focus Fox Valley Technical College
volume 6, issue 1 • spring 2013
your future Manufacturing is
aLive!
Pressing On: Leading the way for the high-tech printing industry
sPeciaL eDitiOn
A closer look at success stories in advanced manufacturing.
contents
Focus is published bi-annually for the communities of Fox Valley Technical College.
Director of college Marketing Barb Dreger eXecUtiVe eDitor/Manager of MeDia relations Chris Jossart
special section:
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in every issue
Manufacturing Success Stories
FVTC 2 Around A quick look at FVTC news.
& Label Printing 6 Package The print industry is thriving and graduate
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Marshall Roberts is enjoying a hands-on career.
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Machine Tool Technician Demands for area machinists create high-tech opportunities for workers like Erin Wyngaard.
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Engineering Technology 9 Electrical Mike Larson is working as an electronics technician with top secret security clearance.
awareness on manufacturing careers are vital to the region’s economy.
finds him at a large construction services firm.
experience with an FVTC education to get ahead. Manufacturing Systems 12 Automated Technician
A co-op experience and FVTC flexible learning is defining a career for Jennifer Fink.
Fab Lab 12 The Building skills in advanced manufacturing through FVTC’s Fab Lab brings needed awareness about careers in the region.
Focus on the Entrepreneur Making machine parts for friends turned into a thriving business for one local entrepreneur, thanks to training at FVTC.
Now 13 What’s Strengthening K12 partnerships and raising
& Metal Fabrication 10 Welding Wade Wheaton’s second wind at a career Technology 11 Electro-Mechanical Lindsey Wilharms is combining on-the-job
Focus on Workplace Training The Waupaca Foundry relies on FVTC to help keep its workforce skilled and competitive.
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Focus on Alumni Q & A with Information Technology graduate Liudmila Vakulenko.
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Focus on the Foundation A Bemis Company Foundation scholarship is helping Mark Vander Velden gain another shot at college and a new look at life.
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Focus on the Student Experience Students in FVTC’s Appleton Welding Club are taking their skills into the community and changing lives.
art Director Amy Bjellos contriBUting Writers Joan Neumahr, Amy Vander Stoep PHotograPHY Gary Brilowski, Gary Gawinski, Patrick Kelly
PresiDent Dr. Susan A. May Fox Valley Technical College 1825 N. Bluemound Dr. P.O. Box 2277 Appleton, WI 54912-2277 1-800-735-3882 TTY (hearing impaired) (920) 735-2569 www.fvtc.edu jossart@fvtc.edu (email inquiries) Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. FVTC offers more than 200 associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs, and instruction related to 15 apprenticeship trades, in addition to providing services to business and industry. The college served about 53,000 people last year, more than any other technical college in Wisconsin. Member of:
© 2013 Fox Valley Technical College. All rights reserved. Equal Opportunity Employer/Educator.
welcome Fox Valley Technical College has given me a second chance at a first-rate education. After taking a 15-year break from school, Fox Valley Tech has renewed my hunger for education. My classes and instructors are providing me with the skills I need to get a job in the ever-changing field of IT, and I’m gaining insight on multicultural diversity in the workforce. Welcome to Fox Valley Tech! James Hutcherson Student, Information Technology-Computer Support Specialist
fvtc around Taste Takes Center Stage
the new Jones Dairy farm culinary theatre at fVtc.
FVTC Opens Exclusive Culinary Theatre With an annual graduate placement of nearly 100% and a full program of about 300 students each year, Fox Valley Technical College’s Culinary Arts program is leading the way in training cooks and food service professionals to meet strong regional demands for these skills. In fact, the program continues to keep its best practices a step ahead of industry standards. The new 8,500 square-foot Jones Dairy Farm Culinary Theatre at FVTC opened in January to further enhance the learning environment for culinary students. The facility, which is located near entrance 10 at FVTC’s Appleton campus, is Wisconsin’s only culinary theatre and one of just a few in the United States. Fueled by a lead challenge gift from Jones Dairy Farm in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, the theatre features tier-style seating for 120 people and panoramic vantage points for ideal cooking demonstrations. Jones’ support spurred additional donations from other businesses to help create the high-tech facility. Numerous camera angles and zoom capabilities provide detailed views of various food preparation and cooking areas. FVTC’s Culinary Arts program is among elite accreditation by the American Culinary Federation (ACF), the authority on cooking
in the United States since 1929 with more than 20,000 members representing 200 chapters. The program at FVTC is one of only 7% in North America to have earned ACF exemplary status.
