CADILLAC — Imagining life after high school can feel as distant to 14- and 15-year-olds as understanding the stock market.
But that didn’t stop local manufacturers from giving freshmen students from around the Cadillac area a glimpse into their potential future careers. In fact, they rolled out the red carpet and provided them with lunch.
Freshman students from Cadillac, Manton, Marion, McBain, Mesick, Lake City and the LeRoy/Tustin area spent a day touring 12 local manufacturers, looking at what it’s like to work in 21st-century manufacturing. From high-tech machinery to hands-on skills, they explored places like AAR Mobility Systems, Cadillac Casting, Inc. and FedEx Ground.
The other manufacturers participating Tuesday included Akwel Automotive, B&P Manufacturing Biewer Sawmill, Pollington Tool, Reed City Group Plastics Tooling Automation, MR Products/Mr. Chain, Highfield Boats, Avon Protection and RexAir.
This behind-the-scenes tour wasn’t just about cool machines or bustling assembly lines, though. It aimed to debunk the myths about what modern manufacturing really is — and what it definitely isn’t.
Although Manufacturing Day is typically celebrated in early October, Tuesday’s event gave students a head start, showing them how these companies are tackling the skilled labor shortage and why manufacturing careers might be their ticket to the future. The message was clear: the door to opportunity is wide open, and it’s never too early to step through.
Cadillac freshman Alex Taylor was one of the students who toured Cadillac Casting Tuesday morning. After the tour concluded, Taylor said she thought it was a good experience, especially for her classmates who maybe don’t know exactly what they want to do after graduation. Specifically, she said it opened her eyes to the potential of a blue-collar career.
“I think this was a good experience and good to learn about all this stuff. There’s a lot of different departments here too, so that’s pretty cool,” she said.
Although she is not sure if she will attend the career tech center when she becomes a junior, she is more open to the possibility. She said she has had the idea that she would pursue going to college and possibly a medical career. But after the visit to the foundry on Tuesday, her eyes are more open to careers in manufacturing.
Cadillac Casting, Inc. Human Resource Manager Bruce Peacock said the foundry has always supported the community. He also said participating in Manufacturing Day is a great way to showcase what they do and the technology they use.
“Our students are our future. All area manufacturers benefit from opening our doors to our young students,” Peacock said.
Peacock said the hope is while many of the local manufacturers and businesses involved with Manufacturing Day are viewed as “factories” there is more to each of them. He said there is a tremendous amount of highly skilled jobs within the walls of these 12 manufacturers. In the case of CCI, Peacock said they are a state-of-the-art company with state-of-the-art technology.
Niki Schultz, the Alliance for Economic Success executive director, said she loves Manufacturing Day because it helps people, especially students, learn about the wide range of job opportunities in manufacturing.
She also said many of the freshmen who attended the event on Tuesday don’t realize how advanced and modern the jobs within the manufacturing base in the Cadillac area have become.
“The event helps correct these outdated ideas. By showcasing opportunities in their hometowns, we hope to attract more students to work in the manufacturing industry and strengthen the local workforce,” Schultz said.
Schultz said with so many students participating in Tuesday’s event, she was able to reach out to companies that most wouldn’t think of for Manufacturing Day such as FedEx. She said that response from local manufacturers has been an exciting part of this annual event.
“While it’s been going on for many years and we are thankful for the continued support from many businesses, we were able to attract new businesses to the lineup, which will hopefully strengthen the partnerships between businesses, educational institutions and other organizations such as AES, Cadillac and Missaukee Area Chambers of Commerce and Michigan Works!,” she said.
Gretchen Spedowske, Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center assistant superintendent of career technical education, said Tuesday was an exciting opportunity for students to dive into the creativity and innovation that fuel careers in manufacturing. Every great idea begins with curiosity and Spedowske said the courage to create and the manufacturing industry wholeheartedly embraces that spirit.
Within the footprint of the CTC, Spedowske said local businesses are thriving in areas like protective gear, fabrication, boat building, lumber and plastics. She also said the CTC is dedicated to helping students explore these careers by guiding them toward industry-recognized credentials and college credits for their future degrees.
“Our experienced instructors and support staff are here to lead students on their journey to a successful career in manufacturing,” Spedowske said.