Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Mercer, Auglaize, Darke County Manufacturing Breakfast Forum

Don Berry speaking at Annual Spring Breakfast Forum
Don Berry speaking at Annual Spring Breakfast Forum
More than 200 local officials, business leaders, and students from Mercer, Auglaize and Darke Counties attended the Annual Spring Breakfast Forum, held at the Romer’s Banquet Facility on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

The breakfast was held to help make the public aware of the current career-based experiences that students have available to them today. Business representatives and students listened while Ft. Recovery HS Principal, Jeff Hobbs, held a discussion with a panel of four students going into different career paths. Each had a unique story of how they decided on their career and what educational and real-world tools they were using to help them excel in that field. They each shared an interesting story of work experiences, job shadowing, and guidance from local companies. The students included Becky Brockman, Jacqui Kremer, Courtney Gladdish, and Reece Grieshop.

Annual Spring Breakfast Forum

Janet Nelson of Tri Star’s Med Prep program and Don Berry of Career Based Intervention also discussed with two of their students how they chose their careers. Although Ali Overly (med-prep student) has decided to pursue a medical degree at traditional college, Hayden Abels is actively training for a career at Minster Machine.

Finally, Jack Buschur of Buschur Electric in Minster discussed a new organization that was formed to help employers find the youth seeking careers in their trade. The organization is called Auglaize/Mercer Business-Education (AMBE) Alliance. The group is looking for pledges from area businesses to fund a new, full time outreach coordinator. The Outreach Coordinator would work with the businesses and schools to ensure EVERY student has an opportunity for career-based influence on their future.

If you are interested in contributing to this very important position, please contact Jack Buschur at jackb@buschurelectric.com . In conjunction with Hometown Opportunity, we feel businesses will benefit greatly by having an Outreach Coordinator working directly between our local businesses and schools on this matter.

Click here for Hometown Opportunity's Website.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

CTE Superhero: Education and Industry Peel Off Layers to Unveil Celina Student Talent

(The following is one Ohio snapshot of career tech success as part of February’s national career-technical education month with the theme “Celebrate CTE Superheroes.”)
“Celebrate CTE Superheroes.”



Hayden Abels, a Celina High School senior, defies the stereotype and exemplifies the purpose of Career-Based Intervention (CBI). Hayden states openly that he disliked school prior to enrolling in his CBI class. But a combination of his own initiative and assistance from others, including his CBI teacher and industry partners, have propelled him to the CBI mission of overcoming “barriers to achieving academic and career success.”


In short, Hayden Abels, a CBI student in the Tri Star Career Compact, is an in-demand employee. Hayden was working with a local farmer and receiving accolades. He liked the work, but was not sure he wanted a future of working 60-hour weeks. Now, he works at Nidec Minster Corporation (formerly The Minster Machine Company). With some nudging from CBI teacher, Don Berry, Nidec Minster Corporation placed Hayden as an apprentice with an annual starting salary of $29,000. He has the potential of earning significantly more as he progresses through his training as a machine tool builder apprentice
CTE Superhero: Education and Industry


“The type of student we have in CBI is evolving,” Berry said. “Many of my current students are planning to continue their education beyond the high school level. We are very excited here at Tri Star because this placement proves that what we do is working.”


Brian Styer, Nidec Minster’s employee relations manager, said his company could use eight-10 employees like Hayden, who have what it takes to be successful. “Some of these traits that Hayden has are a great attitude, great work ethic, the right aptitude and a willingness to continue education through Minster’s apprentice program,” he said. “Career-tech students have a distinct advantage in these areas.”


Berry is eager to fulfill the industry need.


“Hayden is not in a workforce program, but he has a skill set industry wants and needs – hard working, people skills and recognizes the value of a drug-free lifestyle,” said Buschur, Tri Star’s career-tech director. “We realize that not all CBI kids can do what Hayden does, but as career-tech educators, we can and should keep looking for those pockets of students to plug into industry gaps.”