Page 14 - 2021 Westchester County Economic Development Guide

Talent
Pivoting
Flexible. Adaptive. Resourceful. Westchester boasts a highly talented, educated and qualified workforce, as well as an entrepreneurial culture ready to rethink how they do business and discover new opportunities.
Westchester Forward
UNDERCARE:
FULFILLING A CRITICAL NEED
For Susanne Shoemaker, founder and CEO of Undercare, inspiration for her new business struck in the locker room of the YMCA in White Plains.
“I saw a woman with progressive Parkinson’s, and dressing was very difficult for her. I have an arts background and it occurred to me that design could help these folks with their daily lives.”
Undercare produces adaptive underwear, as well as bathing suits and athletic wear, for people suffering from disabilities or mobility issues due to a variety of conditions such as a broken limb, illness or amputation.
Shoemaker joined the Element 46 incubator (learn more on page 8) and was ready to market her product when COVID-19 hit, stalling the production process for her initial underwear designs.
“There were severe shortages of PPE at the time, and I happened to have a supply of beautiful fabric on hand in the USA. It occurred to me that I
could create a lateral extension of my business and fill a critical need.”
Shoemaker consulted with some manu- facturing contacts, as well as another expert resource: her daughter, who is an OB-GYN. “As a physician, she had clear ideas about what makes for a good mask, and offered a lot of input.”
“I was able to connect with a factory in North Carolina, and they were right on it. Usually this would take eight weeks, but they were able to begin production immediately.”
Shoemaker then reached out to local government agencies, including the Office of Economic Development, and received a bid award to create washable, reusable facemasks and quickly provided them to the community.
Shoemaker continues to develop Undercare though she has been experiencing production delays. “It’s a good time to refine patterns with my pattern maker,” she says. “But if the need remains, I am prepared to make masks as long as needed.”
Reflecting on her experience with Element 46, Shoemaker says, “we appreciated the support of County Executive George Latimer. In addition, Bridget Gibbons and Deborah Novick of the Office of Economic Development have been wonderful in providing program support. Our cohort still meets every other week.”
Top: Undercare manufactures adaptive clothing for people with mobility issues. Above: Undercare Founder Susanne Shoemaker
Right: Undercare men’s briefs.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
© Ted Hartshorn
© Josef Astor
© Ted Hartshorn