STUFF SC 2019

A GUI DE TO

A P RODUCT OF

made and built in south CENTRAL Wisconsin SPRING 2019

COVER STORY page 6

WHO MAKES IT?

WHAT IS IT?

Cool stuff made and built in south central Wisconsin

STUFF BLOWN UP page 12 Wisconsin sources for building Epic Systems’ auditorium

Cost of LIving page 14 Personal budgets and finding a salary that works for you

COULD I MAKE A CAREER OF THIS?

check out our PROFILES - pgs 22-41 to learn about 10+ career opportunities!

BUILD YOUR CAREER Earn while you learn.

$76,624

Begin a great career in construction today and start earning money immediately through apprenticeship!

As a skilled construction worker,

Annual median salary for all construction apprenticeship completers in 2015-16

you’ll be in demand with lots of

* Wisconsin Technical College System – Employment and Salary Data for 2015-16 Apprentices

ladder without college debt.

opportunities to move up the career

Apprenticeship

Get started at BuildYourCareerWI.org

WELCOME TO

made and built in south central Wisconsin PL ANNING FOR CAREERS OF THE FUTURE WELCOME to BizTimes Media’s first edition of STUFF made and built in south central Wisconsin, our workforce development publication for young adults. In STUFF, you can see how other students are approaching their careers and learn which jobs are hot now in the region.

The pace of change continues to accelerate as we prepare tomorrow’s workers for their future jobs, some of which do not even exist yet. We’ve experienced sustained growth in the manufacturing industry over the past year in Wisconsin.

High schools and postsecondary institutions are quickly adapting their programs to best prepare our students for the new advanced manufacturing environments of “Industry 4.0” that are developing right here in Wisconsin. Some amazing name-brand items are made in this corner of the world, such as Trek bikes. See our “Cool Stuff” roundup to learn about other products made here.

Development is also spurring our thriving building and construction industries, which are eager to gain more workers. Verona is home to one of the

most iconic facilities in the Midwest: the Epic Systems Corp. campus. As a major employer in the region, we wanted to take a closer look. The unique buildings reflect the ever-growing organization’s innovative spirit.

See our “Stuff Blown Up” feature for more.

Growth has been notable in the health care industry, which suffers a shortage of workers. High school students have opportunities to explore nursing careers via camps such as the Medical Science Academy offered to students through Hendricks CareerTek. High-schoolers engage with professionals in the Beloit Health System to see what these jobs entail.

South central Wisconsin students are taking advantage of the many programs in the area partnering businesses and schools to explore work opportunities via competitions, information sessions and more. We’ve gathered examples of how you can explore your career options while still in high school in our “Five Steps” article.

Now – more than ever – is the time for interested students to get involved in STEM fields. The shortage of skilled workers in high-tech fields is a major

issue. In this issue of STUFF, we highlight some youth apprenticeship STEM career pathways, as well as CNC/tool & die and others.

Thanks to our incredible editorial advisory board who shared their insights, and all the businesses and schools involved.

We hope through these pages that you find an occupation or company worth exploring more deeply.

Here’s to finding meaningful study and career paths that are the best fit for you.

Dan Meyer Founder and publisher BizTimes Media

A WORD FROM OUR ASSOCIATION PARTNER

HENDRICKS CAREERTEK IS A STATE-OF-THE ART CAREER CENTER located in the Ironworks Corridor providing career development, career education and opportunities to youth in the Greater Beloit community. It is funded by a generous grant from the Hendricks Family Foundation to the Stateline Boys and Girls Club.

Located in the middle of Beloit’s very own emerging tech hub, computer and digital technology skills present thriving

TINA SALZMAN

career opportunities – especially for today’s youth and today’s high tech world. Hendricks CareerTek provides career exploration opportunities, handson learning, and other career programming that directly compliments skills in high demand by today’s workforces, such as coding, healthcare, construction, trades, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.

Most recently, Hendricks CareerTek partnered with Beloit Health System and Blackhawk Technical College to implement a state grant aimed at growing middle school and high school interest in the nursing field. Interested youth have an opportunity to go behind the scenes at local medical facilities, experience hands on learning, such as

AHEAD OF THE

EARNING

CURVE. EDUCATION THAT PAYS. Apprenticeships combine jobsite training and classroom learning so you can start a career, earn college credits and bring in a wage at the same time. Get started.

starting IVs, complete certified nursing assistant (CNA) coursework and even get a jump on their career in nursing once successfully passing the state exam.

Whether heading to a four-year institution or straight into the workforce, our mission is to help youth gain valuable experience to make informed decisions about the future, feel energized about their path, gain valuable skills and experience the workforce de-

BECOME AN APPRENTICE. WisconsinApprenticeship.org Advanced Manufacturing | Agriculture | Biotechnology | Construction Trades Financial Occupations | Healthcare | Information Technology | Service Trades | Utility Trades

mands. Your future beings now – check us out at hendrickscareertek.org.

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

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CONTENTS A G U ID E TO

m a d e a n d b u i lt i n s o u t h C E N T R A L W i s c o n s i n S PRING 2 01 9

PUBL ISHER ’S L E T TER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p

p3

1

A note from Dan Meyer, publisher.

p3

5 S TEPS TO A C A REER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Basic things you can do to find your profession.

CO OL S T UFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p

6

Discover key products and name brands produced in this region by businesses with global reach.

S T UFF BLOW N UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

p6

p 12

How did they build the massive auditorium at Epic Systems Corp.?

What jobs were involved?

COS T OF L I V ING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

p 14

Budgeting and saving for a rainy day, featuring hot job salaries.

p16

C A REER SPOTL IGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

p 16

Highlighting youth apprentices, interns and women in STEM careers.

YO U TH A PPRENTICE SHIP

..............

p 20

How shop floor experience can work for your future.

PROFIL E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C A REER FA IR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

p 22 p 42

How to prepare and where to go to meet many employers at once.

RE SO URCE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Featuring career planning tools for students, employers and educators.

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A GUIDE TO STUFF MADE AND BUILT IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN

126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120 PHONE: 414-277-8181 FAX: 414-277-8191 WEBSITE: www.biztimes.com/stuff ADVERTISING EMAIL: ads@biztimes.com EDITORIAL EMAIL: andrew.weiland@biztimes.com REPRINTS: reprints@biztimes.com ADDITIONAL COPIES: linda.crawford@biztimes.com Additional copies $15 each PUBLISHER / OWNER

Dan Meyer dan.meyer@biztimes.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Mary Ernst mary.ernst@biztimes.com

EDITORIAL

p 44

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR OF SALES

Linda Crawford linda.crawford@biztimes.com INSIDE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Amanda Bruening amanda.bruening@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

EDITOR

Andrew Weiland andrew.weiland@biztimes.com MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Dill molly.dill@biztimes.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Valerie Valentine valerie.valentine@biztimes.com REPORTER

Lauren Anderson lauren.anderson@biztimes.com REPORTER

Area businesses share a look inside their day-to-day and current positions in demand.

p20

A PRODUCT OF

Maredithe Meyer maredithe.meyer@biztimes.com REPORTER

Molly Lawrence molly.lawrence@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Maggie Pinnt maggie.pinnt@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Christie Ubl christie.ubl@biztimes.com SALES INTERN

Tess Romans tess.romans@biztimes.com

ADMINISTRATION

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Sue Herzog sue.herzog@biztimes.com

Arthur Thomas arthur.thomas@biztimes.com

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

REPORTER

Alex Schneider alex.schneider@biztimes.com

Alex Zank alex.zank@biztimes.com INTERN REPORTER

Madison Goldbeck madison.goldbeck.biztimes.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ART DIRECTOR

Shelly Tabor shelly.tabor@biztimes.com FREELANCE ART DIRECTOR

Meredith Jensen meredith.m.jensen@gmail.com

Independent & Locally Owned — Founded 1995 — A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

What

STUFF do you want to do?

Take this work interest quiz to find out. Choose the letter most like you.

STEPS to finding a career

People tell me that I am:

In my free time, I like to:

My favorite class in school is:

I admire:

a) Full of energy b) Logic-minded c) A talented writer d) Good at negotiating

a) Woodshop b) Chemistry c) Art d) Statistics

a) Build and fix things b) Explore new technologies c) Dream up inventions d) Get organized

a) Mike Rowe, host of “Dirty Jobs” b) Stephen Hawking, astrophysicist c) Walt Disney, animation visionary d) Warren Buffet, billionaire businessman

Each letter represents an interest area with careers that might be a good fit. Which letter did you choose most?

Mostly As: You are hands-on. The more you are able to

touch and manipulate the information, the easier it will be for you to learn.

POSSIBLE CAREERS: Welder, CNC programmer, assembler, machinist (tool & die), electrical engineer.

Mostly Bs: You are scientific. You typically work through problems and issues in a systematic way, and you like to create procedures for future use.

POSSIBLE CAREERS: CAD designer, product developer, mechanical engineer, robotics/automation specialist, industrial engineer.

STEP 1 ACADEMIC AND CAREER PLANNING. In school, you’ve probably worked with a guidance counselor to identify areas of interest. This involves answering a few questions about yourself.

You can speak with mentors who will tell you what you need to know about their jobs: how they got there and what they do. You can then decide if that career is realistic for you.

Mostly Cs: You are creative. You enjoy using images, colors and maps to organize information and communicate with others.

POSSIBLE CAREERS: Web designer, advertising representative, network support staff, marketing manager, software programmer.

Mostly Ds: You are business-minded. You like to work through issues, ideas and problems with a group.

POSSIBLE CAREERS: Trainer, human resources assistant, computer information systems manager, accounts payable clerk, supervisor.

(Source: Adapted from Dream It. Do it. – Wisconsin)

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

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5 S TEPS

MOST WANTED POSITIONS Here are the top jobs companies are hiring for in south central Wisconsin, based on number of employers indicating they hire for such positions on Inspire Madison Region.

Workforce gaps include health sciences, hospitality and tourism, business management, skilled trades and STEM-based careers.

Today’s economy has great need for workers who demonstrate an affinity for science, technology, engineering and math, or like to build, design and create.

Inspire Madison Region is a web-based platform available in public school districts in the region that offers 1,700 career coaches and over 1,300 companies with more than 5,750 experiential learning activities.

1.

Customer service representative

2.

3.

4.

5.

Sales representative

6.

Human resources specialist

7.

8.

Administrative assistant

Marketing specialist Accountant Manufacturing machine operator

Technical sales representative

9. Office manager 10. Mechanical engineer 11. Receptionist/information clerk

12. IT project manager 13. Custodian 14. Quality controller 15. Manufacturing manager 16. Shipping & receiving clerk 17. Industrial machinery mechanic

18. Retail salesperson 19. Computer network specialist

20. Cook 21. Electrical engineer 22. Computer support person 23. Nurse 24. Graphic designer

25. Construction manager 26. Welder 27. Financial manager 28. Housekeeper 29. Nursing assistant 30. Electrician 31. Industrial engineer 32. Machinist 33. Bookkeeper 34. Construction laborer 35. Cost estimator 36. Heavy equipment

STEP 2 GET EXPOSED TO BUSINESS.

