Blackhawk Technical College held its annual Manufacturing Day event on Tuesday, showcasing manufacturing career opportunities to nearly 300 high school students and connecting them with about 30 area employers.
Students also took tours of Blackhawk’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center and engaged with Blackhawk instructors to learn about the various technical and associate programs offered. They learned about the options to get started in high school, including Youth Apprenticeship, Internship and Job Shadow programs.
“This day is part of Blackhawk’s ongoing mission to inspire students to pursue careers in manufacturing. The collaboration between employers, the school districts and our workforce economic groups is exciting as we prepare tomorrow’s workforce to meet the manufacturing and technology needs of Rock and Green counties,” said Greg Phillips, Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology and Transportation Dean at Blackhawk.
In addition to local employers and high school students, other public officials and economic leaders attended the event, including the Department of Workforce Development’s Assistant Deputy Secretary Danielle Williams, Rhonda Suda, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board Executive Director, and James Otterstein, Rock County Economic Development.
The talent gap continues to hold back the manufacturing industry’s growth. Of the 400 manufacturers interviewed in an October 2022 Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity survey, 84 percent of participants said it was challenging to find qualified workers, and 56 percent had open positions that needed to be filled.
“Exposing high school students to the job opportunities in manufacturing is key to helping close this gap and create a solid skilled workforce in Rock and Green counties. Blackhawk is taking a lead in making this happen through events like Manufacturing Day,” said Dr. Tracy Pierner, President of Blackhawk.
2022 Participating Employers
Baker Manufacturing Company, LLC
Ball Corporation
Charter Next Generation
Cotta Transmission Company, LLC
CPT, Inc
DSB Technologies
Fairbanks Morse Defense
Frito Lay, Inc.
Husco International
IKI Manufacturing
Jones Dairy Farm
Kuhn North America, Inc
Mid-States Concrete Industries
NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes
Novares US Engine Components, Inc.
Precision Drive & Control, Inc.
Prent Corporation
Provisur Technologies
Scot Forge Company
SHINE Technologies
Southwest WI Workforce Development Board- Rock & Green County Youth Apprenticeship Consortium
Spacesaver Corporation
Spray-Tek
SSI Technologies, LLC
Stoughton Trailers
Sugar River Machine
Tigre USA
United Alloy
2022 Participating High Schools
Albany High School
ARISE
Beloit Learning Academy
Beloit Memorial High School
Clinton High School
Craig High School
Edgerton High School
Evansville High School
F.J. Turner High School
Juda High School
Milton School District
Parker High School
Rock River Charter School
Rock University High School
South Beloit High School
TAGOS
The Lincoln Academy
Original source can be found here.
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