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Tri-State MakerFest Open To The Public & Focused on Workforce

Tri-State MakerFest Open To The Public & Focused on Workforce October 22, 2018

What can you look forward to at the 2018 Tri-State MakerFest? The full event happens Thursday-Saturday; November 1-3, 2018 inside the Oakley Lindsay Center at 300 Civic Center Plaza, with Friday reserved for tri-state high school students. Thursday and Saturday are open to the public.

 

Thursday, November 1 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

  • B2B Social Networking & hosted bar sponsored by HOMEBANK.
  • Part 1 of the S.T.E.A.M. bridge building competition where guests vote on aesthetics.

 

Businesses are welcome to attend the afterhours networking event and preview participating MakerFest businesses in the OLC hall. Be the first to hear about a new Talent Attraction & Retention Project to launch for our community, led by Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) and the Herald-Whig.

 

“The most critical issue facing our community is finding enough skilled workforce to fill open positions in our growing industries,” states Marcel Wagner, GREDF president.

 

“Quincy and our region is fortunate to be in a growth mode,” continues Ron Wallace, Publisher HW & VP of Newspapers. “However, we recognize there is a gap in our workforce. Therefore, we need to get the message out to other areas about our growth, as well as our low cost of living and quality of life, encouraging people to seek Quincy for their place of employment. This new Talent Attraction & Retention Project will allow us to tell our story, target regional job seekers, and offer a solution for people in places suffering higher unemployment rates.”

 

Additionally, be the first to see completed projects from the S.T.E.A.M. bridge building competition, sponsored by Ameren Illinois, and vote on bridge aesthetics. Engineers from local companies paired up with participating schools with the goal of not only building the strongest bridge out of balsa wood, but also inspiring careers in S.T.E.A.M.

 

Roger Leenerts, engineer at Leenerts Group reflected, “Last week was a great start to the MakerFest bridge building contest! I was so impressed with the enthusiasm of the teachers at Paris High School and the interest that the students had in this event. Not only were the students interested in doing well in the competition, they were fully engaged in the learning process about engineering principles of good bridge design. It’s fun to be a volunteer with a group like this!”

 

Participating school classes & their engineer coach include:

Unity High School – Stephanie Altgilbers

Engineer – Deepak Balaji from ADM

 

Quincy Christian School – Lloyd Keeney

Engineer – Charles Paquet from Knapheide

 

Paris (Mo) High School – Suzanne Otto

Engineer – Roger Leenerts from Leenerts Group

 

Pittsfield High School – Paul Lennon

Engineer – Brian Norman from Klingner

 

“I believe this event is very important for connecting students and the community to all the available S.T.E.A.M. related businesses the area has to offer,” explains Deepak Balaji, plant engineer packaging – ADM Oilseeds. “This exposure to the local industry is key in driving the economy and future of the area. I think this will teach students that careers in S.T.E.A.M. are beyond just math and sciences but more importantly teamwork and collaboration.”

 

Saturday, November 3 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

  • See employer exhibits accepting applications & resumes, tech demonstrations showcasing company innovations, equipment & video presentations and interactive displays.
  • Part 2 of the S.T.E.A.M. bridge building competition where bridges will be tested, as well as S.T.E.A.M. activities for K – 6thgrade students.

 

Cheer the classes on as Dr. Wolfmeir from John Wood Community College uses equipment to test the structural qualities of each bridge.

 

Participating businesses and organizations include:

Adams Fiber

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Blessing Health System

Craig Industries

Dot Foods, Inc.

First Bankers Trust

First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust

GatesAir

Herald-Whig

Hollister-Whitney Elevator

HomeBank

John Wood Community College

Knapheide Manufacturing

Kohl Wholesale

Lakeside Casting Solutions

Manchester Tank

Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center

Quincy Medical Group

Quincy University

Sisbro, Inc.

Sparks Maintenance

Titan International, Inc.

Workforce Innovation Board

 

MakerFest is sponsored by HOMEBANK and in partnership with John Wood Community College, Workforce Innovation Board of Western IL, West Central Region Education for Employment System #240 / Quincy Area Vocational & Technical Center.

 

For more information, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

 

Great River Economic Development Foundation is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization with a mission to maintain and GROW the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, IL region through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our entire region.

Press Conference & Tour Celebrating Manufacturing and MakerFest

Press Conference & Tour Celebrating Manufacturing and MakerFest October 22, 2018

Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) and its partners are celebrating Manufacturing Day and kicking off the 2018 Tri-State MakerFest. All were invited to a press conference and manufacturing facility tour on Friday, October 5 at 9:00 AMin the new Knapheide Manufacturing Facility – 1848 Westphalia Strasse, Quincy, IL.