Once you’ve identified an area of work you might pursue, get to know local businesses where you might apply your talents and learn new skills.

Some ways to learn about local employers include participating in tours of businesses, going to career fairs and attending information sessions at school. Recruiters offer mock interviews and speed interviewing to sample a variety of industries.

More involved career experiences might include doing a job shadow, where students can go through a day of work at a business to experience the daily challenges of a role.

Internships or co-ops can offer students real-world experience on the job while going to high school or technical college as part of their schooling.

operator

37. Mechanical engineering tech

38. Stock clerk 39. Carpenter 40. Computer software engineer

41. Engineering tech 42.Industrial engineering tech 43. Web developer 44.Chef 45. Electrical engineering tech 46.Licensed practical nurse 47. Medical assistant 48. Medical lab tech 49. Truck driver 50. Automotive service technician

Source: Job data from Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP), October 2018.

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

STEP 3 TAKE A CLASS. If you’ve found a few interest areas you might like to pursue, find a class to hone your skills. A school guidance counselor can help you map your interests to the class offerings in your school district.

Schools try to line up classes with the needs of the economy in which students will work. Working on machines that real factories use means students are prepared for future jobs.

Beloit Health System, in partnership with Hendricks CareerTek, runs monthly hands-on learning academies focused on a variety of aspects related to nursing. They have regular field trips to medical facilities, a six- to eight-week medical science program, and recruit high schoolers interested in pursuing their CNA license.

Students took part in an emergency/trauma nurse experience through a partnership between Beloit Health System and Hendricks CareerTek in November.

STEP 4 JOIN A CLUB. Project-based, hands-on learning is one of the best ways to find out what you like to do. You never know unless you try!

Many groups, at schools and beyond, offer career exposure to tasks one might perform on the job. Challenges often are presented as contests, with prizes awarded.

Many jobs today and in the future will require STEM skills. A need for greater diversity in these fields is drawing businesses to involve young women in these areas.

For the Advanced Construction Academy, Hendricks CareerTek partnered with the City of Beloit and CCI to fully demo and renovate the men’s and women’s locker rooms at the municipal golf course. Students worked for four days alongside professionals from CCI learning about the skills necessary to work in construction.

STEP 5

“The people I worked with at

DUAL ENROLL.

like I am one of them and they

If you feel like traditional school is not working for you, consider dual enrollment, where students go to school and also work. They earn credits, get experience and are paid. Graduates can use their money toward college, and some even get hired after graduation in a secure job.

School counselors can work with students to personalize a program so every student has a clear pathway to success.

Some kids want something more than the typical teenage job.

Faith Stenson is a student at East Troy High School who graduated in spring 2018 from GPS Education Partners, a program that partners school districts with businesses. She trained as a welder at Banker Wire and plans to attend Gateway Technical College’s welding program.

Banker Wire made me feel didn’t treat me like a little kid. I felt like I was a regular employee and part of the team,” Faith said. GPS Education Partners works to personalize a program for each student’s individual pathway to success.

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

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COOL S TUFF

COOL STUFF Made in South Central Wisconsin

From well-known brands to surprising items, we are delighted to present a few of the exciting things Wisconsinites take pride in designing, assembling and supplying across the globe.

We are lucky to have such a richly productive region of makers. Food and beverage manufacturers have a thriving scene here. We also build lots of STUFF for consumers and industrial customers.

Every company profiled here has jobs for the future, not only in manufacturing and assembly, but also in sales, marketing, engineering, HR, finance, management and other professions. If the company is in your neighborhood, go check out its job board or support the business by trying its products or taking a tour. Enjoy our roundup of some of the awesome STUFF made in south central Wisconsin.

GATORS JOHN DEERE HORICON WORKS is one of Deere & Co.’s flagship factories, manufacturing durable and reliable products for generations of John Deere customers. John Deere Horicon Works leads the industry in manufacturing technology and environmental stewardship.

The factory assembles John Deere lawn tractors and gator utility vehicles. It keeps the farms in Wisconsin working!

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

TRUCK PARTS When it snows, which gets it done fastest: a shovel, blower or plow? Monroe Truck Equipment is a Wisconsin-grown company specializing in the design, manufacture, distribution and installation of specialized truck parts. It is especially wellknown for its snow and ice control tools, such as snowplows and salt spreaders. Monroe Truck’s headquarters facility in Monroe has 350,000 square feet under cover on 70 total acres.

It has been in the business since 1958, beginning as a one-man blacksmith shop and now employing around 550 people in six locations.

PIZZA Everyone loves pizza, and Wisconsin knows how to make it. Locally, Emil’s Pizza has been making its prize product from scratch since 1961.

What started out as a pizzeria on Watertown’s Main Street has grown into a flourishing business providing frozen pizzas to Wisconsin stores like Woodman’s and Pick ‘n Save. It makes 20 different varieties of pizza and also a garlic cheese bread and cheese fries. Emil’s provides student groups with pizza fundraiser materials, as well.

CHEESE Wisconsin’s cheese-making industry produces 2 billion pounds of cheese every year. That’s 30 percent of the nation’s total cheese production, with more than 1 million cows on nearly 18,000 dairy farms in the state. There are around 450 dairy processing plants statewide. Local producers include Carr Valley Cheese Company in La Valle, owned and operated by the Cook family for more than 100 years. Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese in Waterloo pipes its milk from the farm directly to the cheese factory for fresh-as-it-gets cheese.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES High-end appliance brands Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove come right out of the Madison area.

Founded in 1945, SubZero makes refrigeration, freezer and wine storage products. With the acquisition of Wolf Range Co. in 2000, Sub-Zero Group Inc. added residential cooking appliances, with products including ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, warming drawers and ventilation equipment. In 2018, Sub-Zero Group launched the Cove brand of dishwashers.

Cove joins Sub-Zero and Wolf to make a complete kitchen family of appliances.

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

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COOL S TUFF SURVEY MARKERS Berntsen is a name recognized by land surveyors everywhere. Berntsen International Inc. of Madison is a manufacturer and global supplier of survey markers survey monuments, utility markers and related accessories. In 1972, Peter Berntsen and Phillip Peterson began making innovative monuments to become an international marker provider. The markers are used by many of the world’s governments and infrastructure specialists for GIS/LIS networks, transportation systems, boundary mapping, construction references and seismic monitoring networks.

CHOCOLATE In 1959, German immigrants the Clasen brothers opened a bakery in Madison. Their business expanded and evolved to become Clasen Quality Chocolate. This manufacturer of chocolate, confectionery coatings and fillings has locations in Middleton, Madison and Watertown. CQC is a major supplier of candy ingredients across North America.

It offers 20 different stock chocolate items to fit a wide variety of industries and applications. Some of its varieties include dairy-free, organic, white and semisweet chocolates.

VIDEO GAMES Video games are a favorite hobby of many Wisconsinites, who collect and play them.

Some local companies are also researching and creating video games. Did you know that Madison is becoming one of the fastest-growing game development centers in the nation? Fantasy Flight Interactive’s Madison studio designed “The Lord of the Rings Living Card” game. PerBlue worked on “Disney Heroes: Battle Mode,” and Filament Games makes educational games like “Breaking Boundaries in Science,” which explores the lives of women scientists.

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

PERFORMANCE BICYCLES In 1976, Trek was founded to meet the demand for U.S.made high-performance bikes. Today, in its Waterloo facility not far from the original barn in which it began, designers and researchers are building some of the best bikes available. Millions of people ride Trek bikes in hundreds of countries around the world. The company has about 2,000 employees, about half of whom are in Wisconsin. At the beginning, Trek founders Dick Burke and Bevil Hogg debated what to call their new bicycle company. Hogg liked Kestrel, after the bird of prey.

Burke preferred Trek because it called forth travel and adventure.

SUNBURST CHAIRS If you’ve visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Memorial Union in warmer seasons, you may have visited the terrace overlooking Lake Mendota. There you would encounter 600 sunburst chairs, now a famous symbol for the university.

The metal sunburst design was chosen for its durability and strength, and has been used since just after World War II. WISCO Industries in Oregon is responsible for production of the iconic chairs. In the offseason, chairs are repaired and maintained by All-Color Powder Coating in Oregon, a specialty painting company.

CHIPS You are probably familiar with Lay’s and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips, Rold Gold pretzels and multigrain Sunchips.

Frito-Lay North America (a division of PepsiCo) makes some of the most popular snacks in the United States. From its production facility in Beloit, workers produce, package, sell and ship famous snacks all over the region. This large global company’s presence in the community provides locals with many work opportunities.

BEEF JERKY While hunting with his family in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Jack Link had the idea to make jerky with his great-grandfather’s Old World recipes. It was so good, friends and neighbors were always asking for more. Jack Link’s protein snacks are now sold around the world. Today Jack Link’s sells more than 100 different meat snack products in more than 40 countries. Its location in New Glarus is one of five facilities in the upper Midwest.

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

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Wisconsin i

s home, it

NAME:

’s more yo

STUDIED: To see mo re of Carl’s story scan the Q R code or visit InWiscons in.com/Alu mni

u.

WHY I CAME BACK TO WISCONSIN

A JOB ISN’T THE ONLY REASON TO STAY IN WISCONSIN. Carl Klemp’s education in HVACR technology landed him an internship and job offers in other states. His love of outdoor recreation, however, brought him back to Wisconsin, where he’s taking full advantage of the career and lifestyle opportunities our state offers.

Wisconsin’s excellent technical colleges and public and private universities offer the education needed to succeed in today’s evolving economy. And Wisconsin employers are lining up with job offers that make the most of the knowledge, skills and ambition our state’s talented young people bring to the workplace.

Michele Raysich

With your education in Wisconsin, you can make a living anywhere. But more and more graduates of Wisconsin’s higher education institutions are finding that Wisconsin offers them a unique opportunity to make the life they desire.

Take Michele Raysich, for example, who, after earning a degree in architecture, moved to Chicago thinking that was the best place to realize her professional aspirations. It didn’t take long for Michele to realize that she could make a greater impact professionally in Wisconsin. So, after only

Matt Kalva

one year, Michele moved back to the state, and now enjoys a lower cost of living and a better quality of life.

You can learn more about the career and personal success Carl, Michele and others enjoy in Wisconsin following wide-ranging academic pursuits at InWisconsin.com/alumni.

Maggie Berens

BLOWN UP

blo wn up

DEEP SPACE Epic Systems Corp.’s campus in Verona is known for its unique footprint. This health care software corporation has grown its “intergalactic” headquarters to stretch over 900 innovative acres. It’s open to the public and offers self-guided tours every day of the week.

Completely underground, Epic Deep Space Auditorium was named the Best New Building over $200 Million by the Associated General Contractors of America in 2015. It’s huge: the size of two football fields, it seats 11,400 and stretches five stories (73 feet) down, while blending with the rural landscape above.