learn more: www.fvtc.edu/culinary
It’s About Skill Advanced Manufacturing Grant to Help Veterans and Displaced Workers Increased changes in technology are driving the need for new skills needed to build today’s workforce. A recently awarded federal grant will help Fox Valley Technical College close the manufacturing skills gap by preparing students for jobs in today’s advanced manufacturing sector. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded FVTC nearly $3 million through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, which promotes skill set development in advanced manufacturing fields. The four-year grant, Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (AMP) PLUS, allows FVTC to serve more than 400 adults, displaced workers, and veterans through expanded flexible learning options in Automation/Electronics, Machine Tool, Package & Label Printing, and Metal Fabrication/Welding. Funds will allow FVTC to develop flexible, technology-enabled learning and sequenced credentials that accumulate over time to move students along a career pathway. These industry-recognized credentials will validate the skills workers need to be productive and successful in entry-level positions in manufacturing. Funds will also pay for support services for recent displaced workers in reading, math, and computer skills and support for veterans returning to college. Veterans James Uher (student) and ann schueller, veterans support specialist at fVtc
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learn more: fVtc’s counseling and advising services, (920) 993-5230
www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
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News Briefs Facility Expansion Underway First Referendum Project to Open this Fall Thanks to the support of its constituents, Fox Valley Technical College passed a $66.5 million public referendum in April of 2012 by a nearly 2-1 margin. The facility expansion plans will address current and future generation workforce needs. The college held two groundbreaking ceremonies last fall for its Health Simulation & Technology Center and Public Safety Training Center, the capstone project of the referendum and partnership with the Outagamie County Regional Airport. The newly-constructed Heath Simulation & Technology Center will be the first referendum facility set to open among all projects, in time for students entering the fall semester in August. the new Health simulation & technology center
• A time capsule containing items representing recent events and news about FVTC’s centennial celebration was placed in the wall of the Jones Dairy Farm Culinary Theatre. Industrial Welding Technician program student Kyle Prellwitz and welding instructor Trent Schloss designed and fabricated the stainless steel time capsule, which will be opened in 2112 during the college’s bi-centennial year. • Barb Dreger, director of College Marketing, was named 2012 Communicator of the Year for District 3 of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations for her efforts in helping the college pass a public referendum in April of 2012, in addition to other accomplishments. • AMBER Alert Program Administrator Phil Keith of FVTC’s Public Safety division earned the first-ever Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award from the U.S. Department of Justice. Keith was recognized for his efforts in creating a nationwide team to train law enforcement practitioners internationally.
Barb Dreger
• FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., donated a Boeing 727 aircraft Phil keith to the college for use in tactical simulation training exercises at FVTC’s Public Safety Training Center, which is scheduled to open in spring of 2015 at the Outagamie County Regional Airport.
Here is a tentative timeline of the primary facility projects related to the public referendum. Project
Construction Begins
Completion
Health Simulation & Technology Center
October 2012
Fall 2013
Public Safety Training Center
March 2013
Spring 2015
Student Success Center
March 2013
Fall 2014
Agriculture Center (expansion)
April 2013
Fall 2013
J. J. Keller Transportation Center (expansion)
• Tom Witczak, criminal justice adjunct instructor, earned the 2012 Z-Man award from ALERT International, an organizational leader in establishing standards for training law enforcement officers in the field of emergency vehicle operations. The annual award is named after the late Portland, Oregon officer Mark Zylawy, who died after being struck by a tractor-trailer rig on his way to work in 2008.
tom Witczak
• For the 6th consecutive year, FVTC was voted the best Local College/University by the Post-Crescent’s annual “Best of the Valley” people’s choice awards.
Focus is also on the Web. April 2013
Spring 2014
www.fvtc.edu/focus
learn more: www.fvtc.edu/facilitiesplan
focus spring 2013
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focus
on workplace training Training Today’s Talent The Waupaca Foundry relies on Fox Valley Technical College to help keep its workforce skilled and competitive.
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When the Waupaca Foundry decided to upgrade its assembly line with robotic arm technology, it looked to Fox Valley Technical College. As the largest producer of iron castings in the world, the Waupaca Foundry maintains its industry leadership by investing in the latest equipment and technology. To train employees on how to operate, program, maintain, and troubleshoot these hightech tools, the company turns to FVTC. Recently, the Waupaca Foundry added robotic arms to its assembly lines in an effort to enhance productivity and reduce downtime. “We met with Fox Valley Technical College and discussed what we needed at every level of this project,” states Gordy Barth, manager of employee development and training at the Waupaca Foundry. “Then, the college helped us acquire the robots and implement custom-designed programs for several of our employees.”
I appreciated how Fox Valley Tech combined academics with hands-on problem-solving.
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Barry Degler,
Waupaca Foundry
Barry Degler, electrical foreman at Waupaca Foundry, was one of the 16 employees who took the twoday troubleshooting program. “I appreciated how Fox Valley Tech combined academics with hands-on problem-solving,” he says. “We learned all the necessary steps and then got to work on our own robots.” Degler had never dealt with this type of technology before, but in just
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(left to right) Barry Degler, gordy Barth, and Jeremy Moe of the Waupaca foundry.
two days, he received all the training he needed. “The instructors did an outstanding job of preparing us,” he states. “For example, they would intentionally mess up the robots to have us figure out how to fix them. They understood that the more handson work you do and the more problems you solve, the better you develop your skills.” Degler is confident he can keep the robotic arms running smoothly. “The arm picks up the part, dips it into the wash, and then puts it on the conveyor. It does this about 400 times per hour—much faster than we could ever do by hand,” he says. “If the arm stops working, I make adjustments and reset it.” Barth has once again been impressed with the effectiveness of FVTC’s approach to training. “The outcome has been fabulous,” he states. “Barry laughs about this, but I now call him the brains behind the robots.” The new robotic arm technology combined with solid staff training has been very successful for the Waupaca Foundry. “It’s unbelievable how
www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
much it has helped us improve the entire manufacturing process without sacrificing any jobs,” says Barth. “Our employees are our number one asset; we will always invest in educating them. Working with Fox Valley Technical College is one more way that we can continue to produce best-inclass castings.”
