Beloit Memorial School District Visits Precision Plus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on February 17, 2014

February 25, 2014

Beloit Memorial School District Visits Precision Plus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on February 17, 2014

Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit Memorial School District, Chris Klatt, closing the manufacturing skills gap, Elkhorn, initiatives, manufacturing., Mike Reader, Precision Plus, Ryan Rewey, Steve McNeil, Tammy Spoerk, Tour, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

On February 17, 2014, a snowy Monday morning in Wisconsin, a contingent of Beloit Memorial School District (BMSD) personnel braved the roads to pay a visit to Precision Plus Inc. Among the visitors were Superintendent Steve McNeil, Career and Technical Education Director Ryan Rewey, Technical Education teacher Chris Klatt, and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) teacher Tammy Spoerk.

The invitation to visit Precision Plus was extended by Mike Reader, President, when he and Barry Butters, the Director of Education & Training, attended BMSD’s January 28^th School Board Meeting. During that event, Precision Plus presented a monetary gift to BMSD’s fledgling first robotics program, and took an opportunity to commend the district’s ‘Career and Technical Education’ efforts and their facilities. Earlier in the year, both Reader and Butters had toured the facilities, with a follow up visit by Barry Butters to talk with Tammy Spoerk’s PLTW classes about Precision Plus and the manufacturing field in general.

“We are excited to be partnering with the Beloit Memorial School District,” said Reader. Some of the highlights of this collaboration include a visit by Precision Plus’ summer interns to BMSD’s state-of-the-art facility with an opportunity to use their vertical CNC machines; Butters returning to BMSD for another visit to classrooms in the spring semester; and Butters participating in the Beloit School District’s Career Fair on October 6, 2014, during the next school year.

This initiative is part of Precision Plus’ goal to close the manufacturing skills gap.

Community Involvement

January 23, 2014

Community Involvement is One of Precision Plus’s Pillars of Business Strength

4-H of Wlworth County, Beloit Memorial High School, community, Contributions, E-TECH, Elkhorn, Elkhorn Area High School, H Foundation, McGMO Golf Outing, Mike Reader, PLTW, Precision Plus, Project Lead The Way, Reader family, support, U.W. Carbone Cancer Center, Wisconsin, Workshops for Warriors

Michael Reader

By Barry Butters

As a company, Precision Plus maintains multiple metrics to measure our progress. These metrics are generally comparisons of where we are today compared to where we were last year, last month, and perhaps even yesterday. As anyone who sets goals knows, it’s the process of always chasing the elusive next level that leads us forward. However, when the dust settles and there is that moment of clarity for the big picture, one asks, “Is there more to life than business?” The Reader family, who has owned Precision Plus Inc. since 1988, keeps that big picture in focus and has generously supported the local community and organizations that serve, protect and care for us in times of need.

“Contributing positively to our community and environment” is one tenant of the pillar of Integrity that Precision Plus has built into its business vision. The company gifts monies to a number of organizations that serve and protect: Elkhorn Fire Departme nt, the National Fire Safety Council, and the Sharon American Legion. Adding to that list, Mike Reader is leading a campaign through the PMPA to support a group called “Workshop for Warriors,” which is a non-profit organization dedicated to training, certifying, and placing veterans in manufacturing careers.

Support from Precision Plus extends especially deep into the education community, adding financial support to its ongoing efforts to educate the area’s best and brightest students on careers in manufacturing. Among the organizations that have received this support:

The 4-H of Walworth County
The E-TECH Club of Elkhorn Area High School, a group of high school and middle school students who participate in First Robotics and promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives in the younger grades.
Beloit Memorial High School’s group, similar to E-TECH that is involved in establishing a local FIRST Robotics Community in the Beloit School District
Wisconsin Project Lead the Way (PLTW) – Precision Plus was a lead sponsor for the PLTW State Teachers Conference held in Pewaukee on December 9th. At the conference, Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch addressed the state’s PLTW teachers who are working in conjunction with the PLTW program through the Milwaukee School of Engineering to stimulate interest in careers in engineering in Wisconsin’s youth.

The Readers have also supported organizations that advance the treatment, prevention and search for a cure to cancer related illness. They generously support U.W Carbone Cancer Center and the H Foundation, as well as the MCGMO Golf Outing for cancer prevention.

What is clear from these efforts is that Precision Plus pays attention to more than just its own bottom line. The Reader Family, the company, and its employees are committed to improving the metrics of the community.

Employee Spotlights

January 12, 2014

Precision Plus Interns are Featured on Geneva Lake West News

2014, articles, Barry Butters, Brad Killen, Britt Campbell, Chris Schulz, education, Elkhorn, Eric Bain, Geneva Lake West News, internship, January 9, Markus Gudel, Martin Korsholm, Mike Reader, Precision Plus, programs, shortage of skilled workers, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

Precision Plus interns Britt Campbell, Markus Gudel, Eric Bain, Martin Korsholm, and Brad Killen were featured on a recent issue of the Geneva Lake West News in two articles, which were published on January 9th.