Here are some of the resources that went into this incredible project, along with the Wisconsin companies that provided and installed them. » 804,000 cubic yards of rock excavation by Edgerton Contractors Inc., Oak Creek » 125,762 cubic yards of concrete by Lycon Inc., Janesville » 18,155 tons of steel erection by J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc., Janesville » 6.8 acres of green roof by Interstate Roofing & Waterproofing Inc., Onalaska » 1.7 million pounds of sheet metal and 10 miles of geothermal piping installed by General Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., Madison » 123,790 feet of sprinkler piping and 9,423 sprinkler heads installed by Hooper Corp., Madison » 1,388 plumbing fixtures and 120,000 feet of copper piping installed by Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection Inc., Madison » 9.5 million feet of wire pulled, 800,000 feet of data cabling and 6,073 light fixtures installed by The Morse Group Inc., Beloit » 8 elevators and 42 escalators by Otis Elevator Co., Milwaukee Interior of auditorium

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

TEAM: DEEP SPACE It took 3,500 workers more than 28 months (2.3 million man hours) to build the auditorium. Some of the trades involved in the construction:

§ LABORERS

§ FITTERS

§ CARPENTERS

§ SHEET-METAL WORKERS

§ MASONS

§ ELECTRICIANS

§ CEMENT FINISHERS

§ DATA SPECIALISTS

§ PAINTERS

§ ENGINEERS

§ IRONWORKERS

§ ARCHITECTS

§ ROOFERS

§ INTERIOR DESIGNERS

§ PLUMBERS

§ PROJECT MANAGERS

NOW HIRING: EPIC PROJECT MANAGER Tasks: Project managers develop creative strategies to achieve a common end goal while collaborating with smart and innovative colleagues from all roles.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree (any major)

SOFTWARE TESTER Tasks: These detail-oriented perfectionists test software from a medical professional’s perspective to make sure it’s efficient and intuitive.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree (any major)

TECHNICAL PROBLEM SOLVER Tasks: These experts are responsible for the continued success of health care organizations using Epic software, helping to guide them by making recommendations to meet their goals.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or greater

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Tasks: Developers at Epic build multitier enterprise software for large health care organizations using a variety of technologies.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, software engineering, computer engineering or a related field

Courtesy J.P. Cullen

Source: Epic biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

13

SAL ARY S TATS

the

Co$t of living WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB, you will earn an income. What you can spend depends on the amount of money you make. Based on your salary (12 months of earnings) you can estimate what you can afford to put toward monthly expenses. A basic rule of good personal budgeting is to spend less than you earn.

Many expenses are required: Mortgage or rent, utilities, insurance, transportation costs, and medical expenses, as well as taxes. A credit card or student loans are also required monthly expenditures.

If you stay within your estimated budget, you will have money left over at the end of the month. Use this to pay down debt and build your savings. Ideally, you’ll have a savings account you build up for unexpected expenses, vacations and holiday gifts, or

Budget basics:

Ga in fin an cia l contr o l o f y ou r life!

maybe for a car or house.

After required expenses are covered and savings account contributions are made, you can use the money remaining for “discretionary expenses,” a.k.a. fun!

MONTHLY BUDG ET FOR A SING LE PE RS ON

Janesville/ Beloit

Madison

Housing (Studio apartment/utilities) ............................$596

$769

Food ....................................................................... $230

$266

Transportation (car payments, gas, insurance, transit, maintenance)...................$857

$823

Health care (insurance, out-of-pocket costs) ...................$282

$295

Personal care (clothes, hair) household (phone/internet).......................... $333

$418

Taxes (state, federal, FICA) ............................ $458

$537

TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES ....................... $2,755

$3,108

ANNUAL COST OF LIVING....................... $33,063

$37,291

(Source: Economic Policy Institute budget calculator.)

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

MEDIAN SALARIES OF HOT JOBS Check out the income for these positions in

ENGINEERING

demand for southeastern Wisconsin to see what

Mechanical engineer $71,190 ($5,932.50/month)

you would be able to afford on these salaries.

Industrial engineer $73,290 ($6,107.50/month)

BUSINESS

TRADES

HR specialist $52,230 ($4,352.50/month)

Construction laborer $36,960 ($3,080/month)

Administrative assistant $47,170 ($3,930.83/month)

Electrician $58,160 ($4,846.67/month)

MANUFACTURING

HUMAN SERVICES

Machinist $41,250 ($3,437.50/month)

Social worker $44,430 ($3,702.50/month)

Manufacturing manager $94,670 ($7,889.16/month)

Nursing assistant $27,000 ($2,250/month) (Source: careercruising.com)

F u n M on ey !

Here are some

DINNER OUT ($50)

MOVIE ($20)

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT & LESSONS ($1,000)

SOFA ($2,000)

estimated costs of discretionary

CONCERT TICKETS ($90)

ATV ($7,500)

budget items.

Based on your monthly income, how long will you have to save to afford your desired goal?

KAYAK ($150)

SKYDIVING ($250)

BICYCLE ($350)

TABLET ($425)

TRIP TO EUROPE ($4,500)

MOTORCYCLE ($10,000)

CAMPER ($15,000)

VACATION HOME DOWN PAYMENT ($20,000)

TV ($435)

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CAREERSPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON: HE ALTH SCIENCES HOSA - Future Health Professionals is a Career and Technical Student Organization focused on service and health care. With help from its advisor Steph Steinke, Elkhorn Area High School’s chapter sent 24 students to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Dallas in June. Elkhorn’s public health team of freshmen made it through both rounds of competition and placed eighth internationally.

HOSA member Yamila Hernandez said, “We sacrificed a lot of our free time in preparation for HOSA competition. I’m glad to say our hard work paid off. Dallas was such a fun experience. The

ABBY VINZ

breakout sessions were very versatile and interesting, the expo had so many educational stands, and my favorite part was meeting people from all over the States and trading pins with them!”

Teammate Annie Grochowski added, “My team had a great dynamic and through this experience, I developed lasting friendships with all of them.”

Also on the team was Lesly Rodriguez, who said, “I personally loved this experience and had a lot of fun just seeing the passion that everyone had towards the health professions. I will definitely compete next year in the same event.” n

AVA VANDOMMELEN

ABBY VINZ, DIETARY AID Abby Vinz is a Watertown High School student in a Health Sciences Youth Apprenticeship at North Shore Healthcare with mentor Lori Lutze.

Abby became interested in the health care field through her sister, a nurse practitioner who works in rehab at Lake Country Landing. Abby’s sister mentioned her employer was looking for new dietary aids. Abby applied and got the job.

A day in the life for Abby involves going to school and leaving at 2:30 p.m. to get ready for work. She arrives at work around 3 p.m.

On the job, she takes patients’ orders, delivers those orders, provides room service and assists with kitchen work. She gets home around 8:30 p.m.

Abby said if you are interested in this field, you need to learn how to have patience and how to work with different populations.

About the future, she said, “I want to be a nurse practitioner too—I will be switching over to CNA [certified nursing assistant] once I complete my exam.” n

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

MEDIC AL RESE ARCHER

tists at the Morgridge Institute for Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

When Ava VanDommelen was just seven years old, the No. 1 item on her Christmas wish list was a microscope. This gift sparked her interest in science and research – a passion that hasn’t ceased since.

Ava traveled to San Francisco to present cancer research she conducted at Morgridge to world-class researchers and scientists at an international research conference for optics and photonics, called SPIE.

Ava graduated from a youth apprenticeship program through DeForest High School, working as a pre-collegiate researcher studying alongside cancer scien-

Ava still works in the lab and is pursuing a biology degree at UW-Madison. Eventually, she would like to become a physician or oncologist. n

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

CORA HJELMBERG NURSING ASSISTANT Cora Hjelmberg began her health care career and earning potential early by taking college courses before she even graduated from high school.

The Elkhorn Area High School senior earned a Gateway Technical College nursing assistant technical diploma as a junior and parlayed that into a solid-paying job at an area hospital and a foundation for her future career. She was in the Nursing Assistant Youth Apprenticeship.

“I like my job,” Cora said. “I like that I’m able to help people. I like being that person that they can call and I can help them. If they want to talk, I am there to listen.”

Cora said she initially took the college coursework because she has a goal of entering the health care field as a neonatologist and thought the training and work would give her a great first hand look at health care. In a field short of certified workers, Cora found work soon after passing her tests.

She also thought it would be good to take this look while she’s in high school – rather than finding out in college or later in life she might not like the career field.

“I think it’s better to know now than to explore a career in college and then you don’t like it,” Cora said. “I know people who are in their 40s and still don’t know where they want to go.” n

ZACH FAHRENKRUG CNC MACHINIST You’re never too young to follow your dreams. For Zach Fahrenkrug, 19, of Campbellsport, he knew in high school that CNC/tool & die would be his career.

“I took many manufacturing classes in high school,” Zach said. “Occasionally, our classes would be at the Moraine Park West Bend campus.”

Zach graduated from Kewaskum High School in the spring of 2017 and enrolled in Moraine Park’s CNC/tool & die technical diploma program.

“I like how the program covers many different areas of the industry,” Zach said. “You can be grinding wire tabs off of a punch in the morning and then turning chess pieces on a lathe in the afternoon.”

Zach also works at Gruber Tool & Die in West Bend as a CNC machinist, giving him the advantage of taking his education from the classroom to his job.

“Moraine Park works with businesses in the trade to make sure that we are being taught relevant information,” Zach said. “My instructor, Jim Hokenson, worked in the trade for decades. He enjoys helping people progress and better themselves.”

Zach is scheduled to graduate in May. His goal is to become a designer or programmer for CNC mills. n

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C AREER SPOTLIGHT

NOLAN DAY ELECTRICIAN Nolan Day went right from high school into the building trades.

He was a senior in high school when he started working in the control panel shop and is now working to complete a fiveyear electrician apprenticeship with The Morse Group in Beloit.

Nolan became interested in being an electrician once he realized how successful a person can become in this field and how comfortably he can live without going into debt from college.

SPOTLIGHT ON

STEM

C A R EER S

RYAN HOGQUIST COMPUTER SCIENCE

Some of his job duties include bending pipe, pulling wires for lights and wiring up control panels for motors and other devices.

Nolan advised students interested in this field to “work hard, show up to work every day on time, and keep a good attitude throughout the process.” n

Ryan Hogquist is a student at Watertown High School working to complete the Information Technology Youth Apprenticeship with Badgerland Computers and Networking. His mentor is Giles Isham.

To get started in this field, Ryan first took a bunch of computer classes during his freshman year. His school-to-career coordinator provided him with contact information at an area employer, and he was hired to work and learn computer science skills.

Every day, Ryan comes to school and then leaves at 1:30 p.m. Then he goes to work until 6 p.m. His tasks while at work are fixing computers, building computers and troubleshooting.

For students interested in the computer science youth apprenticeship, Ryan said, “If you get the opportunity, go for it – take advantage of it.” n

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

ELLIOT VIRTUE

IT

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Elliot Virtue is a Lake Mills High School student completing his IT Youth Apprenticeship at Chapter 2 Inc., a manufacturing facility in Lake Mills.

On getting into the program, he said, “Over the years I was always messing around with computers and had a lot of fun doing it. I was taking a few computer classes and my teacher, Mr. Keuhl, noticed my skills and interest. He recommended to Mrs. Iverson that I get involved in youth apprenticeship, and here I am.”

