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Gold Collar Careers

Manufacturing Works/
Gold Collar Careers

Manufacturing Works is a volunteer organization created in 2004 with the purpose of promoting advanced manufacturing as a career option, using the term Gold Collar Careers, throughout northwestern Wisconsin. The name Gold Collar Careers represents a blend of the traditional blue collar and white collar workforce. Gold Collar Careers refers to available careers in manufacturing that are in high demand and provide excellent pay and benefits.

The organization, Manufacturing Works, consists of economic development partners, private manufacturing businesses, technical colleges, universities and Workforce Resource in northwestern Wisconsin – all with the same goal to promote manufacturing as an excellent career option to parents, teachers, counselors, students and other influencers.

A Volunteer Organization consisting of numerous agencies

Thanks to the generosity of supporting manufacturing organizations, the efforts of key manufacturing leadership, the support of CESAs at the secondary education level, post secondary colleges, and Workforce Development organizations much has been done to fill the pipeline to producing trained technicians in North West Wisconsin. Regional groups such as EMMA, 7-Rivers, Manufacturing Works, Grow North, Centergy, and others began to create an enhanced regional West Central Wisconsin Manufacturing image and helped to fill the supply chain for these manufacturing technology education programs.

Many of the regional groups were connected with a Wisconsin Technical College Initiative called Advanced Manufacturing Solutions and numerous funding grant opportunities. Wisconsin was divided into four quadrants. The NW Quadrant or Advanced Manufacturing Network - Northwest, was established and linked six technical college districts from Superior to La Crosse and from Hudson to Wausau. These six districts make up approximately fifty percent of Wisconsin's geographic area so that outreach was a challenge.

The regional efforts to promote manufacturing careers have been successful to date with more work to do. Many of the mall kiosks, youth academies, robotics competitions, welding camps, nanotechnology camps, movie trailers, teacher in-service training, publications, outreach and PowerPoint presentations have begun to fill the manufacturing training programs.

Manufacturing Jobs are in high demand

The technical worker supply chain however will continue to be an issue in Northern, Western, and North Central Wisconsin if the demographic predictions are correct. As a result of the projected skilled worker shortage for the coming years, we are now moving to expand on the initial successes of these groups to provide regional youth outreach and promote the positive and exciting nature of manufacturing.

Our job has just begun to help the middle school, high school, and displaced worker populations explore opportunities in manufacturing. The Gold Collar Career website is a portal to help middle school and high school students, teachers, parents, and other influencers the ability to explore manufacturing careers.

  • (608) 787-1030
    www.pleasoning.com

    Frank J Italiano Inc – La Crosse

    Mfg Food Preparations Eating Place

  • (715) 542-3116

    Frank T Burns – Saint Germain

    Mfg Custom Wood Cabinets/Furniture

  • (715) 472-8796

    Frank's Woodshed – Luck

    Mfg Woodworking Machinery

  • (715) 352-2894

    Frankfort Auto & Machine – Edgar

    Mfg Metal Stampings

  • (715) 394-4211
    www.frasershipyards.com

    Fraser Shipyards Inc – Superior

    Mfg Industrial Machinery Welding Repair

  • (715) 394-7787
    www.frasershipyards.com

    Fraser Shipyards Inc – Superior

    Shipbuilding/Repairing Mfg Industrial Machinery

  • (608) 537-2603

    Frazier, James & Sons Log – Blue River

    Sawmill/Planing Mill Hardwood Dimension/Floor Mill Logging

  • (608) 326-6006

    Fred Ketterer Signs – Prairie Du Chien

    Mfg Signs/Advertising Specialties

  • (715) 542-4050

    Fred's – Saint Germain

    Ret Women's Clothing Whol Women's/Child's Clothing Mfg Apparel/Accessories

  • (715) 327-5711

    Frederic Truck & Trailer – Frederic

    Mfg Truck Trailers

Don’t know where to get started? Contact us today - Ph: 715-232-7380 EXT: 1014