The Fall 2020 Welding and CNC Boot Camp completion definitely looked different from the ones MPTC’s Economic and Workforce Development has held before. But then, so did the entire boot camp.
Boot camp is always intense. The phrase, “We call it boot camp for a reason,” gets thrown around often as the normal stresses of learning to be a student again, balancing home and work life, and life hurdles get in the way. This semester the addition of quarantines and resulting virtual attendance and loss of hands on time added to the challenge.
But nine remained and we celebrated your accomplishment the only way we could. EWD wishes the best to our boot camp completers and acknowledges the extra hurdles you overcame, the extra patience you showed, and the extra flexibility it took to make it though.
We’re proud of you and your unique accomplishment.
We hope the unique ceremony showed just how much.
MPTC’s Economic and Workforce Development boot camps have been held continuously since fall of 2012 at little or no charge to students. Recruiting for spring has already begun. If you’re interested in being part of boot camps, or just want to know a little bit more about them, look us up at www.morainepark.edu/bootcamps.
Moraine Park Technical College held its fall 2020 Manufacturing Skills Academy completion ceremony on Wednesday, December 23. A total of nine students finished the program, four from Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and five from Welding.
This program was designed to combat the skilled worker shortage by offering a variety of boot camp sessions. The boot camp sessions are free to participants, teach skills that are unique to a particular pathway, and connect students with area employers. The program also combines a 144-hour paid internship with coursework, including Occupational Math, Print Reading, Team Building, Problem Solving, and program-specific courses. Participating internship sites for this session were FZE Manufacturing Solutions, LLC, Mid States Aluminum Corporation, Ultra Tool & Manufacturing, and Wabash National.
Moraine Park has had over 400 participants in the Welding and CNC boot camp programs since its induction in 2012.
The students who completed the CNC boot camp are Loni Gromacki of Germantown, April Novak of Fond du Lac, Ethan Strebe of Fond du Lac, and Brian Wilson of Fond du Lac.
The students who completed the Welding boot camp are Nathaniel Horner of Beaver Dam, Timothy Lowe of Fond du Lac, Robin Robertson of Colgate, Steven Stathas of Jackson, and Xavier Thomas of Fond du Lac.
This year’s graduation speakers were Timothy Lowe and Ethan Strebe. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ceremony was open to boot camp students and Moraine Park staff only. The event was live-streamed to allow for family, friends, and employer partners to participate.
Moraine Park’s Skills Academy boot camps are free to participating students, thanks to financial support from community resource partners and the Workforce and Training (WAT) grants.
Registrations for the spring 2021 boot camp program are now being accepted. For more information, visit morainepark.edu/bootcamps.
We are excited to introduce Dan Zoschke, our new Welding Instructor in the Economic and Workforce Development Department. In his role, Dan works with participants who are learning and crafting their manufacturing and welding skills. He will also be working with students in our short term manufacturing boot camps as well as support the growth of that program.
Dan came to Moraine Park Technical College from a long career in Manufacturing. He has worked at Apache Stainless Corporation as a Welder/Fabricator specializing in custom built tanks. This included Tig welding several different types of metals including Stainless, Hastelloy, Titanium and other high alloy materials. Dan has also worked at Central Cable Contractors as a Maintenance Welder. During his time at Central Cable, he had performed high level skilled welding on light and heavy duty equipment in control environments as well as in the field using all welding processes.
Dan is passionate about manufacturing and is excited to share his skills with current and future business partners as well as boot camp students.
“I am eager to meet and work with our business partners as well as our boot camp students. I am looking forward to making a positive impact in the lives of boot camp students. I am also excited to support the growth of skilled trades within our district as well as promote sustainable careers in manufacturing.”
Moraine Park Technical College awarded its first business and industry partnership awards, recognizing valued partners of 2019. The College’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) team has implemented five separate partnership awards to be presented each fiscal year; Excellence in Partnership, Employer of the Year, Innovation, New Partner of the Year, and Workforce Development Champion.