Depending on the day, Elliot either leaves school early and works at 2 p.m., or

starts after school at 3:30 p.m. He usually works until 5 p.m. and then has homework to do after that.

His work tasks are to update outof-date computer systems and also input data from paper into the computer. “It really is just a lot of system updates and maintenance,” Elliot said.

Jen Iverson, his supervising teacher, added, “(He) gathers information from other companies, creates charts, organizes databases, and commonly uses Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel.”

After graduation, Elliot plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison or UW-Eau Claire for computer science. He shared, “It’s good to think about the big picture when you’re figuring stuff out.” n

JULIA MCNAMAR MECHANIC AL ENGINEERING Julia McNamar is a senior at Belleville High School, a small community located 20 miles southwest of Madison. She is in her second year of a STEM career pathway Youth Apprenticeship with a focus on mechanical engineering.

Julia had this to say about her chosen field: “I didn’t realize I wanted to be a mechanical engineer until I was a freshman, but I should’ve known by the age of eight, when I would tear apart anything that moved in our house. When I took Intro to Engineering Design, I knew I wanted to be an engineer.”

She got a job placement as a junior at Findorff & Son, then moved to North American Mechanical over the summer, working with CAD programming and going to job sites. This year as a senior, Julia is working with Federal Industries in Belleville as a lab assistant and soon to be CAD engineer.

Julia’s day includes waking up early to work out, attending school and then going to her YA job. At Federal Industries, she thermocouples various cases for testing in the lab and loads product into the cases to acquire accurate readings. There are also other tasks such as swamping fans on a case, helping with controls, or just watching and listening.

Julia is currently deciding between attending Milwaukee School of Engineering or the University of Wisconsin-Platteville next fall.

For other students searching to find their career niche, Julia said, “If you don’t know how to do something, just ask. Everything can be a learning opportunity for future reference.” n

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APPRENTICESHIPS

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS WISCONSIN’S YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM is part of the statewide School-to-Work initiative designed for high school students who want hands-on learning in key career areas at a worksite, along with classroom instruction. By being released from school during part of the day, YA students are using that time to work in the field, earn school credit, make money and get exposed to real-world work experiences.

Requirements include that the student be in his or her junior or senior year of high school. Participants complete 450 hours of work-based learning and two semesters of related classroom instruction.

Classroom instruction is part of an agreement between a college and a

high school. In this agreement, the student earns college and high school credit simultaneously, and does not have to pay the college tuition fees.

Schools try to match students with companies that have careers in their fields of interest. Most students are paid between minimum wage and $16 an hour, depending on the company and job. Students are allowed to leave school for the last two hours of the day to get a jumpstart on their work day.

Students also learn resume writing, interviewing and other job skills they will use in their career. Many students who take advantage of youth apprenticeships are hired on by employers post-graduation. n

HAYDEN AT CATE MACHINE & WELDING INC.

BRYCE AT SUSSEK MACHINE CO. BRYCE GHELFI is a student at Watertown High School who is completing a youth apprenticeship in manufacturing at Sussek Machine Co. He credits his mother for helping him choose an area of focus.

“She said it would be a good start to learn how to use inspection tools, helping me towards my ultimate goal to work in automotive and diesel,” Bryce said.

Every day, Bryce goes to school and leaves at 1:20 p.m. to work until 10 p.m. At work, he asks his supervisor what he’s doing for that day and follows the directions. He then comes home to do homework and go to bed.

Bryce said that in order to succeed, you have to always want to learn.

Sussek Machine Co. has partnered with several YA students and is currently aiding the Waterloo School District in obtaining equipment to upgrade its lab facility. n

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

HAYDEN ASKE Y is a Belleville High School senior completing his manufacturing youth apprenticeship. His goals after high school are to continue working at Cate Machine & Welding Inc. in Belleville and attend Madison Area Technical College to earn an associate’s degree in automated manufacturing systems.

“In year one, I learned to use the CNC mill, set up and run parts. Over the summer I was mentored in Coordinate Measuring Machine operations, and am now the main programmer and qualifier keeping machines accurate to within 20 millionths of an inch,” Hayden said.

“The Youth Apprenticeship program offers student a huge advantage in the industry you choose, because students will know if they really like a career pathway or not before they pursue it after high school,” he said.

Hayden’s mother, Rena Askey, wholeheartedly believes in the YA program.

She shared that Hayden has a greater sense of self respect, of his importance in the job, and has learned to deal with adults on a work level. This has improved his ability to act professionally, take direction and implement that direction.

Hayden’s employer and mentor Steve Cate supports Youth Apprenticeship because it has allowed him to train someone from the ground up and have jobs completed to his specifications. He shared that Askey is doing a great job in his second year as an apprentice, helping run the Quality Control department.

Steve plans to bring Hayden on full-time after graduation in June. n

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

made and built in south central Wisconsin PL ANNING FOR CAREERS OF THE FUTURE

JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER INFORMATION FOR AREA BUSINESSES A L L- CO LO R P OW D E R COAT I N G , I N C . . . . . 22

M E TA LC R A F T O F M AY V I L L E . . . . . . . . 34

24

M PI PR O D U C T S , L LC . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

. . . . 26

T E E L PL A S T I C S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

. 28

U N I T E D A L LOY, I N C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

A M CO N S T R U C T I O N S E R V I C E S , I N C . . . . .

CO U N T Y M AT E R I A L S CO R P O R AT I O N

FI N D O R FF (J . H . FI N D O R FF & SO N , I N C .)

G EOX CO R P O R AT I O N

. . . . . . . . . . . . 30

J O H N D E E R E H O R I CO N WO R K S . . . . . . 32 denotes participation in the Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeship program.

A GU I DE TO

A PRODUC T OF

made and built in south CENTRAL Wisconsin SPRING 2019

made and built in south CENTRAL Wisconsin COVER STORY page 6

WHO MAKES IT?

WHAT IS IT?

Cool stuff made and built in south central Wisconsin

Did you miss out on the inaugural edition of STUFF Made and Built in south central Wisconsin?

STUFF BLOWN UP page 12 Wisconsin sources for building Epic Systems’ auditorium

Cost of LIving page 14 Personal budgets and finding a salary that works for you

COULD I MAKE A CAREER OF THIS?

check out our PROFILES - pgs 22-41 to learn about 10+ career opportunities!

Call today to see how you can get involved!

Contact Media Sales today!

(414) 336.7112 or advertise@biztimes.com

A PRODUCT OF:

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Health Insurance Dental Insurance Life Insurance Disability Insurance

FUN STUFF

Bonuses

Annually we sponsor community and company teams and organizations, race cars, community improvement projects and employee outings.

Vacation (paid time off) Sick (paid time) Apprenticeships/Internships In-house English Learning Longevity Bonus

WHO WE ARE In the early 1990’s, Mark Mortensen, All-Color’s President, was quoting jobs for the metal stamping/fabricating industry and had difficultly finding a reliable, high quality sources for painting and powder coating. Seeing an opportunity to fill a market niche, he founded All-Color in his hometown Oregon. We currently have two automated lines and two batch systems for coating all types of metal substrates.

All-Color retains many employees by promoting from within sticking to our family-orientated values.

STUFF WE MAKE

INFO 298 N Burr Oak Ave Oregon, WI 53575

(608) 835-9118

allcolorpowdercoating.com

linkedin.com/company/all-color

Employees: ~50

Year founded: 1996

President: Mark Mortensen

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

All-Color reviews the size of each job, helps customers determine powder and is able to quote jobs accordingly. We can provide custom masking/racking, light assembly and delivery. Some examples of powder coated products are manufactured parts and components, car frames, railings, gates, doors, signs and cabinets.

COOL CUSTOMERS »» »» »» »» »»

Forté Products, Big Green Egg smoker/grill Mid-Central-Electric, Transformers Springs-Window-Fashions, Window Covering Fascias RSTC Enterprises, CommDeck/SolaDeck units Wisco Industries, tables/chairs, UW-MemorialUnion-Terrace

»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

Christmas Party Employee and Family Gifts Hotel/Wisconsin Dells Experience Thanksgiving Meal Employee Gift Cards Sport Event Experiences (Brewers/Mallards) Anniversary and Birthday Recognition Spanish and English Speakers within the company Yearly Uniform Program of $100 to spend on All-Color apparel or safety shoes »» Cookouts

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS Job openings are posted on our website at allcolorpowdercoating.com/about-us/employment/ Job opportunities at our company range from entry level production associates to supervisory and management positions.

Want to get your foot in the door?

Production Associates are the ones who really make things happen at All-Color. Powder coating experience is not needed to preform this job initially. If a candidate does have powder coating experience, they may be able to progress quicker within All-Color. Plenty of opportunity for overtime and to learn about powder coating. All qualified applicants will be considered.

Applications accepted in person or by email.

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

JESUS CASTRO

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? »»Make sure production runs properly »»Monitor staffing and employees in assigned area »»Cover areas on the line during breaks »»Fill in for Line Leads »»Review attendance »»Monitor production scheduling WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? I have more responsibility now than when I started as working on the line and then to a line lead before being supervisor. I feel like a role model for new employees by working up the ladder. The owners make sure we feel appreciated. All-Color is like a second home for me and I have made a lot of friends from working here.

TREVOR COX

SHIPPING AND RECEIVING CLERK WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? »»Loading/unloading trucks »»Checking parts in and out »»Entering in paperwork for parts »»Organize the warehouse »»Make sure parts get out on time »»Occasionally make deliveries

Career Ladder 5 PRODUCTION MANAGER

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? This job is an upgrade from my previous position. It is more of a ‘real world job’ than where I was working since high school.

I am learning a lot every day and I feel like my role in the company has meaning. I like being apart of All-Color. The operation is professional which makes me feel more important.

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS As part of the job requirements, employee will be working in a production setting being exposed to atmospheric conditions, restricted movement in work space, extreme temperatures during warm months, and limited exposure to hazardous materials.

SKILLS »» Ability to understand/operate powder coating equipment »» One-year minimum manufacturing background/experience preferred »» Ability to follow directions on blueprints »» Ability to become forklift certified by All-Color Powder Coating, Inc. »» Ability to communicate effectively and follow direction »» Accuracy with attention to detail »» Ability to work flexible hours or overtime as needed »» Professionalism

4 PRODUCTION FOREMAN

3 PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

2 PRODUCTION LEAD

1 PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE

CONTACT Grace Flavin | HR Manager (608) 835-9118 | gflavin@allcolorpowdercoating.com | linkedin.com/in/gflavin/ biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

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Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance

COOL CUSTOMERS

401(k)

»» »» »» »» »»

Bonuses Vacation Paid On-Site Training

FUN STUFF

WHO WE ARE

INFO 4600 W Mitchell St Milwaukee, WI 53214

(262) 560-4816

amcsi.biz

facebook.com/amcsinc53066

Employees: 60

Year founded: 2012

President: Ken Kindler

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Commissioner Bud Selig’s office 88.9 Radio Milwaukee MATC Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin Christian Education Leadership Academy (CELA)

AM Construction Services, Inc (AMCSI) is a Wisconsinowned carpentry business, specializing in commercial and residential rough and finish carpentry. Covering projects of all sizes across southeastern Wisconsin, we bring a collective 50+ years of construction knowledge to every project, combined with innovation, reliability and unparalleled customer service. As AMCSI continues to grow, we have distinguished ourselves as an industry leader, committed to excellence, strong partnerships and a company that delivers what we say we will.

