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November 10- Forty-four students from Vanderbilt and Wolverine students attend an apprenticeship workshop at Wolverine High School. The workshop was presented by the Local 7 Sheet Metal Workers. Activities included hands-on virtual welding, during which students were able to see and feel the different types of metal that they work with, from thick beams that had layers of metal to thin ductwork that would be in businesses & homes. Students were also shown pictures of local Michigan work that the sheet metal workers had done. Examples included photos of the local EJ building in Elmira , a ship, and a tower that they had built on the ship. Local 7 gave examples of technology they use and showed them that the welding helmet has built-in technology to help with their work. Pictures of copper were also shown, explaining how they can age metals with chemical reactions. They talked about the heights they may be working at with booms that go 125+ feet in the air. They also answered lots of questions that the students had from what an object is, to the most difficult install they have ever done, to what they enjoy about their job and how they got started into the field. Local 7 Sheet Metal Workers explained what starting wage is for a 1st year Apprentice verses what your ending wage would be after year 4 of your apprenticeship. They explained that you would be learning, but earning at the same time, and that you would be applying what you’re learning in the class work into the field as you learn it. They also mentioned that the company would cover the costs of all classes and you’d walk away not owing anything and having a great paying career—one of the best parts of apprenticeship! After the presentation, Michigan Works! provided donuts, cider and juice for the students, as well as Michigan Works! information and handouts. Then Michigan Works! staff conducted a true or false Apprenticeship trivia after and “Spin the Wheel of Fun” to have a chance to win a prize. Student surveys revealed the students really enjoyed the presentation, with many saying “it was really interesting” and “I may have found a career that interests me”. They were also quite surprised how much a sheet metal worker does and earns! John, with Local 7 Sheet Metal Workers, said he really enjoyed being able to present to these students, stating the students had great questions and interaction.

November 3 - Dr. Bob Lorinser a Marquette County doctor is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democratic congressional candidate for Michigan’s 1st District. Dr. Lorinser made a stop in Graying with family members and guests to visit the Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium office and tour Springs Window Fashions, a wood manufacturing plant. Michigan Works! staff Christine Southwell, Career Navigator and Alayne Hansen, Business Solutions Professional showed Dr. Lorinser and his guests around the office and talked about the programs and services the agency provides. “Michigan Works! is getting the district back to work, connecting employers to eligible candidates and providing job seekers the resources they need to restart their careers. Organizations like this — that provide résumé workshops, GED services, vocational training and help people navigate Clean Slate programs — keep Northern Michigan and the U.P. employed. It's time to recharge the economy, and it starts at human resources” – Dr. Bob Lorinser Following the visit at Michigan Works! the group went down the road to tour Springs Window Fashions led by Human Resource Manager John Metts. John spoke candidly about the struggles the company has had with hiring employees and retaining them. Currently they are running with 50 employees which is down from the 82 they need for full production. “Our tagline is the Best Experience Company. And it’s more than just a set of words—it represents the essence of who we are. As North America’s premier window covering company, we’re committed to creating the Best Experience for our associates and team members, our consumers and end users, and our channel and business partners” – John Metts, HR Manager John said he has an aging workforce and needs more employees to prepare for future retirements. Tour guest were able to see the large quantify of wood it takes to manufacture wood blinds per week. With staffing shortages their employees often work over time hours to meet production schedules. Springs Window Fashions hosts several tours for folks interested in the manufacturing industry and is a supporter of Manufacturing Month student tours.

