More than 250 local manufacturers, educators, and community partners attended a networking breakfast at McHenry County College (MCC) on Wednesday, October 15. The 15th annual event featured resource tables, college updates, and a panel discussion on expanding the engineering pipeline. A series of advisory committee meetings immediately followed the breakfast and main presentation portion of the morning.
The panel discussion featured Josh Ray, Design Engineering Manager at General Kinematics; Atulya Ashokan, Engineering Faculty Member at MCC; and Aaron Rose, CEO of Sandbox Carbon. Panelists addressed questions from the audience that ranged from recruitment strategies and career exploration activities to the use of internships and co-ops to develop a future workforce.
“We’ve had really great success hiring through engineering internships,” said Ray. “When you work with an intern, you understand who they are as a person, as an engineer—do they fit with the culture of the company, can they do the job? You get that test period before making the investment of a permanent hire.”
Ashokan encouraged employers to support internship experiences, saying, “Engineering internships help bridge the gap between equations and equipment. Students have the opportunity to translate classroom learning into hands-on work.”
The breakfast was held in the College’s Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI), MCC’s state-of-the-art facility that trains students for careers in skilled trades such as HVAC, construction management, precision machining, and more. Attendees received a variety of updates from the College and learned about ways to get more involved.
Participants could also choose from four academic advisory sessions that included Engineering and Engineering Technology; Robotics, Automation, and Mechatronics; Precision Machining; and Welding and Fabrication.
“The input we received from employers during the advisory sessions was invaluable,” said Tom McGee, Dean of Manufacturing and Advanced Technology at MCC. “The information gained here will be used to strengthen the learning experience for our students.”
During the event, MCC also unveiled the Hall of Manufacturing inside the Foglia CATI building. The permanent exhibit celebrates the innovation and impact of several manufacturers in McHenry County, including Scot Forge, Aptar, General Kinematics, and TC Industries, as well as a special display honoring the history and contributions of women in manufacturing across the region. Each exhibit highlights products, stories, and milestones that showcase the county’s strong manufacturing legacy.
The Manufacturing Pathways Consortium (MPC) also participated in the event’s resource zone. The MPC is a group of more than 240 local manufacturers, educators, and community partners—convened by MCC—which focuses on manufacturing workforce development in and around McHenry County.
Along with the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, MCC recognized Manufacturing Month throughout October with a variety of activities including shop plant tours for high school students and families, the annual internship and job fair on October 1, and seminars on manufacturing careers.
Find more about MCC's skilled trade programs on the Foglia CATI webpage, and learn more about apprenticeships here. To learn more about the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, visit www.mfgpathways.com.