The ARM Institute Champion program recognizes ARM Institute Members who have gone above and beyond the call of membership to strengthen US manufacturing through robotics, physical AI, and workforce development while advocating for the ARM Institute’s mission! ARM Champions are recognized annually at a celebratory dinner during our Annual Member Meeting, our premier members-only event that convenes representatives from across our member consortium for three days of networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration.
This year, we’re starting monthly highlights of our ARM Institute Champions to connect you better to their work, inspire you on how you might be able to take action on further collaboration with us, and help you meet your fellow Members.
This month’s Champion Spotlight features Lou Camerlengo, President of ARM Member fivestar*. Get to know Lou in the interview below!
Can you start by telling us more about fivestar* and your background?
fivestar* empowers businesses by developing secure custom software applications, advanced data analytics, and Infor CRM solutions that optimize business operations. Our solutions drive modernization and innovation for public and private organizations – from transforming legacy systems to building enterprise-grade applications and data-driven dashboards, analytics, and reporting tools. We have three decades of experience helping organizations adapt to changing technology and operational needs. I co-founded fivestar* in March of 1997 and focus on account management, strategy, and culture. Prior to that I held individual contributor and management roles in broadcast and cable television, and interactive training design and development.
How and why did you get involved in the ARM Institute?
fivestar* met the ARM Institute in 2019 through a partner in workforce development that was collaborating on a project call that required web support. When we met with the ARM team, we immediately knew we wanted to support the ARM Institute’s mission and joined. The ARM Institute’s focus on workforce development and innovation aligned closely with fivestar*’s values and expertise.
You’ve participated on the ARM Institute’s Education & Workforce Advisory Committee. Can you tell us more about that experience and the role the EWAC plays in the ARM Institute’s workforce strategy?
From the very beginning I saw two characteristics that I felt made the ARM Institute unique. First was the founding team was comprised of experts in all disciplines, not just robotics – marketing, strategy, finance, operations, and partnerships. The second was that they applied a disciplined, membership-centric entrepreneurial mindset to their work. The ARM team continually monitors industry trends and member needs and evolves the organization and its programs accordingly. The EWAC is a strong example of how the ARM Institute assembled a team of industry training and workforce professionals, and education and training providers who provide strategic insights that help shape programs such as endorsements for robotics training programs and RoboticsCareer.org.
fivestar* has been instrumental in the creation of the ARM Institute’s RoboticsCareer.org platform. What most excites you about this project? Can you tell us a bit about fivestar*’s role?
fivestar*’s partnership with the ARM Institute on RoboticsCareer.org has been a highlight of my career. The entire team is comprised of fantastic collaborators. They are out in the community all the time, gathering feedback and exploring new ways to increase the impact of the site. What excites me the most is the overwhelming positive reaction the site gets from all stakeholders – job and education seekers and providers, industry partners, and the government stakeholders who make it all possible. Nothing is more fulfilling than knowing you have helped someone find a better path in life. The impact the ARM Institute can have on the industry and its workforce is unlimited.
In early 2020, the ARM Institute released a public RFP for the design and development of RoboticsCareer.org. fivestar* had prior experience with several regional and national consortiums creating scalable, sustainable custom workforce development software solutions, and web applications that connected students, workers, adult learners, and veterans with re-skilling and career pathway opportunities. These experiences demonstrated the importance of scalable workforce ecosystems and stakeholder engagement, so we saw RoboticsCareer.org as a perfect fit. We submitted a proposal and were fortunate to be awarded the first of several contracts.
What advice do you have for newer ARM Members about how they can engage and get the most of their membership?
Be proactive in getting involved early. Join a Project Call, committee, or working group. Take advantage of the opportunities and services offered and use the member portal to connect. Attending November’s Annual Member Meeting is an invaluable opportunity to make connections and contribute. Active participation helps members build relationships and uncover collaboration opportunities more quickly. Regardless of your size, I have found you can find a seat at the table at the ARM Institute, if you are willing to contribute your time.
2026 will mark the 10th iteration of our Annual Member Meeting, taking place Nov. 17-19 in Pittsburgh as a members-only event. Can you tell us what you look forward to most at this event each year?
We focus mostly on workforce, so what I look forward to the most at the Annual Member Meeting is learning about the wide range of technical projects that members are undertaking both inside and outside of the ARM Institute. Also, the one-on-one connections – there is real value in cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing that takes place at the event.
What is something you’ve learned or accomplished that you wouldn’t have without the ARM Institute?
Through my association with the ARM Institute, and the Education & Workforce Advisory Committee (EWAC) in particular, I have gained insight into how focused collaboration across education, workforce, industry, and government stakeholders can make a real and positive impact.
Bonus: Tell us what’s new with fivestar* that you’d like other ARM Members to know about!
In October 2022, fivestar* was acquired by the Revision Collective, a collection of like-minded businesses that are working together to expand our impact, accelerate our growth, and secure our future as an employee-owned collective. In January of this year, one of our sister companies SimpleSoft Solutions, a CRM consulting and implementation company, merged into fivestar*. Expanding the client base and providing deeper insights into client needs and trends are integral to every organization’s growth. CRM is central to that process, so we see the addition of CRM as another step in expanding how fivestar* can help organizations grow and thrive.
Join Lou & Thousands of Other Experts in Strengthening US Manufacturing
ARM Institute Members lead the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to develop and produce the world’s most desired products. By becoming a member of our nearly 500 member organization consortium, you’ll join thousands of subject matter experts in building the future of US manufacturing through robotics, AI, and workforce innovations. Your membership to our robotics institute unlocks not only access to member-exclusive events and webinars, including our Annual Member Meeting, but also project funding opportunities, project outputs, networking, a digital platform for collaboration, and more.
2026 ARM Institute Member Meeting
Save the date for our 10th Annual Member Meeting taking place Nov. 17-19 in Pittsburgh, PA. Our Annual Member Meeting convenes experts from across our consortium for three days of networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. This event is open only to ARM Members. Stay tuned for registration information or join our consortium to gain access to this unique event.
Thank you to our Platinum Members: GE Vernova, Northrop Grumman, and Siemens, as well as our event sponsors AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, fivestar*, GridRaster Inc., ITA – Italian Trade Agency, ReadyOne Industries, Tronix3D, and Yaskawa Motoman for supporting our event!
Join our consortium
ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE
The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of War under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique and robust consortium of nearly 500 member organizations and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, the ARM Institute’s mission is to assert the US as the leading nation in manufacturing output through the adoption of robotics and AI. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and X.