Kalamazoo Valley Hosts October 1 and 2 Virtual Skilled Expo

In celebration of National Manufacturing Week, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will stage a virtual Skilled Trades Expo premiering on Oct. 1 and 2 at www.kvcc.edu/skilledtradesexpo.

Prospective students, families, employers and the general public will be directed to the website to view and participate in a variety of educational and interactive videos and activities which will include:
• Information about training at Kalamazoo Valley for high-paying jobs in these pathways:
Automotive Technology
Electrical Technology
HVAC Technology
Engineering/Design/Manufacturing Technology
Welding Technology
Computer Information Systems
Chemical Techology
• Interviews with Kalamazoo Valley faculty members
• Q and A sessions with industry experts

Although virtual, this event is patterned after a similar on-campus activity held during 2019, when more than 800 people visited the college’s Texas Township Campus to learn about these careers. This year’s event will allow information seekers to access the webpage beginning on Oct. 1 to learn more about rewarding careers in the skilled and professional trades.

Sponsors of the event include Landscape Forms, Humphrey Products, Stryker Corporation and Concept Molds. Kalamazoo Valley alumni Jason Sparks, general manager at Concept Molds, completed an apprenticeship while he was a student at Valley. “The apprenticeship training that I received both in the classroom at Valley and hands-on at the shop gave me the background and the technical understanding of mold making,” Sparks said. The Schoolcraft-based company opened in 1992 and employs 25 people, building plastic injection molds for the medical device market, as well as for the automotive, industrial, and consumer products markets, specializing in precision injection mold design, engineering, construction, management, and design support.

“There has been a huge push recently to get the younger generation interested in skilled trades after high school and I am eager to do my part to help,” Sparks said. “There is an abundance of job opportunities for incoming prospects in skilled trades and mold making and machining. Many of these opportunities in mold making can lead to growth and advancement within the trade and plastics manufacturing industry and most mold shops are very safe, clean, bright and climate controlled.”

David Maurer is President and CFO for Kalamazoo’s Humphrey Products company. He said he thinks the Skilled Trades Expo is a great way for students and parents to explore training and employment options and said he is always looking for qualified job applicants. “We’re in a constant state of search, looking for people to fill well-paying jobs.” Maurer said. “We’re thrilled to be associated with initiatives like Kalamazoo Valley’s Skilled Trades Expo that will help inform the public about high paying, rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”

To access the Skilled Trades Expo, go to www.kvcc.edu/skilledtradesexpo beginning on Oct. 1. Content will remain available for the entire month.

Presentation Schedule
Thursday, October 1, 3 - 3:45 p.m.
Chemical Technology
Jason Bishop; Charles River Lab, Pfizer
https://zoom.us/j/99811812294.

4 - 4:45 p.m.
Computer Information Systems
Chris Gearig, Marty Adams, Peter Grohs, David Barnes; TEKSystems
https://zoom.us/j/94640095213

5 - 5:45 p.m.
Apprenticeships
LaJoyce Brooks
https://zoom.us/j/98510414094

6 - 6:45 p.m.
Wind Turbine Technician Academy
Delia Baker
https://zoom.us/j/99617662273

Friday, October 2
10 - 10:45 a.m.
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
Gehry Gross, Dwight Coblentz
https://zoom.us/j/91432971048

11 - 11:45 a.m.
Automotive Technology
Brian Murray, Larry Taylor, Doug Martin; Zeigler
https://zoom.us/j/98311483979

12 - 12:45 p.m.
Welding Technologies
Erick Martin, Joel Schmidt; Landscape Forms
https://zoom.us/j/94846401141

1 - 1:45 p.m.
Engineering, Drafting, Manufacturing Technology
Bill Kring, Dave Brock; Concept Molds
https://zoom.us/j/94951236124

2 - 2:45 p.m.
Electrical Technologies
Tom Keena, Bill Wangler, Greg Meeuwsen
https://zoom.us/j/93773612165

3 - 3:30 p.m.
Financial Aid & Futures For Frontliners
Alisha Cederberg
https://zoom.us/j/99711574067