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Seeing almost 1,200 area students gather at the Peoria Civic Center for Wednesday's Discover Manufacturing Central Illinois Career Expo made Steve Stewart's day.
"This is more than we expected. We had 850 students attend last year," said the director of human resources at Excel Foundry & Machine in Pekin.
A driving force behind the manufacturing series since it was initiated three years ago, Stewart said the idea is to expose young people to manufacturing opportunities in the area.
Students toured regional manufacturing companies on Wednesday morning before attending a mini trade expo at the Civic Center, where they heard more about job opportunities from U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, and Ron Riekena of Caterpillar Inc.
Lori Prichard, a business teacher at Morton High School who serves as the coordinator of the school's co-op program, said the tour she made with some 100 Morton High School students to Morton Industries was enlightening.
Students also toured the Excel foundry, Premier Fabrication in Congerville, Parsons Co. in Roanoke, Caterpillar in East Peoria as well as BTD and Illinois Plastics, both of Washington.
"The students are always amazed at the work that goes on in these plants. The purpose is to expose students to the types of jobs that are out there and to see it from all vantage points," Prichard said.
For Excel CEO Doug Parsons, educating people about manufacturing is a priority.
"There's still a huge need to find enough talent. It's been frustrating," he said, referring to positions at Excel that remain unfilled because of a shortage of qualified applicants.
"We have to change the image of manufacturing as a 'smokestack job.' That's the message we need to get back to the parents."
Students such as Whittney Adams, a senior at Peoria Heights High School, said there was a lot to see at the expo. "I learned that welding is more than just blueprints. I like the painting part of it."
Skylar Lane, a junior at Pekin Community High School, said he was looking seriously at a manufacturing career. "There's more to manufacturing than people think. I've wanted to get involved since my freshman year."
Schock asked students to think seriously about a career in manufacturing rather than blindly incur the debt associated with attending college.
"Fifty percent of the people who graduated last May are still unemployed. Yet there are 400 to 500 jobs open today in this area in manufacturing," he said.
Area plants not only offer students good pay but training and the opportunity for advancement, Schock said.
Michael Sloan, dean of Agriculture and Industrial Technology at Illinois Central College, reminded students "to make sure the conversation continues" when deciding on a career choice at their respective schools.
Steve Tarter can be reached at 686-3260 or starter@pjstar.com. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter.
Seeing almost 1,200 area students gather at the Peoria Civic Center for Wednesday's Discover Manufacturing Central Illinois Career Expo made Steve Stewart's day.
"This is more than we expected. We had 850 students attend last year," said the director of human resources at Excel Foundry & Machine in Pekin.
A driving force behind the manufacturing series since it was initiated three years ago, Stewart said the idea is to expose young people to manufacturing opportunities in the area.
Students toured regional manufacturing companies on Wednesday morning before attending a mini trade expo at the Civic Center, where they heard more about job opportunities from U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, and Ron Riekena of Caterpillar Inc.
Lori Prichard, a business teacher at Morton High School who serves as the coordinator of the school's co-op program, said the tour she made with some 100 Morton High School students to Morton Industries was enlightening.
Students also toured the Excel foundry, Premier Fabrication in Congerville, Parsons Co. in Roanoke, Caterpillar in East Peoria as well as BTD and Illinois Plastics, both of Washington.
"The students are always amazed at the work that goes on in these plants. The purpose is to expose students to the types of jobs that are out there and to see it from all vantage points," Prichard said.
For Excel CEO Doug Parsons, educating people about manufacturing is a priority.
"There's still a huge need to find enough talent. It's been frustrating," he said, referring to positions at Excel that remain unfilled because of a shortage of qualified applicants.
"We have to change the image of manufacturing as a 'smokestack job.' That's the message we need to get back to the parents."
Students such as Whittney Adams, a senior at Peoria Heights High School, said there was a lot to see at the expo. "I learned that welding is more than just blueprints. I like the painting part of it."
Skylar Lane, a junior at Pekin Community High School, said he was looking seriously at a manufacturing career. "There's more to manufacturing than people think. I've wanted to get involved since my freshman year."
Schock asked students to think seriously about a career in manufacturing rather than blindly incur the debt associated with attending college.
"Fifty percent of the people who graduated last May are still unemployed. Yet there are 400 to 500 jobs open today in this area in manufacturing," he said.
Area plants not only offer students good pay but training and the opportunity for advancement, Schock said.
Michael Sloan, dean of Agriculture and Industrial Technology at Illinois Central College, reminded students "to make sure the conversation continues" when deciding on a career choice at their respective schools.
Steve Tarter can be reached at 686-3260 or starter@pjstar.com. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter.
