The Western Nebraska Community College Workforce Development department and the City
of Scottsbluff hosted the second annual Western Nebraska Manufacturing Day Friday
at the John N. Harms Center.
Area manufacturers and students from area high schools attended the half-day event,
which focused on the future of manufacturing in Nebraska and the emerging jobs and
careers high school and college students can expect to see. Sponsors of the event
were Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), Black Hills Energy, and the Scottsbluff/Gering
Chamber of Commerce.
Keynote speakers included K.C. Belitz of the Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition
(NAMC) and representative of the "Dream it. Do It." initiative, and Matt Allmand,
director of the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).
Belitz, who is also the president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce in Columbus,
Nebraska, and serves on the board of directors for the Nebraska Community Foundation,
outlined the "Dream It. Do It." initiative, which aims to enhance the image of manufacturing
and identify the education paths to achieve skills needed in the industry. Belitz
also spoke about the benefits of the NAMC partnership that supports both the "Dream
it. Do It." initiative and the STEM Match initiative.
Following Belitz, Allmand, former president of Allmand Brothers Manufacturing in Holdrege,
Nebraska, shared the history of his own career in manufacturing, including how he
started on the shop floor of the family business and worked his way up through production,
purchasing, project management, lean manufacturing, and company leadership. He stressed
on-the-job learning in conjunction with trade school or college as the best pathway
to success in manufacturing and encouraged lifelong learning throughout one's career.
Friday's local presenters, who are also potential future employers, included Cheryl
Brandenburgh of Black Hills Energy, Terry Rajewich of NPPD, Kim Ferguson of Kelley
Bean Company, Becky Stitt of Western Sugar, and Greg Moeller and Mike Friesz of Parker
Hannifin in Alliance. Donna Kuskie of the Nebraska Department of Labor also presented
options for training and support programs offered by the state of Nebraska.
The day culminated with local manufacturing tours, enabling students to get real world
exposure to machinery, equipment, and processes. Scott James, president of CS Precision
Manufacturing in Gering and Gunther Koob of Scottsbluff Industries hosted site visits
of their respective companies.
"Friday's event supports our goal to develop a work-ready labor force that serves
manufacturers in the Panhandle," said Dr. Charlie Gregory, WNCC dean of instruction
and workforce development. "Giving future workers insights into opportunities can
help shape their career paths as they finish high school and move on to college. WNCC
will continue to survey manufacturers in the Panhandle for direct input as we develop
curriculum and programs that prepare students for these types of emerging positions."
"We are encouraged by the number of students who attended from schools in western
Nebraska" said Starr Lehl, economic director for the City of Scottsbluff. "The number
one issue I hear from manufacturers is the need for a skilled workforce, so bringing
students and manufacturers together at events like this is a good first step in helping
to fill the skills gap."