STUFF WE MAKE »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

Commercial Buildings Residence Building and Remodels Apartment Buildings Schools Banks Restaurants Public Buildings

AMCSI is dedicated to its employees and values the impact they have on making our company great! We are a hardworking, team focused company that shares in the satisfaction of a job well done. Our seasoned carpenters take pride in walking alongside younger employees to help them reach their personal potential. Ongoing training and education is a vital part of our success! As a company, we reach out to the greater community, participating every year in food and clothing drives to benefit our community. We are very proud of our own employees’ generosity and their commitment to giving back. We recognize the importance of MAKING A DIFFERENCE in our community.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS Career opportunities at AMCSI range from zero carpentry skills to project leader/carpentry foreman. We are excited to employ any person who has a willingness to learn and excel. Our goal at AMCSI is to take a motivated individual and develop a professional carpenter able to take on projects of any scope.

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$28,000 starter

$56,000

ERIC SCHUH

experienced

FIRST YEAR APPRENTICE

$84,000+

AGE: 20 | YEARS AT COMPANY: 2 WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES?

expert

As a first year apprentice, I am responsible for learning the carpentry skills necessary to become a journeyman carpenter. Skills are learned both in the classroom and on the job site.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? I enjoy working at AMCSI. There is a strong sense of camaraderie and team work on the crews. AMCSI is a company where you can determine your own success and direct your future. Every day I’m able to set my goals by my own effort and hard work. AMCSI provides me all the tools and knowledge needed to be successful.

THE JOB:

Career Ladder

REQUIREMENTS »» Must be physically able to lift and carry 60 pounds »» Basic math »» Valid driver’s license »» Good work ethic SKILLS »» Able to perform physical work »» Able to work well with others/teachable »» Self motivated to perform well WHAT YOU’LL DO »» You will learn all aspects of carpentry including: »» Building walls, floor and roofs »» Setting doors and hardware »» Install cabinets and counter tops »» Install exterior finishes »» Install interior finishes »» Work both inside and outside

5 $

FOREMAN/LEAD CARPENTER

60,000-$84,000

4 JOURNEYMAN CARPENTER $

3 $

50,000-$60,000

THIRD YEAR APPRENTICE

40,000-$50,000

2 SECOND YEAR APPRENTICE

CAREER PATH There is a very clear path to reaching my goal position - Foreman/Project Leader

$

1 $

32,000-$40,000

FIRST YEAR APPRENTICE

28,000-$32,000

CONTACT Bart Wellenstein | HR Manager (262) 951-1171 | bart@amcsi.biz | facebook.com/amcsinc53066

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Health, Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Account Life Insurance Disability Insurance 401(k) Bonuses Vacation Sick (paid time) Wellness Program Product Discounts Uniform Program Scholarships for Dependents Training & Leadership Development Relocation Opportunities

INFO

WHO WE ARE

FUN STUFF

County Materials Corporation is a third-generation, family-owned business that is recognized as a leading manufacturer and trusted industry resource for concrete construction and landscaping products. Since 1946, we have been helping to build the communities where Americans live, work and play. Our success is built on the strong work ethic, determination and service-minded attitude delivered by our dedicated team members in more than 40 locations across six states.

Our culture is built on our values: team members, safety, quality and customer service. We take pride in offering stable employment and a competitive wage and benefits package for our team members. In addition to the benefits we offer, we are proud to contribute to their experience here with team member appreciation events, a Leadership Development Program for professional growth, a peer nominated Leadership Award Program, GUARD for Life principles that promote safe behaviors and attitudes, a generous Employee Referral program, opportunities for growth and relocation within our company and more. Build your future with us and apply today!

STUFF WE MAKE »» »» »» »» »» »»

Concrete Pipe & Precast products Prestress Bridge Girders Hollowcore Roof & Floor Systems Insulated Sandwich Walls Ready-mix Concrete and Aggregates Masonry and Landscape products

205 North St. Marathon, WI 54448

COOL CUSTOMERS

1-800-242-7733

countymaterials.com

Our products are utilized in infrastructure, transportation construction, commercial, agricultural, municipal, and residential building and landscaping projects of all sizes.

facebook.com/CountyMaterials

linkedin.com/company/ county-materials-corp

Our company continues to grow, and our success is possible because of the many dedicated and talented team members who work hard every day to meet the needs of our customers. We hire for a variety of positions throughout our organization including Professional Drivers, Production Team Members, Machine Operators, Mechanics, Dispatchers, Yard Personnel, Quality Control Technicians, Sales Representatives, Drafters, Project Managers, Maintenance Technicians, Administrative Assistants as well as staff in Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations, Risk, Safety and more! To view a complete list of openings, visit our Careers Page at workatcounty.com!

@countymaterials

youtube.com/user/countymaterials

Employees: 1,500

Year founded: 1946

President: Tim Sonnentag

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS Along with being 18 or older and having a high school education or equivalent, being a Professional Driver also requires a Class A or B CDL (dependent on the position) and 2 years driving experience. From there, we provide our Professional Drivers on the job training to teach the specific procedures necessary to drive their specific truck.

SKILLS All Professional Drivers must be able to work independently in a professional and timely matter, while still being able to perform well in a team. Professional Drivers have face to face interaction with our customers so exemplary interpersonal skills are important. Being safety minded in all situations is a must.

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS Being 18 or older and having a High School education or equivalent is required for employment at County Materials.

Many of our key hiring positions are attainable with little to no education or experience, just a willingness to work hard and learn!

SKILLS All Team Members should be self-motivators and have the ability to perform well in a team environment. Being safety minded is a must, as well as a value in the quality of our product and the drive to provide superior customer service to our customers.

PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? Professional Truck Drivers are responsible for transporting products from one point to another, securing all products before transport, and ensuring the safe and timely transport of our products.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? After attaining my Commercial Drivers License from an area technical college, I knew County Materials was the company I wanted to build my career at after getting some driving experience. County Materials offers many opportunities for Professional Truck Drivers with positions as Flatbed Drivers, Ready-mix Drivers, Dump Drivers, Heavy Haul Drivers, Girder Drivers and more. With my CDL as my base knowledge, County Materials provided any additional training I needed for each specific Driver position. Being a Professional Driver for County Materials means I will be home nightly and not driving over the road, which is important to my family and I. My competitive wage and benefits package supports my family as well, and reflects that County Materials is a third generation family owned company who is dedicated to not only their team members, but our families as well.

PRODUCTION TEAM MEMBER WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? Production Team Members are responsible for performing a variety of activities related to the production of concrete construction products in a manufacturing facility, including concrete pipe and prestress products and more.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? Being a Production Team Member means I have stable employment and opportunities to learn and move up in the company! County Materials has grown to be a leader in the concrete manufacturing industry with more than 70 years of experience. I feel confident the company will continue to grow in the future. I began working here right after high school and make a good living with my wages and benefits package. I know with hard work, County Materials gives opportunities for additional training and advancement within the company and values my years of service. County Materials shows they appreciate me and my fellow team members.

Career Ladder 5 OPERATIONS MANAGER

4 PLANT SUPERVISOR

3 PLANT FOREMAN

2 MACHINE OPERATOR

1 PRODUCTION CREW MEMBER

CONTACT Central Processing Corporation | National HR Management Company (877) 492-5181 | humanresources@centralprocessingcorp.com biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

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Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Account

FUN STUFF

Life Insurance Disability Insurance Retirement Paid Time Off Wellness Program Employee Assistance Program

WHO WE ARE

INFO 300 S. Bedford Street Madison, WI 53703

Findorff is one of the Midwest’s leading builders, with offices in Madison, Milwaukee, and Wausau. Findorff currently employs an average of 900 construction professionals and tradespeople, and completes over $750 million in construction annually.

STUFF WE MAKE

(608) 257-5321

findorff.com

facebook.com/JHFindorff

For well over a century, Findorff has been dedicated to building environments that make differences in people’s lives. We employ skilled professionals in the industry who set standards for craftsmanship and quality. We take great pride in the diversity of our construction portfolio and attribute our continued success to our clients’ satisfaction.

linkedin.com/company/ j-h--findorff-&-son-inc-/

COOL CUSTOMERS

@Findorff

youtube.com/channel/ UCQBv5psAQPQyBq1aVEt-K7w

Employees: Office: 200; Field: 700

Year founded: 1890

President: Dave Beck-Engel

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STUFF SC | Spring 2019

»» 88 Apprentices currently work for Findorff »» Findorff’s Apprentices work side-by-side Journeymen to gain real-world and hands-on experiences in their chosen trades »» Since 2015, Findorff has employed 12 High School Juniors and Seniors through the State’s Youth Apprenticeship Program »» 3 Core Values: Character, Community & Craftsmanship »» Findorff employs field personnel in the following six trades: Carpentry, Concrete, Demolition, Drywall, Masonry & Structural Steel »» Average project size is $3.4 million »» Voted Best Commercial Builder 17 Times by InBusiness magazine

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS A variety of professions are vital to a project and Findorff’s success. They include project managers, safety and field leaders, engineers, accountants, marketing, virtual construction specialists, and many more! By joining the construction industry, you will help shape communities across the region, and have a rewarding career that offers variety and growth opportunities.

Findorff serves a variety of clients in different market sectors from minor renovations to new construction. We do projects of all sizes working with developers, financial institutions, educational facilities, healthcare environments, and sciences and technology spaces.

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$30k-$40k starter

CESAR ESPINOZA ORTIZ

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »» Apprenticeships are open to anyone 18 years of age or older »» High school diploma or equivalent »» Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation »» 3- or 4-year paid apprenticeship (includes both on-the-job training and classroom instruction) »» Physically able to perform trade SKILLS »» Strong work ethic »» Positive attitude »» Good communication »» Problem solving »» Team player »» Dependable

CARPENTER APPRENTICE

WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? My uncle, who was a Carpenter Foreman at Findorff, introduced me to the Company and the trades. Being a Carpenter Apprentice is a physical job, so it’s great if you’re not the type to sit at a desk all day. I’ve gained carpentry skills by learning how to follow plans and use a variety of tools and machinery all while doing meaningful work in helping to construct buildings.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? Not only is Findorff helping me to become financially secure, but I get to learn life-long skills in carpentry.

MOEKO KOMODA

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »» A degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering or other Engineering discipline »» A passion for construction SKILLS »» Excellent communication and relationship building skills »» Math, critical thinking, analytical aptitude, and attention to detail CAREER PATH OF A PROJECT MANAGER »» Intern or Co-op (while in school) »» Project Engineer (college graduate) »» Assistant Project Manager »» Project Manager »» Senior Project Manager

PROJECT ENGINEER WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? I use a lot of critical thinking skills, math, and science to solve problems while contributing to the community I live in with amazing buildings. I had no idea about this career path when I originally started school. Later, I found the Civil Engineering degree and the Construction Management Program combines my interest in business with building physical spaces that others can use and appreciate.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? What I like about Findorff is that I get to work alongside a lot of talented people who are passionate about construction, while growing my career in the industry. It’s so much fun to see the pride and craftmanship that goes into the building process, and the satisfaction of seeing a finished building and contributing to the community in a very hands-on way. I get to interact with lots of different people and found the construction industry is full of interesting people.

