SUMMARY REPORT OF 2007 RICHLAND AND ASHLAND COUNTY INFORMATIONAL FAIR
On March 21, 2007, fifteen manufacturers and twelve manufacturer supporters exhibited their company/organization information at the Richland County Fairgrounds Youth Building.. This event was hosted by the Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative at Ashland University.
Eight schools participated in this event by bringing 220 high school students to the fair to talk with the manufacturers about the manufacturing facilities, the products that the manufacturers produce, and the skills that manufacturers need from future employees.
Ashland County manufacturers that participated in the fair included: American Augers, Inc.; Ashland Precision Tooling, LLP; Reineke Company, Inc.; Schoonover Industries, Inc; Hillman Precision, Inc; Ohio Tool Works Corporation; Ohio Electric Control, Inc; and Novathane Company, Inc.
Richland County manufacturers included: PR Machine Works, Inc; Hess Industries Ltd; Gorman-Rupp Company; Benjamin Steel Company; Rable Machine, Inc.; Tyco Electronics/Hartman Division; and Mansfield Screw Machine Products.
Manufacturing support groups included: MAGNET, Pioneer Career & Technology Center, Jobs and Family Services, Mansfield Senior High School, North Central State College and Kehoe Center, Tradesman International, The Reserves Network, Madison High School, Ashland County West Holmes Career Center, Small Business Development Center, Richland Manufacturers Coalition, and The Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative at Ashland University.
The fair was open from noon to 6 pm. The Richland County Fairgrounds served sandwiches and drinks at their cafeteria. Misty Miller from Ashland Express assisted with the sign in table and gave the manufacturers gifts
Students attending the fair came from eight different schools. Those were:
Ashland High School 55
Clearfork High School 25
Crestview High School 17
Hillsdale High School - 19
Mapleton High School 21
Madison High School 49
Pioneer Career & Tech Center 21
Plymouth High School 13
Total: 220
There were 75 other registered guests.
130 students registered for the door prizes. 57% indicated that they would consider manufacturing as a career, and 93% indicated that they liked the fair.
Student winners of the drawing for MP3 players and portable CD players were:
Laura Prosser, Madison
Nick Fisher, Clearfork
Adam Campbell, Lexington
Dale Shoup, Crestview
Comments from the schools and students were:
Madison
We had a variety of students at the
Fair. The group of seniors from our
Welding program was very interested and pleased that they were able
to
get job applications and talk to people in the field in this area.
Our
junior students from Welding and Precision Machining were split
about
70/30 (70 pleased and made good use of the time). We had several
sophomores that have selected one of our "manufacturing"
programs as
well as junior and senior students from our Drafting program that
did
not find it valuable. Most of the drafting students are leaning
toward
the architectural side of drafting. As for the sophomores,
they don't
have the maturity or the knowledge of the areas to know what to
ask a
prospective employer. I feel it was a great success. Some
minor
adjustments on Madison's part of who to take will make our experience
better. We may take students in two shifts next year. First,
sophomores enter in the programs. Second, juniors and seniors from
Welding and Precision Machining plus Drafting students interested
in the
mechanical side of drafting.
Ashland
- I think the trip went well. The fair was small, that was a
comment, but I told them it was the first time and it will continue
to
grow. The Kehoe Center was very good. I think the whole trip was
well
worth your efforts. Many were exposed to things they did not know
existed as far as jobs. Thanks for organizing this. It will just
continue to get bigger and better.
Mapleton - Likes: Plenty of exhibitors and activity. Liked seeing what you would actually be doing if you worked there, not just listening to a description. Enjoyed interaction between students and business reps. The people we got to talk to really answered all of our questions. I enjoyed the fact that I walked away with a job. I liked the variety of manufacturers.
Comments/suggestions: A little crowdedmaybe hold it in a larger area. They assured us that we don't need a college education, but I would like to see what jobs we could have with a college education. It would have been cool to actually see them make their product, to see if it was as interesting as I thought I was. I think I would like to maybe see a good demo or so added.
Several said they wouldn't mind if there were even more businesses there
A couple mentioned they liked the freebies (pens, etc.)
It has been my pleasure to sponsor this event. We exposed 220 students to manufacturing processes and careers. Obviously, we have more to do to influence more students to consider manufacturing, but this has been a good start.
This project is funded by a grant from the US Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.
Reasonable accomodations for persons with disablities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Robert Stimpert at 419-289-5295