Building bridges to manufacturing trades

Representatives from 14 local companies and educational institutions visited Wheeling High School for a tour of new technology facilities and to discuss re-educating the public about the advanced manufacturing field.

Peter Vadopalas, director of economic development for the village of Wheeling, organized the meeting in part to starting a Wheeling chapter of the Chicago Renaissance Manufacturing Council.

"These are the jobs (manufacturing) that can create a middle class," said Dan Swinney, executive director of the council.

Part of the council's mission is to "advocate for policies and programs that support and enhance the manufacturing economy."

The Feb. 11 meeting also offered a chance for trade organizations, local businesses and educators to talk about their goal of preparing workers for careers in the advanced manufacturing industry.

Jeff Bott, Mike Geist and Marc Sears, Wheeling High School technology teachers, gave a tour of the new technology lab while explaining the courses and programs they teach to prepare students for careers in manufacturing and engineering.

In addition to discussing the new chapter, Swinney also suggested starting a subcommittee focusing on secondary education.

Jim Warren, education, training and certification department chair of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, gave a presentation on his organization's nonprofit foundation "Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs." The

foundation sponsors summer camps for youth to learn and experience skills in the advanced manufacturing trades. It also offers scholarships for students pursuing careers in the industry.

Brian McGuire, president of the Tooling and Manufacturing Association, also presented. "What's new at TMA? Everything is new at TMA," McGuire said.

Many of those who attended are members of the association group, which offers training and support for business as well as support for the educational initiatives in local schools. The TMA helped fund and build Wheeling's new technology lab.

The day after the meeting, Kevin Muck, the high school's division head for career technology education, visited Waltz Brothers and SMW Auto Block with Geist and Sears to tour the companies' facilities. The two companies have agreed to offer facility tours, financial support, and internships for students in the advanced manufacturing and engineering programs.