$60k-$80k experienced

$80k-$100k expert

Career Ladder 5 $

SUPERINTENDENT

85,000-$100,000

4 CARPENTER FOREMAN $

80,000

3 JOURNEYMAN CARPENTER $

72,000

2 CARPENTER APPRENTICE $

45,000

1 CARPENTER PRE-APPRENTICE $

36,000

CONTACT Renee Boyce | HR Director (608) 257-5321 | hr@findorff.com biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

29

Health Insurance Dental Insurance Flexible Spending Account Life Insurance Disability Insurance Bonuses Vacation Dependent Care Reimbursement Wellness Program Tuition Reimbursement Private Fitness Center Profit Sharing

INFO

WHO WE ARE

FUN STUFF

GOEX is the industry leader in extruding quality custom rigid plastic sheet and roll stock products. Fully-integrated and technologically-advanced, GOEX provides customers with quality extruded plastic products specifically designed to meet the demands of their particular marketplace.

At GOEX, celebrating who we are and what we do is important.

With bi-annual safety cookouts, holiday parties, company-wide potlucks, and even a chili cook-off, it’s clear that we like to share food, fun and each others’ company.

STUFF WE MAKE »» GRAPHICS- our materials are used in many durable and unique signage and P.O.P. display applications

802 US Hwy 14 East Janesville, WI 53545

»» MEDICAL-meeting the highest standards and demanding requirements of the medical thermoforming market

(608) 754-3303

goex.com

»» FOOD- our controlled environment places a strong emphasis on quality and food safety practices for food packaging

facebook.com/ goexqualitycustomplastic

linkedin.com/company/goex

Employees: 190

Year founded: 1990

Chairman/CEO: Joshua D. Gray

30

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

»» CONSUMER- creating functional and appealing solutions

COOL CUSTOMERS From the largest food- and medical-packaging companies to the printing industry and beyond, GOEX serves customers worldwide.

Our “GOEXperience Everything” committee, an employee run group whose purpose is to drive engagement and camaraderie, plans and coordinates activities like Fitness Challenges, offsite trips, golf outings, and community food and toy drives.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS At GOEX, we take pride in maintaining one of the cleanest manufacturing settings, within a state-of-the-art facility and have earned a solid reputation as an innovative plastic extrusion company. We are proud of the quality of our products and people, and know that our success is dependent on our commitment to continuous improvement. GOEX provides onsite training, paid off-site training, and educational assistance so that team members are able to advance within the company. We know that our people in: Manufacturing, Customer Service, Logistics, Accounting, Quality, Engineering, IT, and more make GOEX possible.

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$23-$24.50 starter

MARK DAVIES PRODUCTION LEAD

AGE: 31 | YEARS AT COMPANY: 3 WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES?

$24.50-$26 experienced

$26-$28/hr expert

Beyond making sure day-to-day activities go smoothly, I try to set a good example for others on the floor. I also drive continuous improvement and development of my team members.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? I was working in construction and wanted out of the weather when this job caught my eye. It was also important to me to be part of a company that’s growing. The unique production schedule here works well with my family life, working only 50% of the days in the year. I like the day-to-day operations involving me in all manufacturing job duties and being a part of a process from receiving raw materials to shipping a finished product. To me, a 12-hour day feels only like an 8-hour day. Every day is different, with nothing repetitive about it. And advanced technology makes me want to understand even more. I appreciate the team environment and learning from fellow co-workers who help turn weaknesses into strengths. Best of all, GOEX has helped me achieve Six Sigma Green Belt certification.

Career Ladder

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS Minimum high school degree or equivalent. Integrity and honesty. Ability to work as part of a team. Strong leadership skills and abilities. Additional education may be required for specific positions and is provided as needed throughout a career.

SKILLS Ability to navigate in a computerized document control system. Understanding of equipment and processing. Be able to make quality decisions on production lines. Understand the safety hazards of the job and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and other procedures to ensure products are consistently produced according to quality specifications.

WHAT YOU’LL DO Lead a dedicated production team to extrude quality plastic sheet in a controlled environment with strong emphasis on quality and safety practices that meet the highest standards and demanding requirements of the markets we serve utilizing technology and training for continuous improvement.

CAREER PATH Mark started at GOEX as a Material Handler and was quickly promoted based on his ability to lead others and drive performance. Currently, Mark holds one of our (newly created) Production Lead positions.

5 V.P. MANUFACTURING

4 PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR $

56K-$78K

3 PRODUCTION LEAD $

23-$24.50/HR

2 EXTRUSION TECHNICIAN $

18.50-$21.50/HR

1 MATERIAL HANDLER $

16-$18/HR

CONTACT Dana Neal | HR Manager (608) 373-7156 | dneal@goex.com | linkedin.com/company/goex

biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

31

Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Account

COOL CUSTOMERS

Life Insurance

Bonuses

»» »» »» »» »»

Vacation

FUN STUFF

Disability Insurance 401(k)

Wellness Program Tuition Reimbursement Apprenticeships/Internships

INFO

WHO WE ARE John Deere Horicon Works is a premier manufacturer of Premium Lawn Tractors and Utility Vehicles known as the Gator. Horicon Works is the Ag & Turf Division of John Deere.

We employee just over 1300 employees, and have been committed to our customers, employees, and our community for over 108 years. Our Core values include Quality, Commitment, Integrity, and Innovation. Our core competencies are in Welding, Press Operation and Assembly.

300 N Vine St Horicon, WI 53032

STUFF WE MAKE

(920) 485-4411

deere.com

»» »» »» »»

facebook.com/JohnDeere

linkedin.com/company/john-deere

youtube.com/JohnDeere

Employees: 1,300

Habitat for Humanity Horicon Marsh Clean Up Company Christmas Party John Deere Family Days Reality Check at High Schools United Way Fundraisers Food Truck Days World Hunger Day

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

Assembly Welding Press Operations Pipefitter Tool & Die Maker Machine Maintenance Mechanic Electrical Machine Maintenance Apprenticeships Internships

@JohnDeereJobs

Year founded: 1911

CEO: Sam Allen

32

Gator Military Gator Riding Lawn Equipment Snow Blowers and Attachments

»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

Farmers Military Golf Courses Hunters Recreational and Events

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$50,000 starter

$65,000

TRINITI MICEK

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »» BS degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering »» Experience in a manufacturing environment »» Being able to communicate effectively SKILLS »» Understanding of the facilities environmental permits and sampling requirements »» Knowledge of EMS standards and their application to production/nonproduction activities »» RCRA & DOT certified »» Familiarity with SharePoint, 3E and SAP platforms WHAT YOU’LL DO Continually ensure the health/safety of our employees and the communities both in Horicon and downstream. It’s everyone’s responsibility to be an environmental steward for future generations to come.

WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? I ensure the facility is compliant with permits and regulations while managing the various environmental programs such as water, waste, etc.

I also perform environmental training to support the facility.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? Working for Deere has meant the world to me not only advancing my skills and career but also making me a well-rounded individual. Deere makes you feel like family and the people who work here are genuine and kindhearted. Communication and being a people person are some of my greatest skills which help me build relationships. Also, I enjoy using my engineering skills to solve problems. We have two separate facilities and a test site which makes for a busy day. Being able to rely on employees to bring issues to my attention is a major factor in creating a successful environmental program to support facilities.

SKILLS »» GMAW hard wire welding »» Fanuc Robotics Operator »» Certifying Welders »» Community outreach WHAT YOU’LL DO In a day I will train new employees how to manual weld, and operate weld power supplies. Teach employees how to operate and troubleshoot robotic weld cells. I also perform weld technician duties such as robotic programming and troubleshooting robotic issues.

$80,000 expert

Career Ladder

CALEB MAMEROW

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »»Welding/Shop Classes in High School »»High School Diploma

experienced

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

WELD FACILITATOR WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? I teach new employees the fundamentals of welding like blueprint reading, weld processes/symbols, how to MIG weld and operate robot cells to produce a quality product in a safe environment.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? In the past 6 years I have grown my skills as an welder and advanced my career. Working for a company that allows me to continue to grow and better myself has been a great experience. My current role allows me to not only train new employees, but talk to high school students about career opportunities in the skill trades.

3 SUPERVISOR $

80,000

2 WELD FACILITATOR $

65,000

1 ENTRY LEVEL WELDER $

50,000

CONTACT Corrine Marsh | HR Director (920) 485-5627 | JDHoriconHiringGroup@johndeere.com | linkedIn.com/company/john-deere biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

33

Health Insurance Dental Insurance Flexible Spending Account Life Insurance

STUFF WE MAKE

Disability Insurance

Metalcraft offers a wide range of pre- and post fabrication services including: »» CAD/CAM engineering and design - 26 Pro-E/Creo Work Stations »» Precision tooling »» Complete assembly of your product »» Machining »» Conventional and Powder Painting

401(k) Bonuses Vacation Flexible Workplace Tuition Reimbursement

COOL CUSTOMERS

Dependent Care Reimbursement Wellness Program

INFO 1000 Metalcraft Drive Mayville, WI 53050

WHO WE ARE At Metalcraft of Mayville, our business philosophy combines four basic elements: »» Unwavering Quality »» On-time Delivery »» Unmatched Value »» Commitment to Continually Improving our Processes and Quality Each Metalcraft of Mayville employee knows that a total commitment to the businesses we serve is a vital part of our ongoing success.

(920) 387-3150

mtlcraft.com

Our skilled metal fabricators and precision machinists take pride in Metalcraft’s outstanding reputation.....a reputation built around the satisfied customer.

facebook.com/mtlcraft

Corporate Objectives: God, Customers, Employees, Stockholders

linkedin.com/company/metalcraft-of-mayville/

@MayvilleMtl Employees: 800+

Year founded: 1973

Chairman/CEO: Martin Gallun

34

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

Many of our customers are Fortune 500 companies from the construction, agriculture, military, material handling and outdoor power equipment industries.

FUN STUFF »» »» »» »» »»

Recognition cookouts Company prizes/giveaways Service Award Recognition Program Companywide Appreciation Events Annual Golf Outing

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

Production Supervisor Assembler General Manufacturing Paint line Helper Tool Designer/Tool Room Manager Production Helper Powder Painter Brake Press Operator Machine Center Operator Robot/Manual Welder

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$28,000 starter

JASON BRUESCH MANUAL WELDER

AGE: 44 | YEARS AT COMPANY: 2 WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES?

$56,000

experienced

$84,000+ expert

As a Manual Welder, I am primarily responsible for operating one or more weld machines to fabricate metal parts or assemblies to specifications on a production level.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? This job and working for Metalcraft of Mayville has allowed me to develop my job into a career. Utilizing their Continuing Education program, I have been able to develop my manufacturing experience while attending Moraine Park Technical College to become an engineer. This allows me to directly apply what I’m learning in my courses to my everyday work. I have even been fortunate enough to work closely with engineers at my plant on various side projects to further my skill set.

