More Than 300 Students Attend Manufacturing Day

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Published on October 6 2016 4:05 pm
Last Updated on October 6 2016 4:06 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham area continues efforts to expand job offerings. That means, though, that the work also has to continue to provide a trained workforce to fill those jobs.

That was the point of the 4th Annual Manufacturing Days event held Thursday. 

Local industries have offered tours of their locations and a lunch was held for high school students from throughout the county and surrounding area at the Effingham Knights of Columbus Building.

In addition to letting students know of career opportunities locally, Manufacturing Day is a chance for industries to show that manufacturing jobs aren't what they used to be and instead offer high technology opportunities as well as use of robotics and other start-of-the-art equipment.

Students also received information from Lake Land College President Josh Bullock, St. Sen. Dale Righter and St. Rep. David Reis on what's happening to provide opportunities for employment and training for careers.

(ST. REP. DAVID REIS AND ST. SEN. DALE RIGHTER SIT IN WITH SOME STUDENTS AT MANUFACTURING DAY)

There was also a panel discussion at the luncheon featuring the Four Joes...Joe Forbes of Versatech, Joe Emmerich of John Boos and Company, Joe Schumacher of Stevens Industries, and Joe Tillman of Lake Land College. The quartet answered questions regarding job opportunities, tuition assistance, high-tech opportunities and whether students could work at local industries while going to school.

The day's activities were sponsored by the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, City of Effingham, County of Effingham, and the Effingham Regional Growth Alliance. Participating manufacturers included Waupaca Foundry, Hodgson Mill, John Boos and Company, Kingery Printing Company, Mechanovent, Quad Graphics, Sherwin Williams Distribution Center, Stevens Industries and Versatech.