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High Tech, Huge Potential – CI Members Visit Spackenkill High School

Post: Jan. 23, 2018

On Thursday, January 11th, members of the Council of Industry visited Spackenkill High School to talk about workforce opportunities and advanced manufacturing. Council employees demonstrated the GoMakeIt.org career portal designed to educate students and educators about pathways to careers in advanced manufacturing and showed the GoMakeIt video.   

Rob Engle, Vice President of Sono-Tek presented to Intro to Engineering students and discussed wave energy and sound theory. Rob highlighted his commitment to workforce development and the next generation of manufacturing by sharing stories of his mentorship involvement at Hudson Valley Pathways Academy, internship relationships and his role as a judge in the SUNY New Paltz Engineering Students senior project presentations.

Later in the day, President of Schatz Bearing in Poughkeepsie, Dr. Stephen Pomeroy spoke to Principles of Engineering Students about the 4th industrial revolution and artificial intelligence. Dr. Pomeroy encouraged students to consider non-routine careers and the necessity of of life long learning.

The final presenter, Mark Harris from Lodolce Machine talked to students about careers in manufacturing and the apprenticeship program. Mark emphasized the importance of learning programs such as CAD and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and encouraged students to consider credit and non-credit courses offered at local community colleges such as the Advanced Manufacturing programs at SUNY Ulster and Dutchess County Community College.

The relationship with Spackenkill schools is the result of proactive educators including Superintendent Dr. Villanti who reached out to the Council of Industry after reading the HV MFG magazine article about the Council of Industry apprenticeship program. Dr. Villanti and his faculty recognize the importance of informing students about career opportunities at all levels and it is evident in the relationships with the guidance counselors and students.

This is the beginning of a much-appreciated partnership between industry and educators. The students from Spackenkill are hoping to visit local manufacturing companies including Sono-Tek in the coming months and the Council has been invited back to facilitate a workshop about career readiness.   

The Council of Industry continues workforce development outreach and welcomes the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and educators throughout the Hudson Valley. Partnership activities can include classroom or school wide visits, career discussions, job fairs and facility field trips.

For more information about how to participate in our workforce development initiatives or apprenticeship program contact Johnnieanne Hansen, 845-565-1355.

Interested in a career in manufacturing, visit http://www.councilofindustry.net/jobs for current openings.