Illinois Departmet of Commerce Presents Bloom with Proclamation

It was a day to celebrate residents who work in the manufacturing industry, it was also an education for local 8^th graders to learn about jobs in the manufacturing field. Bloom Township high school hosted the 7^th Annual Manufacturing Day. Besides three Bloom township high schools that participated, students from fifteen junior high schools attended as well.

“We feel this is so important to host the Manufacturing Day” said Dr. Lenell Navarre who is the Superintendent of Bloom District 206. “Manufacturing jobs are returning. We have students that want to go to college to pursue a collegiate degree, we also have students that want to go into the world of manufacturing. We need to make sure we’re providing classes and opportunities for all students” added Dr. Navarre.

Currently Bloom Township high schools have classes that will prepare a student for a job in manufacturing. District 206 also has a partnership with Prairie State College. “Our students can earn certification through Prairie State College in courses in welding, pre-construction, woodworking 3-D printing robotics and more” explains Dr. Navarre.

“Because of the courses and partnership through Prairie State College, we’ve had several Bloom and Bloom Trail high school students that have gone on to some of these manufacturing jobs” he adds.

As Bloom Township High school District 206 student ambassadors welcomed students and guests, numbers of future manufacturing jobs in the area were put on the screen. Looking at the numbers, the future looks bright for area students.

Nick Medina, from Behr Paint, a former Bloom High school graduate spoke to the students on continuing education for manufacturing jobs. Medina worked his way up from an entry level position to now operations manager at Behr paint. Medina started at Roosevelt school in grade school, went to Washington Jr. High then on to Bloom for high school.

“After I graduated Bloom, I worked retail, I worked various labor jobs then I ended up at Behr Paint” Medina said in his speech. “Shortly after I started with Behr, they changed over their whole manufacturing and distribution processes to all computers. Since I didn’t capitalize on the resources that were available to me at Bloom, I was behind.”

Medina explained he slowly climbed the ranks in his company by attending classes at Prairie State College then on to Governors State University and achieved his Bachelor’s degree. “I did this the long way” Medina said. “I encourage all of you students today to capitalize on time, capitalize on your education in high school. Make the most of your time as you approach graduation. Education doesn’t always mean a formal college education, educating yourself to be able to deliver a good or a service that people are willing to pay for. Carpenters, millwrights, plumbers and more are very educated people. With classes at the community college, you can receive a very good education as well.”

After Medina encouraged the group, Kraig Kristinger from National Tube and Supply Company shared statistics on the growth and salaries of manufacturing jobs in the southeast suburbs.

A special presentation was then held. Yair Rodriguez, the Deputy Director from the Office of Regional Economic Development from the State of Illinois presented a proclamation to Dr. Lenell Navarre, the Superintendent of Bloom District 206. “We want to have good paying fun jobs for you that you will enter” explained Rodriguez. “October is Manufacturing month, it’s a time for us to renew our commitment to manufacturing industry. We are here to help in the Illinois economy for decades to come.”

As students left Workman auditorium, buses were prepared to take the students for tours at local businesses. Some of the companies that took part in the tours included; FH Ayer Manufacturing, Chicago Magnesium Casting Company, Trialco, FED EX Frieght, Chicago Heights Steel, Esmark Steel, Lansing Sport Shop, Molex Manufacturing, Whiting Corporation, Arcelor Mittal and Morrison Container Handling Solutions.

Students from District 170 STEM Magnet Academy took the tour at Morrison Container Handling Solutions located in Glenwood. The students were greeted by owner Nancy Wilson. Previously Wilson had worked for 25 years for Ford Motor Company. Wilson’s husband Nick began the company in 1971.

“I’ve been active in the company for several years” explains Nancy. She is one of the few certified women owned business in the area. “One of the reasons I mentioned that in a room with so many female students is that I wanted them to see that this is a possibility for them. They do have options, there are not a lot of women in manufacturing, the opportunities are there if they have the education to do it” Nancy added.

While the students took a tour of the company, they saw the use of robotics and updated technology. Questions of education was asked to Nancy and her husband Nick. “I believe there is value in college education” explains Nick. “Education changes how you think. There are a lot of opportunities in manufacturing, some of the jobs don’t require a college degree. They are interesting jobs that pay well.”

The first employee that began working for Nick when he started the company still works there to this day. He was a co-op student when he began. “Because of the different jobs that our company does, we have CNC operators, which is a skill as well as skilled assembly workers. We also have 22 engineers that are degreed and work on the floor on a daily basis” said Nancy.

Nick and Nancy Wilson are huge supporters of education, so much so they partnered with Purdue Northwest University. Nick helped Purdue start a mechatronic engineering program. “Companies were complaining they did not have enough people educated in that field, so Nick helped them organize the program which trained them in both, electrical and mechanical engineering.” The university also has a non-college degreed program where they earn a PMMI certificate in mechatronics as an assistant. It is a work place development program.

“We believe in the marriage of education and our workforce” said Nancy.