved with the Ungerer Tournment…helped us with the goody bag pallets.  What a loss for his family and friends…my sympathies.
- Kathleen Dunlee

I saw Phil smiling all the time and was a man who was always willing to help, in or out of work.
He will be missed.
- Gerry St. Jean

I worked with him at the warehouse for a few years.  He was very good to us and a very good father to his children. He also talked to us about his grandson – he was so happy to have him in his life. I will miss him a lot.
- Zhaneta Celo

If I had to describe Phil with only a few words in terms of what he meant to us here at the warehouse, it would be that he was the glue that held us together because he was always here for everyone, and that he cared so much both professionally and personally for the entire team.  He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
- Denis Fiorentino

I worked with Phil for a very long time at the warehouse.  We talked about our families, his daughters, grandson and granddaughter.  He had just started taking his grandson fishing and had good quality time with him. He was a very proud family man.  He was such a gentleman with the women at the warehouse. He was always the last to leave if a woman was waiting for her ride home – he made sure they stayed safe until they were picked up.
- Kathy Cenko

It was always a pleasure to work with Phil. He always had a sense of humor that even though he would be asked to make a delivery late in the  day, he would show up with a smile and ask if we needed anything else before he leaves for the day. He was very dedicated. He will be missed by all of us.
-Bob Lopriore

Rest in Peace Phil

From all your friends at

Coghlin Companies

October 5, 2012

The Coghlin family began their work in Worcester in 1885 when John P. Coghlin, an engineering and manufacturing pioneer, founded his company.  Mr. Coghlin’s company became one of a number of flourishing industrial businesses during a time when Worcester was known for thriving with technological innovation.  Through multiple generations of Coghlin leaders, this company goes on thriving, employing hundreds of employees, and supporting social causes throughout central Massachusetts such as 15-40 Connection, United Way and many others.

Today, John P. Coghlin’s companies have become Coghlin Electrical Contractors and Coghlin Companies.  Coghlin Electrical Contractors, led by company president Susan Mailman, has roughly 230 employees.  Coghlin Electrical Contractors designs, installs, contracts, distributes, and supports electrical, telecommunication, security, audiovisual and networking systems for large projects within an 80-mile radius of Worcester. A union contractor, they have worked on the new downtown Courthouse, Gateway Park, UMass Medical School and CitySquare, and has long-standing relationships with global companies such as Intel.

Coghlin Companies, led by President & CEO Chris Coghlin, is comprised of three wholly owned subsidiaries — Columbia Tech, Cogmedix and DCI Engineering. Collectively, they provide Concept to Commercialization solutions including product engineering, contract manufacturing, logistics and field support solutions to a diversified group of capital equipment manufacturers, device manufacturers, and select entrepreneurs throughout the United States.

The annual meeting of the Worcester County Mechanics Association was held at Mechanics Hall on Main Street in Worcester.  The evening featured two Coghlin family members as speakers, Susan Mailman and Chris Coghlin, the current leaders of what is now the two family businesses.  The evening left association members and other attendees optimistic about the future of innovation, business and philanthropy in Worcester.

Congratulations to the entire Coghlin family on their recognition.  For multiple generations, the Coghlin family has been leaders in their field, made significant contributions to the city and its inhabitants through development, jobs and taxes, and to the community with their philanthropic endeavors.  Thank you.

Professor Steven Rothschild and students in his Innovations and Entrepreneurship capstone course toured Columbia Tech, DCI Engineering and Cogmedix.  The students tour was quite informative in that they learned about DCI’s contract engineering and product development, Columbia Tech’s contract manufacturing, and Cogmedix’s medical device manufacturing.  They also heard all about first generation founder and CEO of the company, John P. Coghlin who was an engineer, manufacturer and entrepreneur in the late 1800s and whose innovations and inventions were some of the first industrial uses of electricity.

Beyond historical aspects, students learned that working with contract manufacturing and engineering companies like DCI Engineering, Columbia Tech and Cogmedix enables entrepreneurs to design and manufacture technologically advanced products without having their own engineers and without owning their own facilities.   As Bill Laursen explained so well to the students, the beauty of Coghlin Companies is that if one month a client has no sales and the next month that same client has booming sales, they can easily account for these variations in demand.  At the beginning of the month, or sales cycle, the client works with Coghlin Companies to determine how many units need to be manufactured based on orders they’ve received.  Coghlin Companies takes it from there.

The students were very excited to have the opportunity to learn about Coghlin Companies and tour the facilities.  The tour gave the class a firsthand look at the myriad of manufacturing spaces and types of products currently being worked on.  Students were left with a sense of awe at the efficiency and capabilities of the different Coghlin Companies business units.  They went back to their classroom having learned more about innovation and entrepreneurship, and ready to start building their own businesses.

This will be Coghlin Companies’ fifth year participating in The Day of Caring. This event, held once a year, is dedicated to bettering the community through service projects at various local agencies. The projects are determined by the agencies in advance to ensure efficient use of volunteers’ time and effort for maximum results.

This year we are sending four of our employees to participate in the event. They will be working on a project with one of the local agencies who partner with the United Way. In the past, Coghlin Companies has volunteered with Green Island Residents Group, HMEA, the Worcester Housing Authority, and Pernet Family Health Services on a variety of projects that included painting, scraping, cleaning, gardening, and raking.

This year our volunteers will work at a store recently opened by Habitat for Humanity called ReStore.  This retail outlet provides building supplies and home improvement items and is where our volunteers will spend their Day of Caring organizing and assisting customers.

Every year the volunteers from Coghlin Companies enjoy participating in this great event. We already have employees asking to help next year, and they can rest assured they will get the chance to help and give back to our community. In addition to participating in The Day of Caring event, Coghlin Companies’ employee base supports the United Way through an annual drive.

If you would like to get involved, please contact the United Way at www.unitedway.org.

Donna Mazialnik

Executive Assistant