Focus On:
Helping Displaced Workers

Moraine Park is known for the way in which it serves business and industry -- by helping prepare individuals for occupations that are in demand. In doing so, a significant goal of the College is to retrain laid-off workers for new careers desired by Wisconsin’s economy. In this quest, Moraine Park offers affordable training, support services and links to future employment.

Recently, a surge for welders and computer numerical control (CNC) operators by manufacturers throughout Wisconsin spurred the College to help displaced, laid-off workers, as well as others, obtain affordable CNC operator and welding training. Grants from the Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington Workforce Development Board (WOW-WDC) helped fund the training – all in an effort to get workers the skills they need to secure jobs in high demand.

Moraine Park partners closely with WOW-WDC, which is located at Moraine Park’s West Bend campus. The WDC offers a strategic alliance of business, government and education. It serves as a lifelong resource to all job seekers, both present and future, and helps businesses meet workforce development needs. In doing so, the WDC relies on Moraine Park to deliver essential workforce training.

CNC Operating Program

This spring, a CNC Operator program held at Moraine Park served 16 displaced workers, according to Chuck Brendel, economic and workforce development contract/seminar coordinator. The 16-week CNC curriculum encompassed math, blueprint reading, machine operations and more. Eligibility for the training was determined by the WDC, where assessment testing to determine math and reading skills was conducted.

“Our focus in these short-term training sessions is on entry-level skill acquisition,” said Kathy Schlieve, economic and workforce development sales representative. “Current programs have focused on CNC and welding skill development because both areas are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. In many cases, participants also earn some college credit during training that gives them a head start in a Moraine Park program should they choose to continue to advance their skills or career.”

Gaining Entry-level Welding Skills

That is exactly why Lisa Dean of West Bend, Wis., signed up for a welding training camp. “Being a welder will support my family,” said Dean, a single mother with 16 years of printing industry experience. “I can’t find a good job in the printing industry right now,” she said. “But welding is very in demand in Washington County.”

To meet that need, there were several welding training camps held this summer to train dislocated and employed workers. Two were held with help from Moraine Park, one at the Fond du Lac campus and the other at Hartford Union High School in Hartford, Wis.

Ten students engaged in Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac welding camp, which, in partnership with Brenner Tank, in Fond du Lac, provided an eight-week introduction to welding processes, including welding on stainless steel using gas metal arc welding (MIG) and gas tungsten arc welding (TIG). Upon completion of the training, all of the participants were hired on by Brenner Tank as beginning welders.

“By taking the course, students qualified for four credits toward Moraine Park’s one-year Welding technical diploma,” said Marcia Arndt, Moraine Park’s dean of manufacturing technology. The Welding technical diploma prepares students to take the American Welding Society certification test, said Arndt, and helps them gain high-level welding skills to further their careers.

Similarly, at Hartford Union High School, 18 participants gained 180 hours of entry-level welding experience and four credits toward a one-year Welding technical diploma. Sponsored by the Southeastern Wisconsin Welding Consortium, which received $125,000 in federal grant dollars, the program was one of four similar welding training opportunities held around the state this summer.

Matt Schulta was among those who participated, thanks to the WDC’s suggestion. “I needed to have a trade and start a career making good money,” said Schulta, a 22-year-old who resides in West Bend. The free training prepared Schulta for entry-level welding work. “I am applying at some companies today and plan to continue developing my welding skills through more training,” said Schulta.

Moving Students Forward

“Our goal is to provide high-quality training that will give workers the skills they need to succeed once they obtain a job,” said Brendel. “We not only provide the classroom and hands-on training needed to succeed, we also deliver services such as tutoring for students who need additional instruction.”

Students who need academic help often take advantage of Moraine Park’s many Student Success Centers, which offer academic assessment, instruction in math, reading, writing or study skills, and assistance with college preparation and assignments.

For displaced workers, immediate assistance is also available. Together, Moraine Park and the WDC offer a Rapid Response program in which team members introduce employers and employees to training, transition and support services available at the College. Moraine Park specialists work one-on-one with individuals to help them create personalized education plans for transitioning back into the workforce.

Finally, Moraine Park’s Career Centers provide displaced workers and students with tools for career planning and job searching – connecting business with trained employees.

Helping Displaced Workers

Message from the President

Hello. I’m Dr. Gayle Hytrek, President of Moraine Park Technical College. Thank you for your interest in Moraine Park Technical College by reviewing our 2006-2007 Annual Report. The theme of this year’s report focuses on our changing communities and the impact of Moraine Park in meeting our communities’ needs.
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              - Gayle Hytrek, Ed. D.
                Moraine Park President