State’s Manufacturers Need Technical Colleges A 2012 survey asked Wisconsin manufacturers how they are addressing their industry’s skilled labor shortage. The second most frequently-cited strategy on how to resolve this problem states, “Collaborative training programs with technical colleges.” Survey conducted by Schenck, CPAs. Read the complete survey at www.schencksc.com
learn more: www.fvtc.edu/bis
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on the entrepreneur
Making it Work Making machine parts for friends turned into a thriving business in just two years for one local entrepreneur, thanks to training at Fox Valley Technical College.
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“To be honest, I didn’t expect this business to take off so quickly,” says Chuck Duginski, owner of Grassroots Shop Services in Neenah, a qualityfocused industrial repair and machine services shop. “We’re already looking into adding more space, but we don’t want to grow faster than what we can handle.” Grassroots Shop Services began in Duginski’s garage as a part-time hobby. “I was a machinist all my life and friends were always asking me for favors,” he recalls. “When a total stranger came to see me, the light bulb went on that this could be a full-time business.”
We want to be a company that keeps work in the United States rather than having it outsourced.
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Chuck Duginski,
Grassroots Shop Services
Before launching his new enterprise, Duginski looked into training options through the Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College, at the insistence of his wife, Mary Beth. “I was a little intimidated at first,” he states. “However, the e-seedTM program quickly taught a hands-on, 50-year-old guy like me how to run a business. Just learning to be aware of the different tax laws, for example, has saved my company a lot of money.” Once launched, the business quickly outgrew his garage space. Within six months of moving into a larger space, Duginski hired his first employee, and six months later, his second. “Word has spread that we’re a quality shop,
and we’re now in demand,” he says. “We have a full range of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to handle every project. We want to be a company that keeps work in the United States rather than having it outsourced.” Amy Pietsch, director of the Venture Center, points to Duginski as a true success story. “Chuck is a great person who had a vision, and then he took that dream and made it into a practical approach toward small business ownership,” she states. “The American economy needs more people like Chuck.” The Venture Center is now working to encourage more entrepreneurship chuck Duginski, owner of across the country grassroots shop services by offering other colleges a license to Duginski is also working with Pietsch provide the e-seedTM to promote e-seedTM. “In the future, I program in their areas. “More than 40 schools nationwide attended our launch plan to go back to Fox Valley Technical College to attend some seminars and last December,” Pietsch says. “Many of possibly receive more training,” he says. them are now taking the next steps in “I would do it now, but frankly, I just a train-the-trainer model to successfully don’t have the time!” implement the program.”
E-seedTM: Growing Entrepreneurs Developed by Fox Valley Technical College, e-seedTM is a signature entrepreneur training program offered through the Venture Center. This hub of entrepreneurial activity has: • Launched more than 300 businesses, in industries like renewable energies, restaurants, organic clothing, eye care, home health care, retail, manufacturing, shipping and distribution, and many more. • Created a national training model that is being offered by other higher education institutions.
learn more: www.fvtc.edu/e-seed
focus spring 2013
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A Look at SucceSSFuL careers in MAnuFActuring
Grad Marshall Roberts of Little Rapids Corporation.
Printing a Bright Future The printing industry is thriving and Fox Valley Technical College leads the way in training. Three years ago, Appleton resident Marshall Roberts never thought that he could go from a minimum wage job to working with high-tech presses. Roberts works at Little Rapids Corporation in Green Bay, a company that develops, manufactures, and markets products that promote safety and sanitation within medical and beauty settings, and specialty papers for a variety of end-use applications. While in high school, the now 23-year-old Roberts heard
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
about the Package & Label Printing program at Fox Valley Technical College and thought he would give it a try. “It was a little intimidating at first to even look at a two-story press, but the instructors were always there to help,” he says. “Once I started, the whole experience came fairly easily to me.” The hands-on learning approach at FVTC worked well to prepare Roberts for his on-the-job responsibilities. “If you show me how to do something, I get it,” he says. “The instructors at Fox Valley Tech definitely make sure you know what you are doing before you step out the door.” FVTC even helped Roberts land his job. “I came to class one day and found out that a representative from Little Rapids Corporation was there to distribute applications,” he
f .
