Lake Country This Month

By Lauren Anderson Freeman Staff PEWAUKEE — Waukesha County Technical College officials and supporters gathered Monday to cele- brate the grand opening of a new 24,000-square-foot manufacturing facility aimed at better preparing students to address the skills gap crisis. The spacious $4.5 million center is designed to reflect what students will find in real manufacturing set- tings and will allow the col- lege to increase enrollment capacity in its industrial maintenance and automa- tion programs. The new center includes two automation systems technology labs, engineer- ing labs and industrial maintenance labs, along with classrooms and lec- ture halls. It also features eight new robots, which officials said will afford stu- dents more hands-on expe- riences. Officials said the center is a response to the need for a trained workforce in one of the state's top industries, where retirements and expansion have left a short- age of workers. "This amazing building was but a vision, a mission to answer the cries from the manufacturing community in response to the needs of connecting people with the skilled trades careers in support of hundreds of manufacturing companies throughout southeaster n Wisconsin," said Judie Tay- lor, IMC fundraiser cam- paign champion and repre- sentative of the Dalum Family Foundation. "We needed to shrink that infa- mous skills gap. WCTC lis- tened and did just that." Currently, the school serves as many as 350 stu- dents in those programs, according to Mike Shiels, School of Applied Tech- nologies dean. But the demand for qualified work- ers in the region outpaces the college's output of stu- dents. "Every year, we get some- where in the neighborhood of 300 to 400 job openings for each of those careers," he said. Waukesha County Busi- ness Alliance President Suzanne Kelley noted that preparing a qualified work- force doesn't end with the construction of a new building. "We still need to continue to encourage young people to understand the great careers that are available in manufacturing and get them involved," Kelley said. "We need to offer internships and job shad- owing and apprenticeships and tours — and I think most importantly, to contin- ue to build on the fantastic business-education part- nerships that we have here in this community." The WCTC Foundation began its fundraising efforts in the summer of 2014, aiming to raise $3 mil- lion. Those efforts were helped by a $1 million chal- lenge gift from the Fotsch Family Foundation in August, and an additional $2 million was raised by December. Ground was bro- ken in spring 2015 and the building opened for classes in January of this year. "It's a great day, to say the least," WCTC Foundation President Ellen Phillips said. "Just thinking of the journey, from the kickoff of this campaign in July of 2014 to see the reality of the building today." While the transition into the center is still underway, students Aaron Thompson, Eric Johnson and Jordan Douglas said they like the change in venue so far. It's more spacious and has meant less cross-campus travel for classes, they said. And, Phillips said, the state-of-the-art facility gives students something to be proud of. "The students look so proud to be in the build- ing," she said. Email: landerson@conleynet.com QUALITY DESIGNER FURNITURE For Less! For Less! $AVE $OME GREEN! Inventory changing daily We carry High End Pre-owned Merchandise including Ethan Allen, Pennsylvania House, Thomasville and more! You are going to find GREAT furniture at GREAT PRICES! We carry High End Pre-owned Merchandise including Ethan Allen, Pennsylvania House, Thomasville and more! MAKE AN OFFER 30% of inventory must go for new items! WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! Hurry in for best selection! 14265 Capitol Dr., Brookfield 262.439.8745 Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sat. 10:30am-5:30pm Sun. 11am-5pm or by Appointment www.dfoc1.com 249599001 The FREEMAN Lake Country T H I S M O N T H APRIL 2016 SECTION B LIFE Yoga in Lake Country > 2B Inside SATURDAYS 8:00 a.m. to Noon WaukeshaFarmersMarket.com Come to the Market for fresh, locally grown produce, hot food, great gifts and friendly atmosphere! Until November HEAR the sounds of Waukesha's Friday Night Live TASTE the products of the Waukesha Farmers' Market FEEL the Love & Life of Waukesha! ENJOY Shopping & Dining in Downtown Waukesha For all things Waukesha go to LiveLoveWaukesha.com Waukesha's Information Station www.LiveLoveWaukesha.com 249629001 Presented by The Waukesha Downtown Business Association Presented by The West End Artists SUMMER IN DOWNTOWN WAUKESHA BEGINS MAY 7 FARMERS MARKET & ART CRAWL SATURDAY, MAY 7 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. WaukeshaArt.com Join us for the Mother of All Art Crawls #86. Food, Mother's Day Gifts, Live Music, Galleries Galore, 175 Artists and Shops of all kinds! Charles Auer/Freeman Staff With donors, staff and elected officials behind them, Waukesha County Technical College Pres- ident Kaylen Betzig, WCTC Dean of School of Applied Technologies Mike Shiels and Mary Baer cut the ribbon for the WCTC Integrated Manufacturing Center on April 4. WCTC celebrates grand opening of new manufacturing center Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Waukesha County Technical College Foundation Chair Mary Manning presents WCTC President Kaylen Betzig, left, with an award from staff during the dedication of the WCTC Integrated Manufacturing Center on Monday. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Tom Fotsch addresses those attending the dedication of the WCTC Integrated Manufacturing Center on April 4. The Fotsch Family Foundation donated $1 million to help build the center.

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