AuSable Valley Animal Shelter in Crawford County has two co-managers, Nick Dorman and Cheryl Postma. They needed training on the new operating systems software to not only build new skills, but elevate the organization to higher standards of accountability and accuracy reporting to the board and stakeholders. Thanks to the Going PRO Talent Fund, Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium was able to help the Shelter receive $2,978 to train the two employees. Kirtland Community College provided the training – Advanced Accounting for Small Businesses. The training helped the co-managers learn improved processes to log animal intakes, adoptions, and surrenders. A volunteer check-in process was developed so those hours could be tracked as well. They also learned the enormous amount of data that wasn't being captured and tracked, which resulted in missed grant funding awards because it wasn't being recorded. The training also covered inventory tracking and a white board system to outline daily tasks. Shortly after the training, Nick Dorman was promoted to Manager. He states, “The training we received from Kirtland using Going PRO Funds was extremely beneficial. The trainer Shelia was awesome, she observed how we were operating and she helped us improve and cut time and steps.” In addition to the Going PRO Talent Fund award, the shelter has recently participated in an additional Michigan Works! On-the-Job training program for two new hires and are receiving wage reimbursements for both of them. They are currently pursuing a third new hire and hope to use the funding program again.

H&H Tube has been serving the tubing industry since 1930, and the supplier of choice for hundreds of companies throughout the world. With declining workforce and aging demographic, they have had to working very hard to create a workplace culture that encourages continuous improvements, individual development, training and rewarding employees for a job well done. To aid in these efforts, they applied for the Going PRO Talent Fund through Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. H&H Tube was awarded $20,036 in Going PRO Talent Funding to train 19 existing employees. Training included PLC Training, CNC Training, Lean Manufacturing Training, and Supervisory Training. H&H Tube was very happy to receive the grant funding, as these trainings will help H&H Tube to create a higher caliber workforce and remain competitive. Northwestern Michigan College provided the Industrial Controls & PLC Applications Training. The Industrials Controls portion of the course provided an understanding of electrical safety control circuits, electrical schematics, and line diagrams, while the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portion was designed for those who are not familiar with PLC programming and needed an understanding of working with PLCs. Chong Mi Kim, General Manager at H&H Tube stated, “Most of the manufacturing equipment at H&H Tube uses PLC (The Programmable Logic Controller), but we only have couple of employees with the skills and training necessary to troubleshoot and monitor the control systems in the factory. The Industrial Controls & PLC Applications course from NWM College is a good foundation for our tooling and maintenance team.” Chet Latta, Tooling Engineer, agreed, “This PLC training added to the knowledge base my co-workers and I already had. It has already helped us troubleshoot problems quicker and easier than before, adding uptime value to our equipment.” David Erber found the CNC Training to be very beneficial as well, “The CNC Training, was very helpful, in understanding lathe functions and tooling, better understanding of writing basic code, and how to read what the machine is actually going to do in the program. Tool nomenclature, and tool compensation for tool radius was also easier understood from the class. Plus some tips and tricks to the controls of the machine. Helped make things more effective and efficient in day to day machining operations." Jon Morris, a recipient of the Lean Training, said, "At the core of the LEAN philosophy is reducing waste. I’ve always strived to be as efficient as possible in all my tasks so having an organized way to do that is right up my alley. I will use the techniques that I have learned at home to streamline some of the “processes” that my family and I do on a regular basis. It will also help at work to make our tasks more efficient. However, making changes to lean out production processes has proven to be difficult in the past as the resistance to change is extremely high. So that resistance to change always has been and will continue be the biggest hurdle to overcome when implementing change at work." Dan Neal, participant in the Supervisor Training, said, “The best part of supervisor training was trying to learn how to think the way others might hear or learn something so differently than you do or have thought of, most of us have not had training and good on the job examples how to think about this, the exercises to do together to show this made an impact.”