manufacturing “
says. “I had an interview two weeks later and was hired before I graduated.” There is an immediate need in the printing industry for qualified employees. “Companies from all over the Midwest post their jobs on our site,” states FVTC Printing Technologies Instructor Scott Gehrt. “We’re fluctuating between 40 to 80 job postings on our board right now.” Roberts is now working hard to Marshall Roberts advance his career. “There’s always something new and jobs change all the time,” he says. “It’s a great experience and I literally learn something every day.” The printing industry is not only thriving, but it also offers a variety of advancement options. “Our graduates can go on to become press assistants, press operators, ink technicians, plate makers and more,” states Gehrt. “They have a lot of opportunities because we’re the only college in the Midwest that provides training in pre-press, narrow press, wide press, and corrugated.” In addition to preparing students, FVTC also supports the continuing education needs of professional printers, printing companies, and their suppliers. “When companies hire new people or upgrade their technology, we provide the needed training,” explains Mark Keller, department chair of FVTC’s Package & Label Printing program. “Suppliers also come to us to test their new inks and papers. Our biggest challenge right now is scheduling so both students and companies can gain access to our equipment.” View video: www.fvtc.edu/focus/flexo
The instructors at Fox Valley Tech make sure you know what you are doing before you step out the door.
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By the numbers: •
$25 billion in U.S. sales in 2011—the package and label industry is often referred to as a silent giant*
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8% annual job growth rate in Wisconsin for flexographic press operators**
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1/3
of all flexographic printing plants and presses are located in the North Central region of the United States**
* Flexo magazine, January 2013 **Flexographic Technical Association
Fox Valley Technical College is a prime example of a reputable, local resource that produces the next generation of printing specialists.
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Bruce Stroik,
Plant Director, Quad Graphics
focus spring 2013
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A Look at SucceSSFuL careers in MAnuFActuring gearing up for a Hot career Demands for area machinists continue to create high-tech opportunities for skilled workers. As a single mother with two young children, Erin Wyngaard knew going back to school at age 34 would be a struggle. Discovering that she was the only woman enrolled in Fox Valley Technical College’s Machine Tool Technician program didn’t discourage her either. “I’ve always been mechanically inclined and like working with my hands,” she says. “However, the real reason for choosing this program had a lot more to do with its career outlook.” Wyngaard is familiar with manufacturing from having previously worked on an assembly line at a plastic extrusion plant. “When I decided to go back to work full-time, I started applying for similar positions,” she recalls. “I soon discovered that there were only a few of those jobs available, and for every opening there were hundreds of applicants.” During this same process of looking for a job, Wyngaard also noticed that there were many openings for individuals who could operate Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining equipment. “I then discovered I could get the training I needed at Fox Valley Technical College,” she says. While Wyngaard’s attitude is inspiring, the Neenah resident admits it was not all smooth sailing. “I struggled a bit at first, but my instructor, Kelly Curran, encouraged me to continue,” she recalls. “Fox Valley Tech’s handson curriculum has been the key to my success.” Wyngaard plans to graduate this May, but even more exciting is that she was hired as a full-time machinist for Custom Marine, Inc. in Neenah, a worldwide manufacturer of tailpipes and exhaust systems for the boating industry. Later, Wyngaard may look to FVTC for more skills in either robotics or welding.
Machine Tool Technician student Erin Wyngaard landed a job before graduating.
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
Snapshot of Success: Fox Valley Technical College’s Machine Tool Technician program added course offerings for the summer of 2013 to help meet area demands for skilled machinists. The most recent TechConnect data revealed more than 200 jobs for these professionals in the region. Average grad placement rate:
97%
2011 & 2012 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Reports
Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/machinetool
manufacturing engineered to Succeed Fox Valley Technical College’s Electrical Engineering Technology program turns a general factory worker into an electronics technician with top secret security clearance. Mike Larson grew up on a dairy farm, got married, had children, and worked long days in a factory. At age 25, he realized that balancing work and family wasn’t quite the way he would like it to be, and he started to wonder about the rest of his life. His father-in-law, who saw a lot of potential in Mike, The instructors in asked him, “If you had the opportunity to do my circuit analysis whatever you wanted, what would that be?” classes were true Larson realized he wanted to use his brain mentors. Without more than his body while working. “I have always those classes, I been interested in how would not be working things work,” says Larson. “I just never thought of where I am today. college as an option.” That led him to pick up Mike Larson a Fox Valley Technical College admissions guide. Larson decided he was interested in electronics. He earned two associate degrees at FVTC in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) and in Electronics. “The instructors in my circuit analysis classes were my true mentors,” states Larson. “Without those classes, I would not be working where I am today.” Today, the 30-year-old Larson is in Las Vegas working as an electronics technician who holds top secret security clearance for JT3, a technology contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense. “I am unable to give detailed information about my job,” he explains. “I have to maintain my security clearance. All I can say is that I love it!” Looking back at his education at FVTC, Larson was impressed with the hands-on experience and technology. “I earned advanced-level knowledge at Fox Valley Tech so I could compete against others from four-year schools.” Larson had accepted his position at JT3 just two months after graduating from FVTC. “I never would have thought that in five short years this small town farm boy would be living in Las Vegas with a family and loving his new life,” concludes Larson. He says he’s “living the dream!”