The Excellence in Partnership award is given to an organization involved in several areas of the college including advisory committees, Foundation donations, TechConnect, EWD contracts, and boot camp internships. The 2019 award recipient is Mayville Engineering Co. (MEC). As a longtime partner, MEC has supported its employees serving on Moraine Park advisory committees; welding fabrication, IT applications developer, and mechanical design technology. Their generous contributions to the Promise program were vital in meeting fundraising goals, ultimately helping fund tuition for students who otherwise couldn’t afford it. MEC has been utilizing TechConnect and partnering with EWD both in contracted services and as a boot camp internship site for several years. All of these reasons, and more, earned them the inaugural Excellence in Partnership award. The College presented the award to MEC representatives Alex Crimmings, Charles Francis, and Kevin Smith, during a small, private gathering.
The Employer of the Year award is given to an employer who has made a significant investment in their staff through a partnership with Moraine Park Technical College. The 2019 award recipient is Mercury Marine, for being a valued and consistent partner with Moraine Park. Mercury Marine has partnered with the College to launch the following development programs: Basic Shop Math, CNC Machining Fundamentals, CNC Machining Level 2, Core Skills, Forklift Train the Trainer, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, Inspire Supervisor Series, Intro to Engine Fundamentals, Nims Review, and Dealer Training. The College presented the award virtually to Andres Gonzalez, vice president of human resources at Mercury Marine.
The Innovation Award is given to an organization that implemented an innovative solution to a workforce challenge. The 2019 award recipient is Bike Friendly West Bend, for their work and collaboration that surrounded the implementation of bike racks around the city of West Bend. The racks were created by students in the mechanical design and welding programs at Moraine Park. As a result of this project, the students gained valuable real-life experience and earned service learning hours. As well, the City of West Bend was positively impacted and can move forward in their bike-friendly efforts. The College recognized Bike Friendly West Bend and representatives Andrew Schumacher and Jeff Puetz with a virtual recognition.
The New Partner of the Year award is given to an organization that supports Moraine Park through contributions, sponsorships, or involvement for the first time. The 2019 award recipient is Envision Greater Fond du Lac for their collaboration and engagement in the development and delivery of the new Leading Through People and Processes (LPP) program. Envision began working with Moraine Park in the winter of 2018 to create an innovative approach to leadership development within the Fond du Lac community. Their existing program had been in direct competition with the College’s offerings, and the goal was to show the community the value of collaboration and partnership while creating a new best practice opportunity. The Leading Through People and Processes (LPP) program, launched in summer 2019, was the first training program developed and delivered collaboratively with Moraine Park. The College presented the award to Envision Fond du Lac representatives Holly Brenner, Allen Buechel, James Cleveland, Sadie Parafiniuk, and Paul Reetz at a small, private gathering.
The Workforce Development Champion award is given to an individual focused on improving the skills and retention of personnel in the region and has positively impacted workforce issues around recruitment, training, and career development. The 2019 award recipient is Harley Lemkuil from Specialty Cheese. Specialty Cheese Inc. first partnered with Moraine Park, as a boot camp internship site, in 2019. Since then, under the leadership of Lemkuil, they have created additional partnerships with the College including machining onsite training and participation in the EWD’s podcast. Lemkuil is always looking for ways to help provide resources to improve the lives of employees including a rideshare program, training in Spanish and English, and child care services. Additionally, Lemkuil is exploring having onsite English Language Learner (ELL) classes. The College recognized Harley in a virtual setting.
For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.
*In person photos were taken prior to the statewide mandate.*
Ready to head out on a new adventure? Have you ever thought about becoming a commercial truck driver? You may ask yourself, what does it take to get the required license to drive a truck? You’ll need to get a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) to practice driving on public roads.
Take the first step towards a new career by enrolling in Moraine Park’s CDL Learner’s Permit Exam Prep class. You will meet face to face with an instructor who will guide you through the requirements to obtain your Commercial Learners Permit in as little as a week. Our 15 hour classroom course will introduce you to the trucking industry, familiarize you with the different written exams, background and medical information, and prepare you to pass the required knowledge exam whether you plan to apply for a CLASS A, B, or C license. Once you are issued a Commercial Learners Permit, you may operate a commercial motor vehicle as indicated on your permit with another person licensed to drive the same type of vehicle.
If you have a valid Wisconsin Driver’s License and an acceptable driving record, Moraine Park Technical College can help you take that first step towards a truck driving career.
