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Since the last edition of the Cluster Chronicle, we have added two new individuals to the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach Team. Please join us in welcoming Mary Lynn Noah and Marcie Alling!
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Mary Lynn Noah started with TIA/WDA in early November as Industry Talent Project Manager where she provides leadership, program guidance, and general oversight of work-based learning programs which fall under the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach (MICA) and MI AIM (Apprenticeships, Internships, Mentoring) initiatives. In this role she is responsible for directing program level staff, aligning initiatives, developing strategies, and cultivating partnerships to address skilled trades and technical talent shortages in Michigan. Mary Lynn has worked in state government for more than 25 years. She has worked for both the House and Senate as well as holding positions for several departments. Her most recent work experience included working for a nonprofit, Community Development Financial Institution. She served as Legislative Liaison and Regulatory Affairs Officer for the Department of Management and Budget, the Deputy Director of the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority, and lead staff to the Juvenile Justice Committee and Emergency Telephone Service Committee. |
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Marcie Alling has spent her career in the workforce development arena, primarily managing a wide range of programs and services within community-based employment and training organizations in Ohio and Michigan. She left the non-profit sector in 2004 to manage a statewide project for Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, in partnership with Michigan State University. This systems change project focused on improving services and outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities. In 2012 she joined the WDA as Michigan’s Foreign Labor Certification Officer before moving to the Skilled Trades Training Fund team in late 2015. |
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Michigan
employers who are interested in taking advantage of the Michigan Advanced
Technician Training (MAT2) program this fall are encouraged to apply
now to sponsor students. MAT2 is
an innovative training initiative that combines classroom instruction with paid
work experience in a three-year program.
One of the key
benefits of MAT2 is the state of Michigan’s Applicant Pool
system. With access to the Applicant Pool, employers have access
to resumes of candidates who are interested in working in highly skilled
technical careers – and who meet the academic requirements to be successful in
a challenging training program.
Participating
colleges and programs include:
Mechatronics
- Baker College of
Cadillac, Henry Ford College and Oakland Community College. Mechatronics
technicians apply electrical, mechanical, and electronics skills to modify
machines, make minor changes, repair, test, and provide maintenance for
production machinery. Troubleshooting is a key competency.
Computer
Numerical Control (CNC)
- Delta College, Henry Ford College and Kalamazoo Valley Community
College. CNC technicians set up, operate, and produce high-quality
products on CNC machine tools. Skills include blueprint reading, gauging and
inspection, statistical process control, mathematics, safety, and machine
tooling.
Information
Technology (IT) -
Oakland Community College. IT technicians install, troubleshoot, maintain and
update technologies, and communicate to both internal and external
customers. Areas of focus include system support, database systems,
network administration, and system security.
Technical
Product Design (TPD) –
Mott Community College. Technical Product Design technicians use their skills
to develop new products or modify existing ones. TPD technicians create 2-D
drawings, technical documents, 3-D models, and computer simulations to
demonstrate design goals.
In addition to
cost-savings in applicant recruitment and customized training, MAT2
employer advantages include:
• Training students on in-house equipment;
• Standardized competencies and practices;
• A pipeline of well-trained talent as an outcome;
• Finding skilled talent to replace an aging workforce.
Through the MAT2
initiative, students earn an associate degree from a participating college,
while they earn wages and obtain work experience with a participating company.
Tuition is paid for by the employer, and in exchange, the student commits to
remaining on the job for at least two years after successful completion of the
program.
Employers
interested in joining the fall 2016 programs should apply by April 30 to have
access to a pool of qualified candidates to interview. Employer commitments are
based on companies finding the best candidate for their company. For more information or to get started with MAT2 please contact: wda-mat2@michigan.gov or visit: www.mitalent.org/MAT2
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 Thai
Summit America, a growing business located in Howell, is an automotive stamping
and assembly facility providing parts to Ford, Chrysler, GM, and Mercedes, to
name a few. Thia Summit was awarded a Skilled
Trades Training Fund grant of $112,926 to train 61 existing employees and 59
new hires in production and skilled trades jobs. The company has a policy to
promote from within and with the STTF grant it was the perfect opportunity for
them to hire current contract associates into their production workforce.