EET grad Mike Larson is working with top secret security clearance to the U.S. Department of Defense.
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Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/electricalengineering
From Another eet grad...
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The education I received at Fox Valley Tech was instrumental in launching my professional and academic career.
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Lt. Travis Thul, P.E.,
Putting a charge in Your career Electrical technicians can work in a variety of fields, such as: Product development Manufacturing Testing/Research Quality control Installation Sales Distribution Field service Maintenance
U.S. Coast Guard, Adjunct Professor, Community College of Baltimore County
focus spring 2013
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A Look at SucceSSFuL careers in MAnuFActuring
Welding & Metal Fabrication grad Wade Wheaton
A Door-Opening experience Grad Wade Wheaton used his Welding & Metal Fabrication skills to open doors for a new career. When the paper mill where Wade Wheaton worked for 29 years shut down, he didn’t despair. Unlike other older workers, this 51-year-old Shiocton resident decided to start a new chapter in his life and enrolled in Fox Valley Technical College’s Welding and Metal Fabrication program. “I’ve always believed that when one door closes, another one opens,” he says. Today, Wheaton enjoys his new job as a millwright for the Boldt Company, one of the largest professional construction services firms in the nation. “I do a little bit of everything—welding, fixing equipment, installing machinery, and more,” explains Wheaton. “I love the diversity.” When he started at FVTC, Wheaton found that using the latest high-tech equipment was a bit intimidating. “In my generation, there were no computers. I learned how to lay concepts out with a pencil on a drafting table,” he says. “I was afraid of computers, but once I got more used to them, the experience was exciting and impressive. The program at Fox Valley Tech increased my knowledge ten-fold.” Wheaton appreciates the way the welding program is structured. “It gives you a broad range of skills while also teaching job and work ethics,” he says. “The instructors are knowledgeable and very patient. They treat you as an individual.” As a program intern, Wheaton mentored other students, put together teams for a state competition, and helped establish the welding club. “Teaching others was an awesome experience,” he says. “I’m also proud of winning the state welding and fabrication competition at Skills USA.” The best advice that Wheaton offers to others who have suffered similar career setbacks is to never give up. “Even if you’re 40 or 50, go out there and do it.”
Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/metalfabrication
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
By the numbers:
90%+
•
graduate employment rate for graduates of Fox Valley Technical College’s welding programs*
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full-time job openings in northeast Wisconsin for welders and metal fabricators*
•
125
$38,000 annual average salary for welders in the region after just one-two years of training**
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40% average salary increase for all FVTC grads after five years in the workforce*
* 2012 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report ** 2011 Manufacturing Index Survey – Northeastern Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance
manufacturing upwardly Mobile
Made to Work
Electro-Mechanical Technology student Lindsey Wilharms is combining on-the-job experience with an FVTC education to get ahead.
Three-year snapshot of graduates of Fox Valley Technical College’s Electro-Mechanical Technology program:
As a full-time product tester at Miller Electric Mfg. Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of arc welding and cutting equipment, Lindsey Wilharms juggles her work schedule in order to take classes at Fox Valley Technical College. “Every course I take helps me understand more about what I’m doing at work,” says the 32-year-old Neenah resident. “The more I learn, the more I believe I can advance my career at Miller.” After high school, Wilharms worked a variety of jobs with no real career goal in mind. However, once hired at Miller Electric, she discovered her true potential. “I had always been interested in how things work,” she states. “I took an electronics class in high school and really like it. So, this job seemed like a good choice.” Once she started at Miller Electric on the assembly line, Wilharms learned that the company encourages employees to seek more education and training. “If you do well, the company will pick up the cost of your books and tuition,” she states. “So, it was an easy decision to get more education. I enrolled at Fox Valley Tech in its Electro-Mechanical Technology program because those classes are helping me in my job.” Today, Wilharms tests finished products. “If one doesn’t pass, I put it aside for the techs to review,” she says. “However, with what I’ve learned at Fox Valley Tech and through experience and learning from the Miller techs, I can often fix many problems myself.” The flexible class schedule at FVTC has helped Wilharms continue to work while going to school. “I can take classes after work, at night, or on weekends,” she says. “And the college’s hands-on approach has helped me because I learn best by doing.” Once she earns her degree, there will be no stopping Wilharms. “I can work in the lab or in the office,” she says. “I know people who took management classes and went from working on the line to an office position. If you have the credentials here at Miller, when a job opens up, you are encouraged to apply for it!”
