Local business advisory council hears update on recent Manufacturing Showcase
TIFFIN, OHIO – November 23, 2021 – Northwest Career Ready (NCR), a regional business advisory council, held its second quarterly meeting of the 2021-2022 academic year Nov. 18 at Fostoria City Schools. During the meeting, the 36 members in attendance approved NCR’s by-laws and new logo and discussed the committee structure and heard updates on various work-based learning initiatives happening across the region.
“Some very big steps have been made so far in creating a successful foundation for Northwest Career Ready,” said Chandler Grooms, Workforce Development Manager for Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership and Manager of the business advisory council. “We were able to get approval of some key items at the quarterly meeting, and I think we continue to see how important the work of the business advisory council is. A lot of great things are already happening, and I look forward to contributing to more opportunities for the students that Northwest Career Ready serves.”
One of the programs discussed was the Seneca County Manufacturing Showcase. The showcase returned to Tiffin University’s Heminger Center to host approximately 500 high school freshmen in the half day event on Oct. 8. Now in its sixth year, the Seneca Department of Job and Family Services/OhioMeansJobs – Seneca County partnered with local organizations and manufacturers to return the event to an in-person format after going virtual in 2020.
“I’m glad that we were able to have an event in 2020, but I’m excited we were able to have an in-person experience this year,” said Carol Owen, Business Services Consultant for OhioMeansJobs Seneca County. "Thank you to Tiffin University for hosting and to the schools and employers that participated.
The Manufacturing Showcase is an opportunity for freshmen students to learn about careers in manufacturing and participate in various demonstrations, focusing on key skills such as team building, lean manufacturing, employability, machining, supply chain, and mechanical engineering/automation.
Twelve manufacturing employers volunteered to lead demonstrations for the event, including American Fine Sinter, American Plastics, Ameriwood Industries, Arnold Machine, Church & Dwight, Clouse Construction, Grammer, Mennel Milling, National Machinery, Taiho Corp. of America, Vaughn Industries, and Webster Industries. Sentinel Career and Technology Center faculty also lead demonstrations, and several Sentinel students assisted with the event as well.
Eight schools participated in this year’s in-person showcase: Calvert Catholic, Fostoria City High School, Hopewell-Loudon High School, Mohawk High School, New Riegel High School, North Central Academy, Old Fort High School, and Seneca East High School.
Since its inception in 2016, approximately 3,250 Seneca County freshmen have been exposed to careers in manufacturing. The showcase is just one program that Northwest Career Ready looks to support and build upon for future years to come.
About Northwest Career Ready
Northwest Career Ready serves as the regional business advisory council for 13 public and private schools across Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford, and Richland Counties. The business advisory council is made up of education, business, economic development, and community leaders across the region. NCR is dedicated to building collaboration between the business and education community and creating opportunities for students to gain exposure of future career pathways in their community.
