MAKING A DIFFERENCE – One Student at a TimeArticle originally written for “For The Record,” published by NTMA, September 2024 Edition
Author: Dale Davis, Co-Owner, Dundee Manufacturing Company
I was asked recently what our chapter was doing to make an impact on workforce development.
I have to credit my sister, Melinda Howe. When I first accepted the role of president of the Western Lake Erie NTMA (WLENTMA) she told me about the story by Loren C. Eiseley entitled “The Star Thrower.”
It’s the story of a young person saving starfish that had washed up on the shore, throwing them back into the ocean one by one. An elder person walking on the beach asked, “Do you really think they can make a difference with so many starfish on beach?”
The starfish-saver tosses one more back into the sea and says, “Well, I made a difference for that one.” And that’s the most important takeaway.
Three years ago, we started attending local CTE board meetings and listening to their needs. We saw an opportunity for our chapter to “bridge the gap” between the students in the programs and our membership. We wanted to provide support for the instructors in areas like work-based learning, mock interviews, job shadowing, plant tours and co-ops. We also knew we could assist with placing students in our membership programs.
Over the last several years, local CTE instructors, administrators, local chamber of commerce representatives and our membership have gathered for an informal meeting and to share a meal to see how our members and chapter can assist with workforce development needs.
The first year was just an introduction to WLENTMA and the NTMA and a networking opportunity.
The second year we held a round table discussion to hear about challenges, educators’ needs and how to interest students in manufacturing.
In the third year, we presented our vision for a student CTE career path. It included co-ops leading into our membership apprenticeship program. We shared our recruiting initiatives, including video content and hands-on, interactive CNC machining that is now available for area high school job fairs. We hope to be able to include the NTMA pre-apprenticeship program as a credential opportunity for students, which will align perfectly with our chapter trade school. We still have a long way to go, but the concept was well received and the CTE programs said we are on the right path.
Our board is currently working to expand our membership engagement. Our message: the real change starts with making a difference, one student at a time. Taking the time to provide job shadowing, attend a mock interview or provide an opportunity for a co-op is important work.
In the end, the goal is to ensure we are building the next generation of journeymen for the industry, but also for our own shops.
I know this works. As the co-owner of Dundee Manufacturing Company, I’ve worked with our tool room supervisor, Randy Perry, to conduct more than 25 mock interviews. Randy, a WLENTMA One student at a time trade school grad, has embraced this mindset as a way to give back. In the last three years, in addition to helping students, we’ve been able to recruit some young people who are eager and excited to start a career in our industry.
Ryan Schlagheck started a co-op last summer and began his apprenticeship with us this past June. Natalie Hackette started this summer with a co-op and is continuing into her senior year. We hope she’ll be our next apprentice. When I walk out into the tool room and see these students I silently smile on the inside and think, “I made a difference to that one”
ADAPTED FROM “THE STAR THROWER” BY LOREN C. EISELEY
“AN OLD MAN WALKING ALONG THE BEACH CAME UPON A CHILD SIFTING THROUGH DEBRIS LEFT BY THE NIGHT’S TIDE. EVERY SO OFTEN, HE WOULD PICK UP A STARFISH AND TOSS IT BACK INTO THE SEA. THE OLD MAN ASKED HIM THE PURPOSE OF HIS EFFORTS. “THE TIDE HAS WASHED THE STARFISH ONTO THE BEACH. THEY WILL DIE UNLESS I THROW THEM BACK.” THE OLD MAN LOOKED AORUND AT THE MILES OF BEACH. “THERE ARE MORE STARFISH THAN YOU CAN EVER SAVE. YOU CANNOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.” THE CHILD BENT TO PICK UP ANOTHER STARFISH AND SENT IT BACK TO THE OCEAN. THEN HE LOOKED UP AT THE OLD MAN, SMILED AND REPLIED, “I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS ONE.” —
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