95% 140+ graduate placement*
average annual job postings in northeast Wisconsin for electro-mechanical professionals** * 2012 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report ** Wisconsin TechConnect
Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/electromechanicaltechnology
Electro-Mechanical Technology student Lindsey Wilharms
ge er
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A Look at SucceSSFuL careers in MAnuFActuring customizing a career A high school co-op experience and flexible learning in Automated Manufacturing Systems at FVTC are helping define a great career for Jennifer Fink. Jennifer Fink began mapping out her career while still a student at Kaukauna High School. “I took on a co-op experience at Industrial Ventilations, Inc. in Greenville and later went on to work at Control Concepts Corporation (C3) in Appleton my first year of college and really liked it,” she says. “These opportunities allowed me to explore various aspects of electrical and mechanical design as a career while still in high school and my beginning years of college. I knew this was something I wanted as a career.” At age 27, Fink is now an electrical designer at Jacobs Engineering in Appleton, a worldwide provider of professional technical services. She is Jennifer Fink of Jacobs Engineering also pursuing two degrees—one through Fox Valley Technical College’s Automated Manufacturing Systems Technician associate degree program and a bachelor’s in engineering at UW-Platteville Extension in Menasha. “I’m attending classes at Fox Valley Tech to help me immediately take on more responsibilities and advance in my current job,” states Fink. She credits FVTC’s flexible scheduling and hands-on learning approach for part of her continuing success. While her approach to education can be exhausting, Fink points out that combining work with school can be an outstanding investment. “I have a great job, which has helped me Learn more: gain experience in my field of choice and absolutely no school debt,” she says. “It is going www.fvtc.edu/ams to take me a while to complete both degrees, but I just keep pushing toward my goals.” A new guitar-building class teaches several skills in manufacturing.
Fab ideas Building skills in advanced manufacturing through FVTC’s Fab Lab brings needed awareness about careers in the region.
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The Fab Lab is a great community resource that helps prepare tomorrow’s workforce.
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David Botz,
District Administrator, Little Chute Area School District
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Fox Valley Technical College’s Fab Lab, short for Fabrication Laboratory, is a one-of-a-kind resource in the region where hands-on technology affirms that the career outlook in advanced manufacturing is actually quite appealing. “Manufacturing isn’t the dirty, dead-end career field it used to be,” states Fab Lab Manager Steve Gallagher. “It’s a new world filled with the latest technologies.” The on-campus Fab Labs at FVTC’s Appleton and Oshkosh campuses, as well as a mobile unit which visits area middle and high schools, act as a pipeline for developing future talent. “Students do applied projects to spur their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math—the STEM curriculum,” says Dale Walker, director of FVTC’s Business & Industry Services division. FVTC is providing adults as well as students a chance to build their own projects on the latest equipment. “Here they can use laser engravers, 3D printers, CNC routers, and more,” says Gallagher. “We have everything they need to take a new idea through mechanical design, engineering, prototyping, and even marketing.” Most recently, the Fab Lab implemented a popular guitar-building class. Developed in partnership with Purdue University on a grant from the National Science Foundation, students start with a solid piece of wood and come out with a custom-designed working guitar. “Guitar building is a hook,” says Gallagher. “They’re really learning a variety of skills, including mechanical Learn more: design and engineering, industrial design, graphics, and more.” www.fvtc.edu/fablab
www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
what’s NOW >> Rallying to Fill Jobs Strengthening K12 partnerships and raising awareness on manufacturing careers are vital to the region’s economy. Despite an uncertain national economy, manufacturers in the Fox Valley region are growing and in need of skilled employees. “Many of our machine tool and welding students find employment before they graduate,” says Steve Straub, dean of manufacturing and agriculture technologies at Fox Valley Technical College. “To meet this continuing demand, we’re adding classes and certification options as well as building upon our partnerships with area high schools.” Kaukauna High School, for example, offers its juniors and seniors FVTC entry-level courses that teach a variety of advanced manufacturing skill sets. “This effort introduces younger students to all that modern manufacturing has to offer,” states Kaukauna High School Technology and Engineering Instructor, Nels Lawrence. “We also help educate parents about the high-tech side of manufacturing. With the right education today, their kids can land good-paying jobs— without a four-year college degree, or they can still transfer to a four-year school in many cases.” Students who take FVTC entry-level courses while in high school gain valuable work skills as well as college credits. “One of my students took two FVTC machine tool classes here,” Lawrence says. “He is currently working part-time running a high-tech CNC machine and getting paid far more than flipping burgers. Plus, he earned college credits.” Many of these high school students go on to complete their degrees at FVTC. “A few years ago, I had three students who all started taking the machine tool program here and then attended Fox Valley Tech,” states Lawrence. “They are all turning 21 now and each one just bought a new home. If you can make enough money that you can afford a down payment on a house—that’s a great start in life.”
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High school students around the region use FVTC’s Electricity Lab to build skills.
In addition to working with younger students, FVTC is also expanding its machine tool and welding programs. “We’ve opened new class sections and now offer more entry dates so students can start faster,” says Straub. “In addition, we’ve embedded certification in the machine tool technician program after just 18 credits. This adds value to an employer and fosters greater employability for our students.” FVTC graduates are in high demand. Gordy Barth, manager of employee development and training at Waupaca Foundry, finds it extremely difficult to find qualified workers. “We work closely with Fox Valley Technical College to hire its graduates, but you have to be quick,” he says. “Most are already spoken for before they graduate.”
