Butler County Educators connect with local manufacturers

A new initiative of the Butler-Grundy Development Alliance hopes to bring awareness to local school leaders and students of the career opportunities that exist right here at home.   The first step is to connect the educators with the local manufacturers.  A recent day-long tour brought school industrial tech instructors, guidance counselors, high school principals, and other teachers through the doors and into the manufacturing space of several local employers.  
     The goal, according to Jeff Kolb, Executive Director of the two-county economic development organization, was “to familiarize the educators with what is made here, what skills the companies are looking for when hiring, and what career opportunities we have in our area.  Manufacturing has changed in some regards. There is a lot more technology on the plant floor than there used to be.” 
      The group of participants from North Butler High School and Clarksville High School toured American Tool and Engineering in Greene, VT Industries in Clarksville, Flint Hills Resources Ethanol plant and Zinpro Corporation, both in Butler Logistics Park, Unverferth Mfg. in rural Shell Rock, and Heartland Machine & Tool in New Hartford.  The Iowa Northern Railway also presented to the group over a lunch break.  
      “Parents need to be reminded that all is not lost if young Jimmy or Jane revolt against or drop out of that four-year college.  These manufacturing jobs can teach valuable job skills and lead to satisfying and lucrative careers,” said Shawn Hagedorn, President and owner of Heartland Machine and Tool. “We have several young employees who came here with little or no experience, but with ambition and an open mind; they have done very well for themselves and for this company.” 
 
Read more in the February 21 edition of the STAR or TRIBUNE.
 
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