October 27 - Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Cooper Standard in Fairview and toured their manufacturing plant on October 27, 2021. Plant Manager Lance Oldenburg, and HR Manager Sheryl Green led the tour which included members of the governor’s staff and MEDC. Also attending the tour were staff from Michigan Works! – Marisue Moreau, Director, and Alayne Hansen, Business Solutions Professional. Pictured from left: Lance Oldenburg, MEDC Rep, Governor Whitmer, Sheryl Green, Marisue Moreau, Alayne Hansen Cooper Standard Automotive Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is a subsidiary of Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc., a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Their products include rubber and plastic sealing, fuel and brake lines, fluid transfer hoses and anti-vibration systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 32,000 people globally, and operates over 100 facilities in 20 countries. Their customer base is global and includes automotive manufacturers, as well as other Tier 1 suppliers. Cooper Standard employs 1,892 in Michigan at locations in Auburn Hills (2 facilities), East Tawas, Fairview, Gaylord, Leonard, Livonia, Novi, Oscoda. Like many, the company has expressed their difficulty in attracting and retaining talent. Cooper Standard has participated in hosting several student tours with Michigan Works! and are a continued supporter of Manufacturing Day. The company is actively working with Michigan Works! to post and advertise their open job positions on Pure Michigan Talent Connect and have utilized the Going Pro Talent Fund to train and upskill employees. They have received $37,130 in Going Pro Talent fund dollars since 2017, and are currently in the application process for the 2022 Going Pro Talent Fund. Wrapping up the Governor’s tour, Michigan Works! staff thanked the Governor for her support.

Twelve students from Grayling High School attended an apprenticeship workshop on October 1, 2021 at the Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium office located in Grayling. Three trades participated in the workshop, sharing their knowledge, expertise and experience in their industries. John Coleman (pic 1) from the Sheet Metal Workers Local 7 was one of the guest presenters. The Sheet Metal Workers International Association is a trade union of skilled metal workers who perform architectural sheet metal work, fabricate and install heating and AC, shipbuilding, appliance construction, heater and boiler construction, precision and specialty parts manufacture, and a variety of other jobs involving sheet metal. The Sheet Metal Workers International Association represents about 150,000 members in 185 local unions in the U.S. and Canada. John spoke of his years of experience as a sheet metal worker and the training during his apprenticeship. John is now an Organizer with Local 7 and is a supporter of events that bring awareness for careers in the skilled trades. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 692 spoke of their apprentice program and what skills are needed as a starting point. Brian Klele who is part of the membership development team has worked as an electrician for several years and was able to provide examples of a career in the field. Local 692 has been a long-time supporter of Michigan Works! student events including MiCareer Quest, career days and job fairs. (pic 2) Brian Klele from the IBEW Local 692 talks about apprenticeship programs. Brian and his colleagues participate in student events that help lay the foundation of a bright, productive future for high school students by introducing them to the trade and a career as an electrician. Jason Reed from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 202 also participated and spoke about their training center located in Grayling. Jason and his team have spoken at several student events and have used their hands on display which gives students the opportunity to use hammers and nails which is always a hit.

October - A client came into the Grayling Michigan Works! office after 4:00 from her drive home from working in Boyne City, upset that her engine was ticking and she knew she was very low on oil. She was desperate hoping we could help, as she had no funds available for repairs. MW staff immediately started contacting auto repair shops to see if they would take our BRES support services vouchers. Grayling Car Care came to the rescue, giving the client a much-needed emergency oil change (before her car became undriveable). The client was so appreciative and thankful that we were able to help and the car repair shop said they’d be happy to help other clients (and accept our vouchers) in the future. Grayling’s Business Solutions Professional, Alayne Hansen, was especially touched to witness the event, stating, “I get so caught up in employer relations, it’s so cool to be a part of this and witness it—it’s really an important part of our work’s mission.” Beth came into our Michigan Works Northeast Consortium - Cheboygan office in need of assistance with the new job she was starting as a housekeeper for a cleaning company for a local resort. She stated that she was "flat broke" and would need shirts and gas for her truck for the lengthy commute back and forth with work. Rachel with Michigan Works offered to help Beth for the first 2 weeks of employment with the new BRES program until she received her first paycheck to get back on her feet. Without our help, she wouldn't have been able to take this job that she desperately needed for her family. After starting her employment, she mentioned she was in need of further financial assistance to get her truck registered with a license plate and registration at the Secretary of State office. With the funds available with BRES, we were able to provide help with this as well. Beth is very appreciative with the services that we have provided for her with this much needed fresh start!

