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.

• (715) 246-9755
  www.rightchoicefood.com

  Right Choice Foods – New Richmond

  Ret Meat/Fish Mfg Frozen Specialties

• (715) 627-4819
  

  Rine Ridge Farms Inc – Bryant

  Irish Potato Farm Cash Grains Farm Mfg Food Preparations Mfg Flavor Extracts

• (715) 272-1743
  

  Rippling Creek Ironworks & Exc – Rhinelander

  Mfg Architectural Metalwork

• (715) 568-4553
  

  Ritco Tool & Service Inc – Bloomer

  Job Machine Shop

• (715) 536-9431
  www.ritescreen.com

  RiteScreen Co Inc – Merrill

  Manufactures metal screen doors; manufactures metal window screens; manufactures molding, trim & stripping

• (608) 488-2418
  

  River Bottom Art & Sign – Melrose

  Mfg Signs/Advertising Specialties

• (715) 483-9182
  

  River City Design LLC – Saint Croix Falls

  Mfg Signs/Advertising Specialties

• (608) 785-7363
  

  River City Powder Coating Inc – La Crosse

  Coating/Engraving Service

• (608) 781-5577
  

  River City Ready Mix Inc – La Crosse

  Manufactures ready-mixed concrete

• (608) 372-3090
  

  River City Ready Mix Inc – Tomah

  Mfg Ready-Mixed Concrete