Make an investment in your future today. In as little as one week, we can prepare you to pass the knowledge exam. Get started by enrolling an upcoming class.
Monday – Thursday, June 1 -4, 2020 5:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. Fond du Lac Campus, Room B-128 CRN 10203
Monday – Thursday, September 14-20, 2020 5:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. West Bend Campus, Room T-104 CRN 20328
Monday – Thursday, November 2- 5, 2020 5:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. Fond du Lac Campus, Room B127 CRN 20327
Success isn’t given, it’s earned, and Christian Bailey-Steenport of Fond du Lac is using his drive and motivation to pave his path. He had a difficult upbringing with a traumatic home-life. As a result, he left home before finishing high school. The choices he made from there weren’t always the best, but it ultimately led him to where he is today.
“I had
a horrible home life,” Christian said. “When I left, I ended up with the wrong
crowd and eventually became a product of my environment.”
He
needed a change in his life, but at the time didn’t have access to
opportunities that could help turn his life around. It wasn’t long before
Christian was in trouble with the law.
“I
wasn’t making good choices,” he said. “However, my time behind bars is
ultimately what gave me the clarity and fresh start I needed.”
While
Christian was in jail, he made solid goals and a plan to obtain them. When he
was released on January 8, 2019, his first stop was Moraine Park Technical
College’s Economic and Workforce Development Boot Camp program test drive.
The
College’s test drive offers the opportunity to explore the welding and
computerized numerical control (CNC) machining careers, meet potential
employers, and receive valuable real-world opportunities. Christian immediately
signed up for the welding boot camp.
“Both
my Grandpa and Dad were welders,” he said. “I had some background knowledge of
the field and decided to learn more.”
Christian
began his college career in February of 2019 and hasn’t stopped since.
“When I
first came to Moraine Park, I was only interested in completing the welding
boot camp,” he said. “I wasn’t interested in making friends. I wanted to focus
only on my goals. It didn’t take long for my mindset to change, and I’m glad it
did. I’m learning a lot, enjoying college, and I have made some great friends
along the way.”
Christian
completed the welding boot camp in May of 2019 and immediately enrolled in the
welding technical diploma program. He is scheduled to graduate in December of
2020. He also has plans to earn his metal fabrication and automotive technician
technical diplomas and has an interest in serving an industrial maintenance
apprenticeship. His overall goal is to own a custom metal fabrication shop with
his brother, who begins his boot camp journey in January 2020.
“I am
motivated to succeed,” Christian said. “I’ve overcome a lot in my life, and my
college journey hasn’t always been easy, but I keep showing up. I’ve never
missed a day of class-ever.”
Currently,
Christian works full time at MEC, where he served his boot camp internship and
was hired before graduation. He also attends school full time. He is busy but
motivated, and that is the driving force that makes it all work for him.
“I’ve
had a lot of support from Moraine Park,” he said. “They helped me to succeed
and ultimately have guided me through this new path. I’m proud of myself and
look forward to accomplishing more.”
For more information about a career in CNC or Welding, visit morainepark.edu/bootcamp and sign up for one of the information and testing sessions in January 2020. These sessions are a required step to participating in the free boot camp program.
Moraine
Park Technical College has graduated its ninth cohort of participants from the
STRAT (Strategy, Alignment, Talent) program on December 13, 2019 with a
completion ceremony that included project presentation at the Moraine Park
Technical College Fond du Lac campus.
The STRAT
2019 participants included Chloe Komorowski, Director of Nursing at Hillside
Manor; John Nehls, Consumer Compliance Analyst at Horicon Bank; Patrick
Rentmeester, Corporate Controller at Sadoff Iron & Metal Company; Mary
Davies, Associate Dean at Moraine Park Technical College; Joe Truesdale,
Marketing Account Manager at Wisnet; Cecilia Harry, Former CEO of Envision Greater
Fond du Lac; Lynn Abraham, Organizational Resources Director at Lakeland Care;
and Emily Hayes, General Education Reading/Writing Instructor at Moraine Park
Technical College.