Quotable Addressing the skilled labor shortage requires a different way of thinking. Here is some insight from employers and parents about the vital role of technical education in today’s economy:
“The average age of people in the workforce is 50-plus years old. If we don’t do something, we’re going to run out of people.” Steve Tyink, Vice-President, Business Innovation, Miron Construction
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Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/careerpathways
“There is a great connection between businesses and Fox Valley Technical College. I believe if you go to school here, there will be a job for you when you’re done because of this connection.”
“My son was told by engineers at a major company that he’s in a much better position than students who went straight to a four-year university. Companies want students with hands-on skills.”
“We need craftsmen and women who have technical knowledge and interpersonal communication skills. That is what students receive when they go to Fox Valley Technical College.”
Sue McCarthy, Parent, Neenah
Jean Woelfel, Parent, Menasha
Stephen Kohler, Director of Human Resources, Pierce Manufacturing
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on alumni
Q & A with IT Grad Liudmila Vakulenko In 2007, Liudmila Vakulenko arrived in Appleton as a 20-year-old student from Russia wanting to continue her education, learn more about American culture, and then return home. Today, she has an exciting new career and a new life in America, with no plans to leave. Vakulenko graduated in 2012 from Fox Valley Technical College with two associate degrees: Computer Support Specialist and Network Specialist. Both of these Information Technology (IT) degrees helped Vakulenko earn the position of computer support technician for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Appleton, a Fortune 500 financial services organization with nearly 2.5 million members.
What first brought you to Fox Valley Technical College? In Russia, I had studied English and could read and write fairly well, but had trouble speaking. While considering options to study abroad, a friend recommended Fox Valley Technical College’s English Language Institute. It turns out that my friend’s referral was a great decision for me. The Institute’s instructors are wonderful, and they helped me a great deal in both my comprehension and fluency.
Why did you then choose to study Information Technology? I like the fact that IT is always changing and exciting. There’s always something new to learn. I also knew that IT was one field in which I could find a job after completing my studies.
How does FVTC compare to Russian schools? What first impressed me about Fox Valley Tech’s programs was the
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IT grad Liudmila Vakulenko at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
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The hands-on classes and my internship as an IT assistant at the Appleton Boys & Girls Club gave me practical, real-world experience.
variety of classes. In Russia, I had no choice in which classes to take. I had to take exactly what was planned. At FVTC, I had some options to take what I wanted. The hands-on classes and my internship as an IT assistant at the Boys & Girls Club in Appleton gave me practical, real-world experience. Fox Valley Tech also allowed me to get involved in a variety of activities. In 2009, I participated in a National AITP (Association for Information Technology Professionals) competition in Oklahoma City. My team took first place in graphic communications for our print and web advertising campaign.
What are your job responsibilities at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans? Thrivent Financial is a faith-based notfor-profit membership organization that provides a broad range of financial products and services. At its technology service center, I provide IT support to the company’s representatives throughout the country. I help solve all sorts of hardware and software problems. Every day there’s a new
www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
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Liudmila Vakulenko
challenge. My work covers everything from improperly loaded software to Internet connectivity issues.
What happened to your original goal of going home? I was planning to get an education here to use back at home in Russia. I met my husband during a friend’s birthday party in the Fox Valley area, and that is why I am staying here!
The Go-To Place for IT Training Annually, about 95-100 students graduate from Fox Valley Technical College’s IT programs, and many of them finish with multiple IT degrees. The college’s IT students have earned national first-place finishes in three of the past four years in the annual Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP) competitions.
Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/it
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on the Foundation
Second Wind A scholarship from the Bemis Company Foundation is helping 50-year-old Mark Vander Velden gain another shot at college and a new look at life. Mark Vander Velden knows what it’s like to take a leap forward in life. A successful brick-layer for 25 years, he chose to take a downturn in the housing market as an opportunity to redefine himself and his career. Today, the Hortonville native is well on his way toward finishing Fox Valley Technical College’s ElectroMechanical Technology program and starting a new career. The decision to return to school was a hard one for Vander Velden. “I dropped out of college after one year a long time ago,” he says. “I wondered if I’d ever fit in, or had the world passed me by? Once I started getting good grades, however, I knew I had made the right choice.” As part of his new college experience, Vander Velden had never even thought about applying for a scholarship. “One of my instructors gave me a heads-up and encouraged me to apply,” he says. “I feel really honored to have received a scholarship from the Bemis Company Foundation.”
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Fox Valley Tech is a key contributor in growing and developing our region’s workforce, particularly in manufacturing.
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Kim Wetzel,
Bemis Company Foundation
The Bemis Company Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bemis Company, Inc.—a multi-national company and a major supplier of flexible packaging used by leading food, consumer products, medical, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide, established two scholarships at FVTC in 1999 for students in both the Electro-Mechanical Technology and Package & Label Printing programs.
