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Students Get Glimpse into the Jobs of the Future

(Featured in Picture below: Kathy Huffman- EcO15 Jefferson County Coordinator & Andrea Manning- EcO15 Administrative Assistant)

The Madison Courier
By Pat Whitney- Courier Staff Writer

Some might consider manufacturing, especially in light of recent layoffs, to be going the way of the dinosaur.

But at the i-POD Event: Industry Possibilitites and Opportunities Day” on Wednesday, local company representatives provided information on the new face of manufacturing to 350 juniors from Madison Consolidated, Southwestern and Shawe Memorial high schools at Ivy Tech Community College. Grote Industries, King’s Daughters’ Hospital, Rotary Lift, Clifty Engineering, Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corp., Royer Corp. and others talked about thier companies, thier products, and the history of manufacturing in Jefferson County.

Representatives talked about future opportunities and gave students hope for thier hometown in advanced manufacturing, which is quickly replacing the assembly line jobs of the past.

But the key message was about the need for advanced eudcation to fill the technology-centered advanced manufacturing jobs of tomorrow.

“We are building for the future,” said Bruce Hofferth, human relations director at Grote, which currently has a hiring freeze. “By 2010, we hope to fill key slots-more design engineers and skilled techs or trade school grads on the floor. The day of getting a job on the assembly line is pretty well past.”

To ensure that the region can support the changing industry’s needs, grant-funded EcO15 and the “Dream It. Do It.” campaign are working to make the community aware of advanced manufacturing career opportunities and providing education for people to get the skills required for future jobs.

An estimated 80 percent of manufacturers reported a moderate to serious shortage of qualified job applicants during the recession.

Advanced Manufacturing employs nearly 30 percent of the workforce in southeastern Indiana.

Beginnning next fall, seniors at the area’s three high schools and students at Madison Junior High can participate in a program training them for jobs in Advanced Manufacturing. The high school students can attend the advanced manufacturing program at Ivy Tech every afternoon as a senior and graduate with dual credit.

“Dream It. Do It.” grants will provide training for teachers to help students learn more about careers in Advanced Manufacturing. Jobs range from engineers to machinists, from welders to computer specialists. Advanced Manufacturing also will have jobs for accountants and human relations employees in the future.

At IKEC, entry-level jobs require a high school diploma.

“I see us, in the future, requiring a two-year degree for entry-level jobs,” said Lynette Barger, senior human relations assistant.

Electronics technology degrees will be in demand as well for environmental technician specialists in future jobs at the power plant.

At Clifty Engineering, future opportunities will include jobs for computer-aided design workers, design toolers and skilled help for milling machines, representative Arnold Curry said.

“Regionally, we have surveyed corporations and have had a great response,” said Kathy Huffma, Jefferson County EcO15 Coordinator.

“Advanced Manufacturing has the highest number of, projecting 4,000 new jobs within the next 36 months. These are very technical jobs. It is critical how we partner with schools for the jobs in the future.”

The event Wednesday was sponsored by EcO15, Ivy Tech Community College, Economic Development Partners of Jefferson County, Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County, and the Madison Bicentennial Committee.

The partnerships with the schools is an effort for the community to “grow its own” for future jobs. EcO15 also seeks to increase skill levels and the quality of work force to support exisiting companies. Its goal is to advance residents in the Southeastern Indiana region by at least one level in thier education, training, job placement, and income.

Lilly Endowment, Inc. provided $38 million in grants to two Bartholomew County organizations: Heritage Fund-the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County and the Community Education Coalition to fund educational programs associated with advanced manufacturing, health care and hospitality/tourism in 10 southeastern Indiana counties, including Jefferson.

For more information on careers in advanced manufacturing and logistics, visit www.eco15.org or email sein@connectingeducation.org or call Kathy Huffman at Ivy Tech (812) 265-2580 ext. 4306.