As a key part
of the program, participants identified and implemented projects that would
improve their workplace with objectives that were quite diverse from financial
to cultural goals. Some of the projects included: new training programs,
testing a flexible work model, new budgeting process, software implementations,
and reducing turnover. The project focused on employee engagement and retention
is already seeing a return on investment through a decrease in sign on bonuses
and turnover costs.
The STRAT 2.0
program was developed by Moraine Park’s Economic and Workforce Development
division and goes beyond the typical training – integrating a 360 assessment as
well as other leadership profile indicators, feedback, stretch assignments,
experiential learning and one-on-one coaching to accelerate individual
performance. Individuals are sponsored by their employers and organizations to
participate in cross-functional development linking strategy and execution to
achieve measureable results within their organizations. Through the
program, students participate in workshops, networking events, professional
coaching and STRAT alumni to build their professional network and support
participants on their project and leadership journey.
Registration
is currently in process for the 2020 STRAT session. To register, call
1-800-472-4554 ext. 3449. For more information on the STRAT program visit morainepark.edu/strat.
A brand is worthless if it does not
connect with the right audience in a responsive and relevant way was one
takeaway at the Moraine Park Technical College Economic and Workforce
Development’s Business Forum help on Friday, October 18, 2019 at the Fond du
Lac campus.
A panel of business professionals
shared their expertise on “Digital Recruitment” bringing experience from a
diverse range of industries including construction, trucking and manufacturing.
Sarah Pantol, HR Director at FLASH, shared her experience with using various
platforms to develop relations, stay relevant and be responsive to candidates. She
uses a variety of platforms, website landing pages and videos to engage her
target audience to stay relevant and speed up the recruitment process.
Mercedes Tucker, Digital Marketing
Coordinator at C.D. Smith Construction, Inc., spoke to the importance of
spending more time focused on your culture then strategy. She utilizes employee
brand ambassadors to promote open positions to their networks.
Jeff Kennedy, Labor Relations Manager
at John Deere – Horicon Works spoke to his 3 step approach of researching
perceptions, utilizing agency support to manage digital marketing and then restructuring
roles to best serve their employees. Jeff wanted to reduce the number of touch
points and interviews a candidate had to do as part of the process so he
consolidated skills assessments and automated communication.
There were over 30 attendees
representing a broad range of industries from non-profit to manufacturing that
are all faced with challenges finding workforce to fill open positions and no
longer finding as much success with traditional recruitment practices. During
the event, the participants shared best practices during table breakout
sessions and had the opportunity to ask questions during the panel
presentations.
“MPTC business forums are a great way
for a busy professional to get a compact and high value dose of useful
information and professional connecting” shared one attendee.
Mark your calendars to save the date
for the next Business Networking Forum scheduled on Friday, May 1, 2020 from
8:00 – 10:30 am on the Moraine Park Fond du Lac campus.
Starting a small business is no small decision. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge and starting a business of your own, there are some key steps you need to take first.
Step One: Understand Your Own Strengths and
Skills.
Take a look inside of yourself and ask the following
questions. What is your prior work experience? What are your personal interests
and hobbies? What education or courses have you taken? What skills and
talents do you have? What are you an expert in?
Norman Vincent Peale said it best, “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Looking closely at your strengths and skills can help you
identify specific expertise that may lend themselves to starting your own
business.
Step Two: Ask yourself, “Is My Idea
Feasible?”
I know this one sounds obvious. Aren’t all things
possible to those who believe? Certainly, but quite a few great ideas didn’t
make it either because the service or product was not timely or too expensive.
Ask yourself the following questions. Will your product or service serve an existing market in which there is a demand? Will your product or service be competitive in the market based on its price and quality? If you answered yes to these questions, you are on the right track. If you answered no, you need to carefully assess your business idea before moving forward. A feasible idea has to be right for you and for the market.
Step Three: Seek Support and
Guidance.
As you receive the proper support
and guidance your confidence will grow. Let those with experience guide you
through the steps of business development. Returning to school and taking part
in professional development coursework can help you learn more about
entrepreneurship, how to create a business plan, marketing and financing a
business.
Having the right strengths and skills and matching them with a feasible idea is a good place to start. At Moraine Park, we support your journey by offering workshops that help you accomplish your goals. Get started today by enrolling in a face to face class in September in Green Lake or take a class in November in Fond du Lac.
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