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http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=52253

Northwest Indiana to Host Manufacturing Event

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

The National Association of Manufacturers will hold an event in northwest Indiana aimed at educating parents, students and teachers about careers in manufacturing and logistics. The organization says the program is designed to correct a "false perception" about factory and warehouse jobs.

February 16, 2012

News Release

The Dream It Do It Campaign, developed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), is expanding its initiative into Northwest Indiana with the local High School Champion Initiative through the partnership of the Center of Workforce Innovations and Conexus Indiana. The objective of the High School Champion initiative is to instill career awareness among Northwest Indiana parents, students, and teachers related to the manufacturing and logistics industries.

According to extensive research by NAM and others, the main impediment to young people entering the workforce, which boasts a large number of high-tech and manufacturing-based in-demand careers, is a false perception in regards to the kind of jobs in factories and warehouses and skill level requirements.

Individuals from education and economic development are encouraged to attend an event on Tuesday, February 28th, addressing the workforce challenges in the manufacturing industry and the impact education has.

The event will take place at Sullair in Michigan City and will provide an update on the Conexus curriculum and why NAM endorses. Event will cover the job skills challenges Sullair is addressing; power of WorkKeys ® assessments; and an introduction of the local High School Champions sharing what they will be doing to support the initiative. Presenters include: Claudia Cummings-Conexus Indiana, Mark Maassel-Northwest Indiana Forum, Chancellor Jim Dworkin-Purdue North Central, Dr. Brent Martinson-Hobart High School, Henry Brooks-Sullair Corporation, Linda Woloshansky-Center of Workforce Innovations.

Partners for this event include Conexus Indiana, the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, the Center of Workforce Innovations, and BP Amoco.

Source: Center of Workforce Innovations