This content is sponsored by BE NKY.
By Kimberly Rossetti
Vice President of Economic Development, BE NKY Growth Partnership
Throughout the country, October is celebrated as Manufacturing Month and local Northern Kentucky manufacturers open their doors so students can get an up-close experience of the industry and get excited about a career in this field.
Lorraine O’Moore, Director of Work-Based Learning at NaviGo Career & College Prep, an organization of Learning Grove, helped organize 17 tours in 2022 and is organizing more for this year.
These tours give students firsthand experience of what it is like to work in this field, while also helping manufacturers develop strong partnerships and build robust talent pipelines within these schools.
Last year, more than 250 students participated in tours, including about 65 students from Highlands High School who visited KraussMaffei, a manufacturer of machines and systems for producing and processing plastics and rubber.
The students’ day began with a presentation about the company and the markets they support, and then they were shown live demonstrations of KraussMaffei’s main technology, said Midwest Regional Sales Director Martin Stojkovic.
He said it’s important for students to see what they are learning in the classroom be applied to the real world, and the tour was a great opportunity for them to learn about manufacturing career pathways.
“We need qualified, technical people and we want to get them started at a very young age,” said Stojkovic.
Highlands High School Engineering Teacher Ron Rosel said there are often misconceptions surrounding careers in manufacturing, and because this industry touches so many facets of our lives, it is vital students are exposed to this type of work.
“It’s clean, it’s air conditioned, people wear nice clothes,” said Rosel. “They are highly skilled, highly trained employees.”
It’s important for our region to keep and retain talent and work on closing Northern Kentucky’s “exposure gap,” said O’Moore. There are many students with an aptitude for manufacturing, but little or no interest. She said this gap is worse for women and students of color.
While at KraussMaffei, students were also introduced to NKY FAME, an advanced manufacturing technician program run through Gateway Community and Technical College. In this program, students attend Gateway for their education, but also spend time working for a manufacturing company and receive paid working experience.
Gateway Manager of Work Experience Caitlin Fugate said KraussMaffei is a major partner of Gateway’s and the company is currently working with two NKY FAME students. Multiple students from Highlands High School have participated in NKY FAME and are now employed in manufacturing careers.
Fugate said they want to not only introduce students to manufacturing, but also educate parents about this fast-paced industry.
“I want parents to know that this industry is growing and students have a lot of opportunity for growth and high-wage careers,” she said.
This year, Rosel plans to take his students back to KraussMaffei and O’Moore wants to help all interested schools and businesses organize tours and participate in Manufacturing Month.
Learning Grove can help provide funding for transportation and O’Moore said she wants to help organizations find ways around any challenges to participation.
Stojkovic said they want to show students there are great careers in manufacturing with high-paying, fulfilling jobs, and they will continue to host interested students throughout the year, not just in October.
He participated in KraussMaffei’s first apprenticeship program 25 years ago and has been at the company ever since. He said there isn’t a chance to be bored or complacent.
“It’s a great company,” said Stojkovic. “It’s a great industry and you learn each and every day.”
Schools and manufacturers interested in organizing or participating in tours can contact O’Moore at lomoore@learning-grove.org.
