Two dozen Knox County high school seniors have begun a five-week journey that could lead to the start of rewarding manufacturing careers immediately after graduation.
The students are participating in Knox ASPECT, a manufacturing career readiness program of the Knox Area Development Foundation. During each Thursday in April they will interact with 13 local manufacturers, focusing on specific skills that will lead to employment interviews with each of the companies on May 3. Each week’s daylong session will include visits to manufacturing sites.
Brent Maurer, business relationship manager of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Columbus State Community College, played a key role in developing the five-week course. He has worked closely with Julia Suggs, the Foundation's economic development coordinator; Sean McCutcheon, career navigator at the Knox Educational Service Center; and Beth Marhefka, work-based learning and career development coordinator at the Knox County Career Center.
“We are talking about potential careers – not just jobs – for these seniors,” Maurer said. “Four years ago, we started talking with local manufacturing companies about their employment needs. They identified the topics we will address today and each Thursday this month. Our focus will be on technical skills, soft skills such as interviewing and workforce readiness.”
The current Knox ASPECT program is the sixth offered over the last three years, three in the fall and three in the spring. The program is free and open to any graduating seniors who apply.
“This is the largest group of seniors we have had, by far,” said McCutcheon, who works one-on-one with seniors and local companies to develop paths to employment. “The seniors who complete our April sessions will have the opportunity to interview with each of our 13 manufacturing partners here at the Knox Technical Center on May 3.”
Maurer noted that some seniors have been hired after each of the previous five Knox ASPECT programs.
Thursday morning’s initial session included these presentations:
– Manufacturing overview/empowerment, Suggs of the Knox Area Development Foundation.
– Productivity, David Alley, vice president, Schafer Driveline, Fredericktown
– Attendance, accountability and attitude, Connie Oliver, Ohio Means Jobs
– Chain of command, Andy Fox, workforce coordinator, Kokosing Construction Co.
The seniors then visited Replex Plastics, HCP Products (where they had lunch) and Mauser Packaging before returning to the technical center for dismissal.
The format on succeeding Thursdays will be similar, including on-site visits to other manufacturers. Seminar room sessions at the technical center will range from taking measurements and blueprint reading to resume preparations, job search strategies and practice interviews.
In addition to Schafer Driveline, Replex Plastics, HCP Products and Kokosing, participating manufacturers include Beehive Engineered Solutions, Burrows Packaging, Coyne Graphic Printing, Diemaster, FT Precision, Heating and Cooling Products, Jeld-Wen. Mauser Packaging Solutions, Owens Corning and Ver-Mac Industries.
According to the Area Development Foundation, 59 manufacturers are based in Knox County, and one in four county residents works in manufacturing.