Bemis Company Foundation scholarship recipient Mark Vander Velden
“Our foundation understands that in order to keep the next generation of advanced manufacturing workers prepared for high-tech careers, it needs to partner with schools like Fox Valley Technical College,” says Kim Wetzel of the Bemis Company Foundation in Neenah. “Fox Valley Tech is a key contributor in growing and developing our region’s workforce, particularly in manufacturing.” The Bemis Company Foundation annually awards FVTC ElectroMechanical Technology students with two $1,500 scholarships and four $500 scholarships to students in the college’s Package & Label Printing program. Vander Velden received his scholarship in 2012, and that boosted his confidence
even further. Vander Velden went from being worried about attending college to now providing support for other students. He is currently serving both as an intern in the electronics lab and as a peer advisor in counseling services. “The goal for everyone here is to help all students succeed,” he says. “I can tell that my experience is making a difference in the lives of many students.” While helping others, Vander Velden is looking forward to launching his new career. “I haven’t exactly pinpointed what I’m looking for,” he states. “I want to evaluate all of my opportunities. There is a lot out there!” For now, Vander Velden is content soaking up life as a college student—the second time around!
Helping People Attain an Education
1,700 scholarship applications received annually 700 scholarships awarded annually $400,000 in scholarships available annually Join the 335 individuals, organizations, and businesses who partner with the Fox Valley Technical College Foundation each year to make it happen.
Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/foundation
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New Club Sparking Ideas Students in Fox Valley Technical College’s Appleton Welding Club are taking their skills into the community and changing lives. Established just over a year ago, the Fox Valley Technical College Appleton Welding Club has already helped the disabled, protected the environment, and raised funds for fellow students in need. At this rate, there’s no limit to the potential of the club’s work for the community! One of its first projects was building the steel framework and handrails for a 40-foot handicapped accessible fishing
dock for nearby Pigeon Lake. Club members were responsible to work with other organizations and individuals to secure materials and help transport the dock from the welding lab in Appleton to the lake. “Now people in wheelchairs can better enjoy a fishing experience,” says club president, 22-year-old George Davis. The club also improved the outside facilities at a temporary transitional shelter for homeless individuals in Appleton. “The organization’s railings were in need of repair,” says 32-year-old club member, Amber Kraemer. “Some sections also needed to be moved for better access. We drew up a plan and did the work on site.” Kraemer also came up with the idea of making snowflake ornaments to raise money for Seeds of Hope, an FVTC
Welding students Amber Kraemer and George Davis display metal snowflakes that were used in a fundraiser.
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
Foundation fund established to support emergency financial needs of students. “I drew up the design in AutoCAD,” she says. “We then cut them out with the laser in the shop.” Stacy Garza, 27-year-old vicepresident of the welding club, has also been involved in developing new fundraising ideas. One recent success was the design and fabrication of garden hose stands topped with metal bumblebees, butterflies, frogs, and hummingbirds. “In addition, we’re thinking about teaming up with the Natural Resources Club to make plant holders and stands,” says Garza. The club also took on a project late last fall—an overflow gate for Rush Lake in western Winnebago County. “The gate is set in five-foot sections and can be raised to prevent carp from
Fox Valley Technical College
spawning in the lake,” says Davis. “As the ice melts in the spring, the water gets so high in the dam that the carp can enter the lake. By reducing the carp population, the hope is to restore the lake to what it once was.” The club worked in collaboration with Rush Lake Watershed Restoration, Inc. on the effort. While club members enjoy helping others, the volunteer work also enhances their skills. “In addition to learning problem-solving skills and gaining hands-on practice, club members discovered how to keep each other motivated and how to work in teams,” states Dave Fisher, club advisor and welding instructor. “It all adds to the value of our program and the students’ learning experience.”
Welding is Everywhere Fox Valley Technical College students from both Appleton and Oshkosh bring their skills to a variety of projects for other departments and for the community. Here is a sampling of additional projects in which their skills were recently needed: • Bike racks for students and visitors at FVTC campuses and regional centers • New signage for an Oshkosh elementary school • New gate for Keating Park in the Town of Neenah
Summer Camps 2013 For middle & high school students Adventures in Print June 10-13 Guitar Building June 10-14 or June 17-21 FoxBots Robotics Camp for Girls June 17-21 Wind Energy Exploration Basic or Advanced: July 8-12 Digital Fabrication: Jewelry Making July 15-19 GirlTech July 15-19 Solar Energy Exploration July 22-26 Exploring Transportation: Build a Remote Control Car July 29-August 2 Power of Manufacturing August 5-9
• Supporting signage and name plates for FVTC’s Hartling Family Rose Garden • Time capsule construction for FVTC’s centennial year celebration
Learn more
& register:
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ps summercam / u d .e c t v .f www
• New gate for Kaukauna High School soccer field Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/manufacturing
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID FVTC
Why FVTC
?
Fox Valley Technical College offers a solid return on your investment:
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The most efficient and affordable option for higher education in the Fox Valley.
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FVTC instructors have real-world work experience.
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High graduate employment rates average about 90%.
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association since 1970.
We’ve been in your community for 100 years. Our reputation is solid and we’re focused on the future!
Learn more:
www.fvtc.edu/whyFVTC
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