Marquan
Goodman is one of those associates that have been a great asset to the
company. After leaving the Army, he worked
various factory jobs through temporary agencies before being placed with Thai
Summit. Goodman showed promise by being
very flexible and willing to work in both the Press and Assembly departments
and was a quick learner. His supervisor
recommended him to be hired on as a full-time Thai Summit employee.
Because of the STTF grant, Thai Summit was able to invest valuable
training hours for on-the-job training. Goodman
was also able to take the TS16949 classroom training to learn about the quality
standards and system under which Thai Summit operates. To advance in his career, Goodman plans to
take advantage of the company’s Education Reimbursement Program that reimburses
students 80% of their tuition and book fees in courses related to the company’s
business.
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On February 2, 2016 in Grand Rapids the MI-AIM (Michigan Apprenticeship, Internship, and Mentoring) statewide collaborative held a meeting with partner
organizations. Even with inclement weather, more than 30 individuals
participated. Stephanie
Beckhorn, WDA Director, presented a summary of the exciting and
innovative work-based learning and apprenticeship activity that has transpired
in Michigan this past year. According to the latest statistics provided
by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship,
Michigan is one of the leading states across the US with a 27% increase in
registered apprentices over the previous fiscal year (FY14); having over 900
USDOL registered apprenticeship programs, and over 12,000 active
apprentices.
MI-AIM was also instrumental in producing a Funding and
Resources Guide which identifies a number of federal, state and private funding
sources which can be leveraged to support apprenticeships. In addition, the collaborative has updated the Michigan Apprenticeship Resource Directory which includes designated
contacts for apprenticeships at the 16 Michigan Works! Agencies, 28 Community
Colleges, as well as Michigan Rehabilitation Services. The MI-AIM partner network has also played a crucial role in
providing input to the Governor’s Skilled Trades campaign, which is designed to
promote in-demand opportunities in the skilled trades. In addition to the
special web pages on mitalent.org that feature facts to clear up some
misperceptions regarding skilled trades, educational resources, and videos by
Mike Rowe and Tom Daldin have been designed to show K-12 students the benefits
of selecting the skilled trades as a career option. The Governor and
Stephanie Comai, Talent Investment Agency Director, began a series of statewide
visits to schools and businesses to promote the skilled trades’
occupations.
In addition to hearing from Stephanie Beckhorn, other presenters included: Deb Lyzenga and Jessica White-Hatinger from West Michigan Works! sharing their new medical assistant apprenticeship program, and a panel of local initiatives that received American Apprenticeship Initiative grants including Liza Katz, Workforce Intelligence Network, Rashida Thomas, Focus: HOPE, and Vicki Gordon, Macomb Community College.
The next MI-AIM in-person meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 20, 2016 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at Mid Michigan Community College's Mt. Pleasant campus. If you are interested in joining MI-AIM and being a part of our discussions, please email MICA@michigan.gov.
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In May 2015 the Michigan Energy
Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC) was awarded a $90,000 grant by the
United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) as part of its national
Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) initiative. The MEWDC applied for the grant to
accelerate completion of work outlined in its strategic plan. Specifically, the
grant has supported work to (1) identify and define common education and
training requirements for gas technician and electric line technician new hires
within DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, and (2) solidify partnerships at the
secondary and post-secondary education levels in Michigan in order to have
these common training requirements delivered prior to entering the
workforce.
In March 2016, MEWDC representatives (pictured above) traveled to Washington, DC to attend the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Talent Pipeline Management Summit. This event was a showcase and recognition of the work the seven national grantees had accomplished over the last year. During the summit the future funding and expansion of the TPM Initiative was announced. For a video summary of Michigan's TPM project visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmv9Akloo10. For more information or to get involved in MEWDC, please visit: http://consortia.getintoenergy.com/michigan/.
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MEATA/MASCI Joint Conference: May 23 - 27
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Michigan Career Education & Employer Alliance Conference: June 15 - 17
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Michigan Works! Association Annual Conference: October 2 - 4
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Career and Technical Education Conference: February 1 - 2
CLICK HERE FOR THE PRESENTATION
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