I also know that I work for an employer that has a proven track record of investing in the latest technologies to stay on the cutting edge of manufacturing performance. We’ve recently expanded our facilities, added new lasers, new paint equipment, and many other additions.

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS Welders are vital to our business in order to get our customers the products they need.

They must possess strong attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to multi-task. Welders are uniquely efficient and take pride in their work day in and day out.

Career Ladder 5 ENGINEERING MANAGER

4 ENGINEER

SKILLS »» Perform basic MIG, TIG, and aluminum welding techniques »» Know and follow WPS weld standards »» Effectively be able to respond to change »» A passion for quality and attention to detail

3 ENGINEERING INTERN

WHAT YOU’LL DO Working on the warehouse floor, Welders work hands-on with a variety of parts and products for our customers. They are constantly working to meet the production demands of our customers. As a part of the overall team, they are relied on to provide feedback from proof to production to improve overall manufacturing efforts.

CAREER PATH A Welder at Metalcraft of Mayville not only becomes a career of its own through years of experience but also opens doors to manufacturing as a whole. Continuing Education programs are available to all employees looking to gain higher level certifications and degrees in their line of work.

2 PROJECT MANAGER

1 MANUAL/ROBOTIC WELDER

CONTACT Diane Goodrich | Mayville HR Manager (920) 387-3150 | dgoodric@mtlcraft.com | facebook.com/mtlcraft

biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

35

Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Account

COOL CUSTOMERS

Life Insurance

Bonuses

»» »» »» »» »»

Vacation

FUN STUFF

Disability Insurance 401(k)

Sick (paid time) Tuition Reimbursement Apprenticeships/Internships Apprentice Paid Schooling

WHO WE ARE MPI is a global leader in the technology of fineblanking.

Since 1977, MPI Wisconsin Division has grown steadily under stable leadership, sound business practices, and a fun culture that strives to be the best within our industry.

The core of our organizational strength resides in the knowledge, dedication, and values of our people. Today, MPI is a best-in-class supplier of sophisticated metal components to a broad scope of industries: automotive, agricultural, appliance, & heavy equipment.

INFO 101 N. Grand Ave. Deerfield, WI 53531

(608) 764-5416

mpiproducts.com

Employees: 385

Year founded: 1977

President: Steve Crain

36

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

STUFF WE MAKE »» Internal components of automotive engines & transmissions »» Valve plates for hydraulic pumps and air conditioning units »» Transmission plates for agricultural equipment »» Hinge brackets for commercial and high-end appliances

Ford, GM, Chrysler Bosch Danfoss John Deere Subzero

MPI is very active in the local and community at large.

We are involved in community events sponsoring teams in an anual Chili cook-off, homecoming parade, Halloween and Christmas activities for kids, and bikes for kids. MPI is active in the curriculum of Madison College’s Machine Tool, Apprenticeship, and Electro-Mechanical programs. We also have annual company outings to Madison Capitols hockey games, Madison Mallards baseball, and company picnic at Wisconsin Dells water parks. We also sponsor 3 blood drives per year with the American Red Cross.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS At MPI Wisconsin Division, we don’t provide jobs, we develop careers! We offer training and advancement for those at an entry level or with experience and opportunities to grow in a vast assortment of technical professions. Exercise your mind and creativity with hands-on development in the fields of: »» »» »» »» »» »»

Tool & Die Making Industrial Electrician Design Engineering Machine Technicians/CNC Operators & Programmers Apprenticeships Electro Mechanical Engineering

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$38,900 starter

REQUIREMENTS Show ambition and drive to learn no matter where you start within the company. Basic work skills including adhering to safe practices, attendance, quality and timeliness. Go to school in a Machine Tool program at a local technical college through MPI tuition reimbursement. Then show an openness to active learning from MPI experienced journeymen in the Tool & Die field.

SKILLS MPI provides every employee that walks in the door an opportunity for a career pathing plan.

If an individual presents serious dedication to education, we offer them an opportunity to get into the department or trade of their choice.

SKILLS Like tool and die and other career opportunities, MPI provides every employee that walks in the door an opportunity for a career pathing plan.

If an individual presents serious dedication to education & development, we offer them an opportunity to get into the department or trade of their choice.

experienced

TOOL AND DIE MAKER TRAINEE

$70,000

WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? Operating tool room grinders, drill presses, milling machines, assisting in building and repairing dies, and training for the tool and die trade.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? I started out just looking for a job, but at MPI I found a career. What I love about working here is you can be anything you want to be, if you have the ambition and drive. Being a female at MPI, I have not run into being valued less than the guys, only encouragement. You are paid for your performance, not your gender or other demographics. I took my time figuring out where I wanted to take my career and have now found my niche, as I am going to school at Madison College through the company tuition reimbursement program and will soon get an opportunity to become an apprentice in the Tool and Die trade.

expert

Career Ladder

LOUIS HEBERLEIN

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS Show ambition and drive to learn no matter where you start within the company. Basic work skills including adhering to safe practices, attendance, quality and timeliness. Then show an openness to active learning from MPI experienced journeymen in the Industrial Electrical field. Ask questions and discuss the work with instructors, supervisors, and co-workers to ensure the work you provide is meeting the expectations of the team.

$53,600

SARA MOSHER

THE JOB:

4

INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICIAN APPRENTICE WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? I am Industrial Electrician apprentice through MPI and the state of Wisconsin’s Industrial Electrician Program. I assist in the wiring, trouble shooting, and building of equipment and electrical systems.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? I went to school initially at Southwestern Tech in Electro-Mechanical Technology. I heard an MPI radio ad, that offered a chance at career development, which intrigued me. Having some education, starting off, I was placed in maintenance, just doing basic general duties. That changed quickly however, I am now being paid to go to school and train in the Industrial Electrician field. Everyday is an interesting new challenge and adventure.

My pay is above what most people my age make & also in this profession.

I get involved in company activities and the little perks also go a long way.

Long-term I want to get my Journeyman’s card and then get my master’s license. All are available to me at MPI.

TOOL AND DIE LEADPERSON $

70,800

3 JOURNEY TOOL & DIE MAKER $

67,300

2 JOURNEY TOOL & DIE MAKER $

53,600

1 TOOL AND DIE APPRENTICE $

38,900

CONTACT Jim Cestkowski | HR Manager (608) 764-5416 x 100 | hrwi@mpiproducts.com biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

37

Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Account Life Insurance Disability Insurance 401(k) Bonuses Vacation Wellness Program Tuition Reimbursement Apprenticeships/Internships

INFO 1060 Teel Ct. Baraboo, WI 53913

(608) 355-3080

teel.com/

linkedin.com/company/teelplastics youtube.com/company/teelplastics

Employees: 250

Year founded: 1951

President: Tom Thompson

38

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

WHO WE ARE

FUN STUFF

Teel Plastics is a leading manufacturer of custom plastic tubing and profiles, due to the expertise of their distinguished, skilled team. For over 60 years, Teel has demonstrated technical prowess paired with a can-do attitude and delivers with considerable knowledge of materials. Along with an ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 accredited analytical laboratory, Teel produces high-quality custom tubing in a wide variety of sizes with tight tolerances and specializes in complex projects. Teel is headquartered in Baraboo, WI.

»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

STUFF WE MAKE »» »» »» »» »»

Film winding cores Plastic Pipe Tubing Medical Devices Cosmetic Pencils

Opportunities for Advancement Training and Investing in Employees Quality Work Environment Leadership Programs and Classes Technically Advanced Systems Strong Customer Base Community Involvement Teel Events

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS »» Operator Packer »» Operator Technician I »» Operator Technician II

COOL CUSTOMERS »» »» »» »» »»

Fortune 500 Companies Medical Device Manufacturers Automotive Manufacturers Cosmetic Companies Utilities

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$13.25/hr starter

$15.00/hr

AARON LANGE

experienced

OPERATIONS PLANNER

$18.60/hr

AGE: 29 | YEARS AT COMPANY: 8 WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? »»Take orders from customers »»Schedule production lines for efficiency »»Generate quotes for new products »»Maintain our ERP system’s data for accurate forecasting »»Coordinate with purchasing to ensure supplies are available WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? Working for Teel has been a very rewarding experience. I started working in Teel’s Production Department, packaging and measuring products. I was able to work my way up through multiple positions to become a Production Supervisor within a few years. Due to the experience I had gained, I had an opportunity to transition into a new role – Operations Planner. In this role, I have gained a lot of knowledge about the plastics industry and how manufacturing is managed. Teel has facilitated numerous training opportunities for me through on-the-job training, classes focused on building strong leadership habits and Lean manufacturing. Teel is a company that is very involved in their community. They take excellent care of their employees and challenge team members to grow and drive their own development.

expert

Career Ladder

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »» Reading, writing, communication, and math skills at a level normally found in high school graduates or equivalent »» Technical skills »» Follow the direction set by the set-up sheet »» Ability to identify problems, and trouble-shooting »» Know how to use gages and use statistical process controls.

SKILLS »» Operate, and troubleshoot assigned lines »» Assemble the new tooling on the line. »» Start up the line and size it in. »» Do the capability studies and if the parts are in the proper range of PC and CPK

4 OPERATOR TECHNICIAN III $

24.60-$30.05

3 OPERATOR TECHNICIAN II $

18.60-$22.70

2 OPERATOR TECHNICIAN I $

15.00-$18.20

1 OPERATOR PACKER $

13.25-$16.20

CONTACT Kelly Bowden | HR Coordinator (608) 355-4516 | kbowden@teel.com

biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

39

Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Account

COOL CUSTOMERS

Life Insurance

Large fortune 500 OEMs such as Caterpillar, Cummins, Generac, and Skyjack just to name a few

Disability Insurance

FUN STUFF

401(k) Match up to 4%

At United Alloy, everyone is treated like family and we like to keep things fun and interesting. In doing so, UA hosts an annual golf outing for all employees, there is a Holiday party with a large gift raffle every year, and pizza parties are a very common occurrence here.

Bonuses Vacation (paid time off) Sick (paid time)

WHO WE ARE

Tuition Reimbursement

United Alloy, Inc. (UA) is a serial production metal fabrication and powder coating company. UA produces complex weldments for companies that are in the power generation, agricultural, construction, and industrial sectors. UA truly is a welding company at heart but with our knowledge in the metal fabrication design and engineering, we can be an extension to our customer’s design teams.

