Jeffrey Clark
President and CEO, Waukesha Metal Products
N53 W24635 S. Corporate Circle, Sussex
Industry: Metal stamping and fabrication
Employees: 135
www.waukeshametal.com
Jeff Clark is president and CEO of Sussex-based Waukesha Metal Products, which also has locations in Grafton and Mexico. The “grow or die” philosophy may not be effective without a skilled workforce, he says.
“Our nation is built on the American Dream, and I have always lived by the business philosophy of ‘Grow or Die!’ This has worked well over the years, but the talent pipeline driving this dream is shrinking. With an aging workforce and smaller population downstream, Wisconsin’s economic vitality is tied directly to our ability to develop a ready workforce with the necessary skills to meet tomorrow’s high-demand careers.
“At the root of this challenge is our need to provide an educational journey for our children that includes exposure and exploration of the many career paths available for our future talent. All Pre-K-12 schools in Wisconsin are required to provide academic and career planning (ACP) to students at the sixth grade level by 2017. This is just the beginning of the talent pipeline and really drives exploration. Businesses providing work-based learning opportunities to students offer the best tool for career exploration.
“The Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment recognized this and presented a 2014-’18 Strategic Plan. The CWI built on ACP by recommending we ensure students have the opportunity to experience work-based learning, and the Wisconsin school report cards include measurements of this and career readiness. Data is king! Access to workforce requirements and projections are critical to a student’s exploration.
“Coordination between educators, students, employers and parents is key to providing the best experience. Engaging students is imperative in building awareness of career opportunities and skill requirements necessary to succeed in our businesses. Progressive leaders structure their talent acquisition strategy to include strong connections within the Pre-K-16 school system, including technical colleges and universities. Those ahead of the curve have already moved beyond the traditional college/university internships to expand work-based learning for high school students.
“We are all busy, but talent is or will be a limiting growth factor in the near future at all of our businesses. My experience working with the students and educators has been rewarding and beneficial. Our organization has grown by mentoring students through work-based learning. There are numerous organizations/initiatives I have found to be great conduits to connect with the students, but it requires effort and time.”
