eDevelopments: Educating Educators about Manufacturing Careers

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Counselors Academy Exposes Educators to Manufacturing Career Paths

School counselors from around the region now have a bigger toolbox thanks to a partnership among the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center, John Wood Community College and GREDF. The counselors spent last Thursday learning how they can help their students succeed in the area’s thriving manufacturing sector.

The message from local manufacturing representatives and workforce experts who met with the counselors during the day-long academy was clear: There are good, well-paying jobs right here in our region if our young adults are willing to show up, receive training and work hard.

The overall theme of the day was “Manufacturing in the 21st Century”. Members of an Employers Panel which included Jennifer Jenkins of Archer Daniels Midland, Vic Luburich of Fitzpatrick Brothers, Inc., Mike Dailing of Knapheide Manufacturing Company and Julie Bonansinga of Snelling Personnel Services/Industrial Workforce covered the following information:

• Variety of manufacturing jobs available / What areas are growing?
• Skills needed for those jobs / What do you look for when you are hiring?
• What prospective employees should expect / What is the work environment like?

Participants also went on a driving tour of some of Quincy’s Business Parks hosted by Megan Backs of GREDF and toured the manufacturing facilities of Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corporation.

An educated and skilled workforce is the foundation of every community and future of every economy. Thanks to these partners for their commitment to educating and growing our current and future workforce.