 

This past year brought the addition of aluminum to Knapheide’s product line-up, as well as growth in their workforce with the addition of 140 new employees. Latest developments include an expansion to their engineering lab, which features new testing capabilities, a maintenance expansion, a finish and trim addition and new roads to help with receiving supplies and staging loads.

 

“Our region has always had a strong nationwide manufacturing history that’s thrived thanks to a hardworking community,” said President & CEO, Bo Knapheide. “Our company been fortunate to grow over our 170 years and we are excited about the future. It’s extremely important that our region continues to work to be competitive in order to attract new businesses and the needed employees to fill those jobs.”

 

Marcel Wagner, GREDF president began the press conference followed by, Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) director Blanche Shoup. HOMEBANK president, Mark Hayes spoke on the upcoming MakerFest, with Mayor Kyle Moore presenting the Governor’s Manufacturing Day Proclamation. The press conference concluded with words from Knapheide Present & CEO, Bo Knapheide, and tours of the facility were offered immediately following the press conference.

 

“We look forward to hosting this years Tri-State MakerFest, as we open the event up to all employment industries,” states Angela Caldwell, director of workforce development at GREDF. “It is important for our students, job seekers and the public to see all the regional opportunities available to grow our workforce.”

 

Participating businesses and organizations include:

Archer Daniels Midland

Blessing Health System

Craig Industries

Dot Foods, Inc.

First Bankers Trust

First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust

H & B Tooling/Sparks Maintenance

Herald-Whig

Hollister-Whitney Elevator

HomeBank

John Wood Community College

Knapheide Manufacturing

Lakeside Casting Solutions

Manchester Tank

Quincy Area Vocational & Technical Center

Quincy University

Sisbro, Inc.

Titan International, Inc.

Workforce Innovation Board

 

MakerFest is sponsored by HOMEBANK and in partnership with John Wood Community College, Workforce Innovation Board of Western IL, West Central Region Education for Employment System #240 / Quincy Area Vocational & Technical Center.

 

For more information, contact Joi Cuartero Austin at GREDF (217) 223-4313.

 

Great River Economic Development Foundation is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization with a mission to maintain and GROW the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, IL region through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our entire region.

 

###

Call to Showcase Businesses at MakerFest

Call to Showcase Businesses at MakerFest October 22, 2018

Planning for the 2018 Tri-State MakerFest is underway and this year, all businesses are welcome to register for the 3-day event, celebrating employment industries. The event takes place Thursday-Saturday, November 1-3 inside and outside the Oakley Lindsay Center at 300 Civic Center Plaza, Quincy, IL 62301.

 

Thursday evening from 4PM-6PM includes a B2B networking, hosted bar and part 1 of the high school S.T.E.A.M. competition. Friday from 9AM-12PM is the student open house, and Saturday from 9AM-12PM is part 2 of the S.T.E.A.M. completion, along with activities for K-6thgrade and a job fair from employment seeking individuals.

 

Sponsored by HOMEBANK, the event enables us to showcase local businesses to area students and job seekers, giving guests an in-depth look at tri-state area businesses, while promoting available opportunities, and helping to build our regional workforce.

 

“We participated (last year) because it was a great opportunity to meet with high school students from across the area,” explained Jim Rubottom,VP Human Resources at Knapheide Manufacturing. “It allowed us to promote our company and discuss opportunities at Knapheide. To be able to explain not only a job is available, but a person can build a career and grow with our organization.”

 

“Students were able to ask questions outside of the classroom about opportunities and careers available not just with ADM but with many different local industries after they graduate,” said Brenton Wadsworth, Refinery Manager at Archer Daniels Midland Company. “I am looking forward to talking with the young adults and giving them some advice to help guide them in their career path after high school.”

 

Business can participate in various ways including:

  • Setting up tech demonstrations to showcase company innovations,
  • Having a display of equipment, robotics or video presentation,
  • Presenting something interactive,
  • Having an exhibit for students and job seekers to promote available opportunities, discuss skills needed and take applications.

 

Businesses can register online by filling out the Business Participation Format www.gredf.org under the Workforce Development tab. There, companies have a choice of booth size starting at $85, with option for both indoor and outdoor display. RSVP Deadline is Monday, October 1.

 

MakerFest is also in partnership with John Wood Community College, Workforce Innovation Board of Western IL, West Central Region Education for Employment System #240 / Quincy Area Vocational & Technical Center and the Quincy Herald-Whig.

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