Thanks to fundraising efforts from its Spring Golf Outing, the PMA West Michigan District was able to provide for 23 students and faculty members from Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) to attend the FABTECH show. “The students are part of two ongoing Job Training programs, taught by Assistant Professor Nathan Haney in our welding department and Assistant Professor Andy Beach in our Machine Tool CNC department,” says Mary Hofstra, GRCC Corporate Customized Training Manager and PMA West Michigan Education Chair. “In this program, the student is in class 34 hours a week for 18 weeks. The trip to FABTECH fit perfectly as a complement to their training curriculum.”
With dozens of donuts in hand, the students and faculty boarded a charter coach early Tuesday morning September 14 and headed for Chicago to spend the day exploring the expansive array of exhibits. “Our students typically do not see what’s outside of the welding and machining labs at GRCC,” says Hofstra. “FABTECH has everything. They were knee-deep in technology, in both the welding and machining pavilions, experiencing the entire stream of processes, talking to exhibitors and seeing equipment in action expanded their perspective, and possibly their work prospects. You can’t get that on Google.”
GRCC faculty had similar opportunities to expand their industry knowledge and workforce connections. According to Hofstra, “GRCC and West Michigan Works were recently awarded with a $9.8 million U.S. Department of Labor One Workforce Automation Grant to lead a coalition of employers, workforce development organizations, educators and community groups to help underserved populations gain in-demand manufacturing skills. The focus is on automation and artificial intelligence. The show enabled Dennis Triggs, Program Manager for One Workforce Automation, to discuss program opportunities with several companies and organizations from the West Michigan region attending the show. The PMA member reception was especially productive.”
While the technology and networking were the focus of the day, “…it was the morning keynote speaker that set the stage,” says Hofstra. “He (Adam Steltzner) was the leader and chief engineer for the Mars Perseverance mission but talked about his struggles…not being a genius, but having a passion and persevering. It was an inspiring start to the show and carried on all the way back to Grand Rapids.”
Learn more about PMA West Michigan District upcoming events and involvement in local initiatives.
Special Thanks to GRCC Faculty:
- Nathan Haney, Assistant Professor – WeldingNick Pinckney, Professor -Welding
- John Doneth, Professor Welding
- Andy Beach, Assistant Professor – Machine Tool CNC
- Dennis Triggs, Program Manager – One Workforce Automation Grant