INFO 4100 Kennedy Rd Janesville, WI 53545

(608) 758-4717

unitedalloy.com

linkedin.com/company/ united-alloy-inc/about

Employees: 300

Year founded: 1999

President: Tom Baer

40

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES/ BENEFITS As a growing company, we are seeking MIG Welders, Metal Fabricators, Laser Operators, Design Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and Automation Technicians

STUFF WE MAKE »» Diesel fuel tanks that range from 100 gallons to 10,000 gallons »» Structural base frames for large industrial equipment »» Purpose built trailers that have equipment mounted to the top, such as a generator »» United Alloy also boasts the US’s largest powder coat paint booth allowing us to paint “The Big Stuff”

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

$18-$22/hr starter

DOMINC STELTER

SHIPPING COORDINATOR

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »» GED or equivalent »» 4-5 years of shipping/logistics experience preferred SKILLS »» Forklift and material handling experience »» Strong attention to detail and detail oriented »» Communication skills

WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? Stage our tanks and other products for shipment and then call in trucks for pick up. I’ll create pack lists for the drivers and ensure that the products are secured while loaded.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? United Alloy is expanding and growing fast! They introduce new products all of the time which keeps me challenged every day as each product is packaged differently. It’s a place that I can laugh with both coworkers and management but at the same time get our products shipped out. I enjoy the people that I work with!

RUSSELL BACKUS

WELDER/FABRICATOR/ CWI

THE JOB: REQUIREMENTS »» GED or equivalent »» At least one-year related experience or a Welding Tech School degree »» Ability to read blueprints »» Metal fabrication knowledge SKILLS Skills needed to be a welder include having mechanical aptitude and being good with your hands. If you were really into legos as a child, this is a good sign! The ability to read blueprints, read a tape measure as well as use a digital caliper is crucial as well. United Alloy will teach you the rest!

WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES? I Carefully fabricate and tack parts together in reference to the project’s blueprints.

Then, weld the product using a pulse GMAW process, checking for leaks and flaws afterward.

WHAT DOES THIS JOB AND WORKING AT THIS COMPANY MEAN TO YOU? United Alloy, Inc. (UA) has provided me with a great work environment, supplying me with the tools, fantastic welding equipment, overhead cranes, fork trucks, weld gear and everything else I need to be successful on the job. I have also been given the support and opportunity to grow as a fabricator, learning new skills to help the company grow as well. Additionally, UA has allowed me to reach some of my personal goals such as learning how to operate different manufacturing machinery and obtain my CWI license.

I feel a great sense of pride and joy knowing that the products I’ve helped to manufacture will soon be used in the field for power generation, ground heaters, air compressors, manlifts and other equipment used in the trades or to assist in areas recently affected by natural disasters.

$22-$25/hr experienced

$25-$27/hr expert

Career Ladder 5 OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

4 WELD LEAD

3 CERT. WELDING INSPECTOR

2 FIELD SERVICE TECH

1 WELDER

CONTACT Kelli Woodruff-Stowe | HR Manager (608) 758-4717 | kwstowe@unitedalloy.com biztimes.com/stuff | STUFF SC

41

C AREER FAIR

CAREER FAIR Find out more about which jobs the companies in your community

Career Fair

are seeking to fill. Career fairs are great practice for interview situations, too. You might even make a connection that could land you a job. Add these events to your

FEBRUARY

APRIL

calendar today.

CAR E E R FAI R TI P S

MILWAUKEE JOB FAIR

JOB FAIR

Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 3, 9 a.m. to noon

Doubletree by Hilton - Brookfield 18155 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield

Parker High School 3125 Mineral Point Ave., Janesville

THE MULTI-PROFESSION DIVERSITY JOB FAIR OF MADISON

« Always bring copies of your resume and be ready to make your pitch.

« Dress as you would for a formal job interview.

« Keep track of who you

MARCH

April 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Madison 525 W. Johnson St., Madison

JOB FAIR OF MILWAUKEE

JOB FAIR

March 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 25, 9 a.m. to noon

Embassy Suites by Hilton Milwaukee Brookfield 1200 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield

Milton High School 114 W. High Street, Milton

talk to and send follow-up emails

MILWAUKEE CAREER FAIR March 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Doubletree by Hilton - Brookfield 18155 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

HIRING EVENT

DANE COUNTY REGIONAL JOB FAIR

May 9, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

March 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Community Action Pathways Center 27 Eclipse Center, Beloit

Alliant Energy Center 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison 42

MAY

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

JUNE

SEPTEMBER

HIRING EVENT

HIRING EVENT

June 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sept. 11, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Rock County Job Center 1900 Center Ave., Janesville

Rock County Job Center 1900 Center Ave., Janesville

HIRING EVENT Sept. 17, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m Workforce Development Center of Jefferson County | 847 Collins Road, Jefferson

JULY

OCTOBER

HIRING EVENT July 10, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

HIRING EVENT

Community Action Pathways Center 27 Eclipse Center, Beloit

Oct. 9, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m..

Community Action Pathways Center 27 Eclipse Center, Beloit

The most important things to remember are:

HIRING EVENT

BEFORE:

July 18, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring copies of your

Workforce Development Center of Jefferson County 847 Collins Road, Jefferson

NOVEMBER

resume, dress in business casual and practice answers for the types of questions that will come up.

HIRING EVENT

AUGUST Rock County Job Center 1900 Center Ave., Janesville

Pay close attention

Rock County Job Center 1900 Center Ave., Janesville

to who you talk to, and always take business cards when they are offered.

HIRING EVENT Aug. 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DURING:

Nov. 13, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

DECEMBER

AFTER: Follow up with a phone call to the

DANE COUNTY REGIONAL JOB FAIR

HIRING EVENT

Aug. 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dec. 11, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

connected with the next day

Alliant Energy Center 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison

Rock County Job Center 1900 Center Ave., Janesville

company.

people and companies you to show your interest in their

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

43

RESOURCES

R e s ou r ce s f or s t u d ent s , s ch o o ls & emplo y ers Your one-stop listing of useful programs for students, educators and employers of tomorrow’s workforce in southeastern Wisconsin.

S T U FF FO R H I G H SC H O O L STUDENTS CAREER CRUISING

careercruising.com All Wisconsin students can access career-related assessments, career and college profiles, and information about financial aid and employment.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION – ACADEMIC & CAREER PLANNING

dpi.wi.gov/acp Equips students with tools to make informed choices about postsecondary education and training.

DREAM IT. DO IT. – WISCONSIN

dreamitdoitwi.com Dream it. Do It’s focus is to increase awareness of the career opportunities available in manufacturing.

SkillsUSA

skillsusa.org A partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

WCTC DUAL ENROLLMENT ACADEMY

wctc.edu/dual-enroll Trains high school seniors in high-demand fields while they earn college credits through WCTC. WISCONSIN DUAL ENROLLMENT

dpi.wi.gov/dual-enrollment High school students can attend a Wisconsin postsecondary institution for high school and college credit at no cost while earning college and high school credits.

WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNIT Y PROGRAMS

dpi.wi.gov/weop Provides college and career readiness programs, resources and support for young adults.

S T U FF FO R CAREER PL A N N I N G CAREER INFONET

careeronestop.org Information for career exploration, training and jobs.

CAREER OUTLOOK

bls.gov/careeroutlook Government-provided data and information on occupations and industries, pay and benefits.

HENDRICKS CAREERTEK

hendrickscareertek.org Provides career education and opportunities to youth in the greater Beloit area.

44

STUFF SC | Spring 2019

JOB CENTER OF WISCONSIN

jobcenterofwisconsin.com Current job openings as reported by employers throughout Wisconsin.

JOB UP WISCONSIN

jobupwisconsin.com Answers to questions on career planning, marketing yourself, job search and emotional support.

LIVECAREER

livecareer.com Articles on job search, salary negotiation & career advice.

MY SKILLS MY FUTURE

myskillsmyfuture.org Compare careers, find training and search for jobs.

O*NET ONLINE

onetonline.org Job and skills search tools.

WAYUP

wayup.com Advice, tips and articles for students to assist in getting hired.

WISCONNECT INTERNSHIP COORDINATION

internshipwisconsin.com Connects employers & students interested in internships.

WISCONSIN AHEC HEALTH CAREERS

wihealthcareers.org Information on health careers in Wisconsin.

WISCONSIN TECHCONNECT

wisconsintechconnect.com Statewide online employment system for Wisconsin Technical College students and graduates.

WisCONOMY

wisconomy.com Job search and employment information for the state of Wisconsin.

S T U FF FO R E M PLOY E R S MADISON REGION ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

madisonregion.org Collaborates with state agencies on economic development initiatives within counties, municipalities, chambers of commerce and the private sector.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS

nahb.org Member organization serving America’s housing industry since the early 1940s.

A PRODUCT OF BIZTIMES MEDIA

S T U FF FO R E D U C ATO R S

SOCIET Y FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

shrm.org Promotes HR as a profession and provides education, certification and networking to members.

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

dwd.wisconsin.gov Building and strengthening Wisconsin’s workforce through job training and employment assistance.

WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

inwisconsin.com Leading economic development efforts for the state by providing resources to companies and communities.

WISCONSIN FAST FORWARD GRANTS

wisconsinfastforward.com Grants to support employer-led worker training projects.

WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS & COMMERCE

wmc.org Wisconsin’s business voice since 1911, representing more than 3,800 member companies.

WISCONSIN MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP

wmep.org Specialized nonprofit organization providing targeted consulting services to small- and medium-sized manufacturers within its service territory in Wisconsin.

ADVANCING AI WISCONSIN

advancingaiwisconsin.com Initiative to increase awareness of digital disruption technologies and their impact on Wisconsin businesses.

GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

wi-cwi.org Aiding Wisconsin employers in finding the workers they need and providing training resources.

HIGHER ED S T U FF

DANE COUNT Y SCHOOL CONSORTIUM

dcsc.org The DCSC works with Dane County school districts and statewide programs to offer educational opportunities related to career exploration.

FUTURE READY SCHOOLS

futureready.org Helps K-12 school leaders plan and implement personalized, research-based digital learning strategies.

GPS EDUCATION PARTNERS

gpsed.org Manufacturing-specific, statewide Department of Workforce Development Youth Apprenticeship program.

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

blackhawk.edu GATEWAY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

gtc.edu MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE

madisoncollege.edu MORAINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

morainepark.edu UNIVERSIT Y OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

wisc.edu UNIVERSIT Y OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER

uww.edu

PATHWAYS WISCONSIN

dpi.wi.gov/pathways-wisconsin Education and training beyond high school, including early work experience, skills development and postsecondary credentials.

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

pltw.org Offers transformative learning experiences for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. STEM 101

stem101.org Provides 21st-century, career-minded curriculum.

STEM FORWARD

stemforward.org Programs to inspire youth to pursue STEM careers and provide a pipeline of talent to businesses.

TEALS

tealsk12.org Microsoft Philanthropies’ Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) helps high schools build computer science programs.

REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP

wisconsinapprenticeship.org Helps employers address the ongoing need for a highly skilled workforce.

biztimes.com/stuffsc | STUFF SC

45

BUILDING your

future CAREER EXPLORATION

• Job shadowing • Job preparation and placement assistance • Hands-on career exploration academies

CRAFTSMAN/ CRAFTSWOMAN WITH CHARACTER • Extended job shadowing with local trades professionals • High school and technical college credit

HEALTH SCIENCES/NURSING

• • • • •

CNA certification (tuition support) CPR/AED training Field trips Health care academies Teen medical academy

SUMMER CAREER EXPLORATION ACADEMIES AND MORE!

625 Third St Suite 200 Beloit, WI

hendrickscareertek.org