October 27 - Thirteen Michigan Works' Youth participants attended the all day team building event with Youth participants from across Northern Michigan. Small and large group team building activities, networking, and other opportunities took place as the students overcame the Camp Daggett obstacle course as a team. While at the camp for the day, the students learned about leadership and problem solving with others. Activities included a rope climbing course and zip lining. Four students were from Vanderbilt (Otsego County), one student was from Grayling (Crawford County), two students were from Fairview (Oscoda County), two from Alpena/Alcona schools, three from Wolverine (Cheboygan County) and one from Onaway (Presque Isle County)..

September & October - On September 21, Michigan Works! Youth staff presented to Wolverine High School’s senior art class of 21 students. Michigan Works! services, the WIOA Youth Program, and the JMG program were discussed. After the event, many students have reached out to get enrolled in the programs. On September 28, Michigan Works! Youth staff presented to the Posen senior class (18 students), covering Michigan Works! services, and the WIOA Youth and JMG programs. One student reached out after the event to inquire about the Youth program, but was not income eligible. On October 7, Michigan Works! Youth staff presented to the Indian River Senior English Class. Fifteen students were present. Michigan Works! staff discussed Michigan Works! services, what the Youth program offers, and the JMG program. Multiple students were interested in learning more about the Youth program after the event. On October 26, Michigan Works! Youth Staff presented to 31 Fairview High School juniors and seniors. Michigan Works! staff discussed Michigan Works! services, what the Youth program offers, the JMG program, and touched on Apprenticeships. (pictured)

10/29/21 – Cooper Standard in Fairview welcomed 33 junior and senior students from Fairview Schools on a talent tour of their facility on October 29, 2021. The morning started with donuts and apple cider and a brief presentation on what the company manufacturers, and safety requirements during the tour by Lance Oldenburg, Plant Manager. The students were split into three groups of 11 for their tour and they were able to see production in action, and talk to some of the staff operating the machines and equipment. Cooper Standard is a big supporter of Manufacturing Month and the company hosts talent tours to recognize the importance of introducing students to the manufacturing industry and the many jobs available from entry level to high level positions. The staff put on a very impressive tour showcasing several machines that bend tubing, and had examples of parts they produce, and where those are located in a vehicle. Tour guides allowed for questions and answers during the entire tour which opened the door for students to engage with the staff. Tyler is explaining a part the company produces. He started at Cooper Standard as an entry level operator and has moved up through several positions. Tyler is currently part of the engineering team. He emphasized to the students there are growth and opportunities at Cooper Standard, and that the company has a tuition reimbursement program. Founded in 1960, Cooper Standard Automotive is one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers that specializes in the manufacture and marketing of systems and components for the automotive industry. The Fairview plant employs 185 employees in their 92,000 square foot facility. (pic 1) Plant Manager, Lance Oldenburg, kicks off the tour with an introduction of Cooper Standard, safety requirements, and donuts. (pic 2) Todd Easterday, Cooper Standard’s Health, Safety, & Environmental Specialist leads a group of students on the tour

Natasha was referred to Michigan Works! by DHHS to participate in the PATH program. With the guidance and assistance she received from Michigan Works, she was able to obtain a job as a Stylist at Maurices. Natasha had concerns that her vehicle wouldn’t be reliable enough transportation to go back and forth to work, and because she had just started her job, she didn’t have any additional funds for car repairs. With the assistance of her Career Advisor Amanda Pauly at Michigan Works!, her DHHS caseworker and the Otsego County Grant, she was able to get her vehicle fixed properly, providing her reliable and safe transportation to/from her new position. In addition, Michigan Works! was able to assist with clothing & mileage reimbursement to help her get started at her new job. Thanks to the support and assistance from Michigan Works!, DHHS, and the Otsego Community Grant, Natasha’s vehicle is in excellent working condition, allowing her to maintain her position with her new employer. Natasha is enjoying using her strengths in customer service. Through this experience Natasha says she learned that there are many programs out there to assist you, you just need to take the first step. She reports, “I got my Jeep back and it runs like a dream! I am so grateful!”