Introduction
Mission and Goals
Addressing Workforce Development
How does one become a Founding Member?
Get involved with the Educational Foundation
What's the next step?
Educational Foundation Staff/Contact Information

Introduction
The Precision Metalforming Association ( PMA ) Educational Foundation was established in 1996 to help the $41-billion metalforming industry develop a trained, motivated workforce by initiating and supporting training, education and image-building programs with PMA member companies, educators, corporations, foundations and civic leaders in communities across the country.

The Educational Foundation is guided by a 15 member Board of Trustees comprised of metalforming industry leaders and educators. A full-time staff is dedicated to helping the industry through its most critical challenge: the recruitment, development and retention of a skilled workforce.

Consider the impact the metalforming industry has on your life, and the impact intensive workforce development programs can have on metalforming. The PMA Educational Foundation is the vehicle for enhancing a metalforming workforce, and the endowment is the fuel for that vehicle.

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What are the Educational Foundation's mission and goals?
The mission of PMA's Educational Foundation is:

"To enhance the supply of skilled workers by supporting and developing training and education programs and by improving the public image and awareness of careers in metalforming."

The Educational Foundation has identified five goals: 

• Build alliances to meet the industry's training and education needs.
• Develop models, products and services to address industry's educational and workforce development needs.
• Provide and sell systems, services and resources to address industry's need for improved productivity.
• Increase public awareness that metalforming career opportunities are dynamic, attractive and financially rewarding.
• Ensure adequate resources in both membership and funding to appropriately address mission and goals.
  

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How does the Educational Foundation address workforce development?
A variety of programs and services have been, and will be, developed to create industry awareness, and train and educate today's workers and the employees of tomorrow:

Skill Standards: An essential step in workforce development is the identification of nationally recognized skill standards for all metalforming processes. Skill standards provide vital training guidelines for current and future employees, help develop an educated, portable workforce, and create a positive image for the metalforming industry. The Educational Foundation is continuing to develop skill standards for metalforming processes in cooperation with the National Institute for Metalworking Skills ( NIMS ).

Credentialing: The Educational Foundation is guiding the development of hands-on performance assessments, written exams, and curriculum to support credentialing of individuals for the metalforming processes. This process will ensure that skill standards are being effectively achieved in the workplace.

Student Ambassador Program: Designed to introduce metalforming career opportunities to students, their parents and educators, the Student Ambassador Program is a critical area of emphasis. The program features a kit containing a video and supporting materials describing employment opportunities in the metalforming industry. 

ToolKits: Newly developed by the Educational Foundation, ToolKits are a series of informational guidelines to support implementation of education and training, recruiting, and industry image-building programs. ToolKits cover a wide range of topics and issues, including: workplace literacy, advisory councils, apprenticeships, school/industry partnerships, industry image development, worker recruitment, training committees, curriculum development, continuing education, plant tours, metalforming labs, mentoring, educational outreach, and much more.

AT WORK and AT SCHOOL Newsletters: AT WORK, the Educational Foundation newsletter, and AT SCHOOL, the PMA Training & Education Committee newsletter, are periodicals highlighting workforce development. These informative pieces keep Educational Foundation members up to date on progress in the skill standards and credentialing process, distribution of Student Ambassador Program kits, school/industry partnerships, the Founding Member and annual member campaigns, ToolKit development, and a host of workforce enhancement programs and issues.

On-site Staff Support: The PMA Educational Foundation is committed to provide professional, trained staff to assist members implement the many programs and services. Skill standards, career awareness videos, and ToolKits outlining school/industry partnerships are only effective when they can be put into action. This takes time and understanding. Educational Foundation staff members not only help produce workforce enhancement programs and materials; they help make them work. Whether this means helping to organize a training and education advisory committee, setting up a booth at a career fair or introducing a metalforming curriculum at a local school, staff is ready and able to help the Educational Foundation member put programs to work.

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How does one become a Founding Member?
To become a Founding Member of the PMA Educational Foundation, you, your company, foundation or organization can invest in the endowment at any one of four levels. All Founding Member investors are recognized in the AT WORK newsletter, MetalForming magazine, industry events and METALFORM shows: 

Platinum ($50,000+) 
An investment of $50,000 or more, in addition to access to all Educational Foundation programs and services, earns the investor permanent recognition on the Founders Wall of Fame at PMA's headquarters, and a plaque for home or office. 

Gold ($25,000+) 
An investment of $25,000 or more also earns the investor access to all programs and services, permanent recognition on the Founders Wall of Fame, and the plaque. 

Silver ($10,000+) 
An investment of $10,000 or more earns the investor access to all programs and services, recognition in a permanent Honor Role to be maintained at PMA's headquarters, and the plaque. 

Bronze ($5,000+) 
An investment of $5,000 or more earns the investor access to all programs and services and the plaque. Bronze level investors are encouraged to make their commitments in a single installment. 

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In addition to Founding Member investments, are there other ways to get involved in the Educational Foundation?
Companies, organizations and individuals who may not be able to become Founding Members are encouraged to become annual members. Annual members have access to all Educational Foundation programs and services, and their investments help underwrite Foundation operational expenses. Founding Members are also encouraged to become an annual member and provide annual support.

The Educational Foundation is actively seeking investments of time and talent, as well. Assistance is always needed to fine tune existing programs and develop new ones. Also, there are a growing number of model metalforming labs and tech programs that may benefit from in-kind gifts of machines, equipment and expertise in staffing and curriculum development. The Educational Foundation can help.

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Everything sounds great! What's the next step?
For information on how to become a Founding Member in the PMA Educational Foundation, contact Dave Sansone at 216-901-8800.Or for more information on programs, services and donations of time and talent, please contact any Educational Foundation staff member listed.

The time has come to stop talking about workforce development, and take action! Become a Founding Member!

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The PMA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. When contributing, you receive nothing of significant monetary value in return for your contribution that reduces its deductibility.