Exciting things have been happening with the TSMA Manufacturing Career Dream Team!

First, we welcomed four new members and we are celebrating our growing Dream Team family. Our newest members include:

• Nate Langner - Business Development Manager at Aagard Group, LLC
• Joanna Kietzmann - Welding student at Alexandria Technical and Community College (ATCC)
• Gracelyn Gerads - Mechanical Drafting, Design & Engineering student at ATCC
• Terry Hill - Mechanical Design Engineer at Aagard Group, LLC

 








Each new member brings special strengths and experiences to the team, expanding our opportunities to connect with students as they discover the world of manufacturing.

Second, the Dream Team followed up with a variety of classroom visits and career fairs. Dream Team member Brittany Wing, Marketing Communications Specialist at Vector Windows, presented to an 8th grade STEM class in Fergus Falls in February. Even during the last hour of the school day, Brittany was able to hold her audience captive with interesting details and a fun hands-on project. Students were excited to learn about her diverse path to a marketing job at Vector, showing kids that there are many ways to get to a dream job in manufacturing. It was interesting to learn that one half of the management force at Vector is female. The same is true in other positions, too. These 26 students were able to make many connections with the opportunities she presented. One student’s mom was even featured in the slideshow! What an exciting, engaging way to grab their interest!

Dream Team member Mitchel Nickolausen, Continuous Improvement Technician at Vector Windows, presented at Kennedy High School in Fergus Falls to a Family & Consumer Science class. Mitchel helped 34 students focus on narrowing down what they want in a career and figuring out what is right for everyone. He used his own career experiences to show that there are many, many opportunities available in manufacturing, including the training to grow into each new position. The key, he pointed out, was finding opportunities that best fit their interests. Mitchel got kids engrossed in a pig-drawing activity to highlight the importance of standards, and how specific work instructions are necessary to make high quality products that meet all specs. Students really understood his message and left with a whole new view of the opportunities that are available to them when considering the manufacturing industry.

Brittany Wing was back again presenting to more FACS classes of 8th graders at Fergus Falls High School. Not only did she share about the strong manufacturing presence in our outstate communities, but she also did a breakdown of the many jobs available in the industry. Integrating robotics, welding, design, and much more, then promoting products through marketing, she impressed upon students how much every role is essential to creating top-notch products that are important to our communities and beyond. She pointed out how the growth of manufacturing directly impacts the growth of other businesses in a community, too. With this and the excitement of creating their own product, 57 more students were immersed in the potential that this industry holds for them.

Derek Klimek, Mechanical Design Engineer at Massman, represented the Dream Team at the Alexandria Area Job & Career Fair at Alexandria Area High School (AAHS) attended by 350 twelfth grade students. Derek informed them about the selection of opportunities available through manufacturing. Later in the month, another 450 students from grades 9-11 participated in a similar career fair at AAHS. With a variety of educational training choices and many career options, there seemed to be a perfect fit for so many! Derek helped by sharing his experiences and guiding student choices to potential futures in the manufacturing industry.