Northeast Metro Business 01_VHEDC_20_DE | Page 23

Area Schools, White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation, Ramsey County, HIRED and local manufacturing businesses. The Specialty Manufacturing Company, Du Fresne Manufacturing, Mold Craft, Inc., and Schwing America Inc., were the original industry partners. “Showing kids there are companies all over their hometown in various industries that are interested in them is a great way to engage in the community and have positive reinforcement for both the students and employees to know what to expect when Gen Z enters the workforce,” said Jon Tomaszewski, Manufacturing Engineer for The Specialty Manufacturing Company. Pathways programs. At a recent breakfast program, ten new employers expressed interest in getting onboard for the 2020 summer program, and more are in the queue to get started. Programming will eventually include options beyond summer break to be available throughout the school year,” she said. shared their surprise about feeling welcomed and included in the group he worked with. This shows the difference it can make to open doors for exposure to the industry and provide opportunities for students to explore careers in the workplace. It’s a great investment in our future.” “I love listening to the stories at the closing events. One parent said he enjoyed having new conversations with his son about their different experiences in the workplace. Another student’s girlfriend talked about something he made for her while in the program, while other students Justin McPhee, Vice President and General Manager of Mold Craft, a Northeast Metro company that design and builds plastic injection molds primarily for the medical industry agrees. “Programs like this are important to teach kids that there are other opportunities besides a four-year degree to become an engineer. I’m not saying four year college is bad, as I am a mechanical engineer from North Dakota State University; but manufacturing needs smart people like engineers that like to work with their hands and use machines to build things. Our employees are problem solvers. They are using their heads every day to develop the next custom mold that may save a life,” he said. Other companies participating in the manufacturing pathway partnership include Cummins, LasX Industries, Renstrom Dental Inc., Superior Machine Inc., and Teamvantage. Buerkle Car Campus, Fairway Collision & Autobody and Walser Automotive Group are part of the automotive career pathway. Cindy O’Donovan of the human resources consulting firm Right4 Your Business serves as the project coordinator for the two-year grant program, which runs from 2019-2021. She offered some insight into where the program is going in 2020. “Excitement is building as employer and student participants talk about their experience in the Career Kajuan (KJ) Ramsey - WBL senior during Gen Z. vhedc.com 23