On “Manufacturer confronts worker shortage,” LGWN’s Chris Schultz interviews Mike Reader and Barry Butters to report on the state of the manufacturing industry, and the shortage of skilled personnel to fill jobs, preventing companies such as Precision Plus from expanding. Precision Plus is taking a very active role in reversing the trend, and has established internship programs for high-school and college students, while expanding on educational and in-house training programs. The article features some of the interns from Precision Plus’ pilot summer program, and follows their progress within the industry.

On “Badger benefits from Precision internship,” Chris Schultz chats with Britt Campbell of Badger H.S., who also races a Mazda Miata race car.

In both instances, the emphasis is on educational proactivity to empower the manufacturing industry.

Company Updates

October 25, 2013

What is Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin?

Better By Design, Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin, Drywater Productions, Elkhorn, Elkhorn Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, manufacturing hiring initiative, Precision Plus, Signalfire, what does Dream It Do It do?, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

Dream It. Do It. is a national recruitment strategy initiative sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers, designed to emphasize manufacturing as an industry providing high-paying, high-quality careers.

Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin came to our state thanks to a grant provided by the Wisconsin Technical College System. The Waukesha County Business Alliance’s Manucturing Alliance Steering Committee provided initial executive oversight. According to the organization, “The implementation team includes representatives from the M7 Regional Workforce Development Centers, as well as from the Milwaukee Area, Waukesha County and Gateway technical colleges and the School District of Waukesha.”

Southeastern Wisconsin is the first stop for Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin, which hopes to take this initiative state-wide.

Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin has featured a number of inspiring videos about the manufacturing industry in Wisconsin, including the one below. Drywater Productions and Signalfire created this video in conjunction with Walworth County Economic Development Alliance and Better By Design.

Precision Plus actively collaborates with the efforts and initiatives of Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin.

Employee Spotlights

October 20, 2013

Britt Campbell, Brad Pearson and Don Newman Join Precision Plus’ 2013-2014 Internship Program

2013-2014, academic year, Brad Person, Britt Campbell, Don Newman, Elkhorn, high school seniors, Interns, internship, manufacturing., Mike Reader, paid internship, Precision Plus Inc., Wisconsin

Michael Reader

2013-2014 Precision Plus’s interns: Britt Campbell, Brad Pearson and Don Newman.

Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus continues to push forward the company’s efforts to make an impact on the manufacturing skills gap epidemic.

The success achieved during the pilot internship program launched during the summer of 2013 has resulted in the establishment of a formal internship program for the 2013-2014 school year. Three high school seniors, Britt Campbell (Badger H.S.), as well as Brad Pearson and Don Newman (Elkhorn Area H.S.) have been awarded this year’s internships.

Intern Britt Campbell tests a component with OASIS equipment.

Britt Campbell, a senior at Lake Geneva Badger, starts her day at 6:30 a.m. and works until 9:00 a.m. Britt plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering or at Purdue University. Britt’s interest in the engineering field stems from her racing background. Britt began racing go-karts and now races a Mazda Miata.

Intern Britt Campbell Races a Mazda Miata at Road America in Elkhart Lake

She is a licensed novice wheel-to-wheel racer in the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC) in the Sports Car Club of Rockford (SCCR), currently working towards her full competition license. You can read more about Britt’s racing on her Facebook page and contact her there to become a sponsor.

Intern Don Newman using the Earth-Chain spinner micro-deburring station

Interns Brad Pearson and Don Newman are seniors at Elkhorn High School. They are part of an apprenticeship program, which is overseen by Joanne Pella, Career and Technical Education Instructor/Coordinator at the school. The program is run in conjunction with Blackhawk Technical College.

The students start at 6:30 a.m. at Precision Plus Inc. and then head to school at 10:00 a.m., earning credit from school as well as being paid by Precision Plus for the work performed. Brad and Don are considering attending a technical college or a four-year college to pursue a degree in CNC machining or engineering.

The Internship Program at Precision Plus begins with classroom time, where interns receive instruction on blueprint reading, how to use measuring tools and general procedures. The interns then are rotated through the various operations and machining platforms.

The goal of the internship program is to immerse the students in the precision manufacturing industry so they can gain an initial understanding of the entire manufacturing process.

Precision Plus is looking to hire interns for the summer of 2014 as well as for the 2014-2015 academic year. For more information, please contact Barry Butters, Director of Education & Training at (262) 743-1700, or email him at buttersb@preplus.com.

Employee Spotlights

October 16, 2013

Brian White’s Manufacturing Story is An Inspiration for New Generations Coming Up Through the Ranks

Brian White, dream it do it, Elkhorn, employer, GE Energy's Waukesha Gas Engines, Manufacturing Alliance, manufacturing., Mike Reader, plant your, Precision Plus Inc., video, Waukesha County Business Alliance, WCBA, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

By Mike Reader
About a year ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Waukesha County Business Alliance (WCBA) Manufacturing Alliance panel discussion on workforce development issues and meeting Brian White. Brian, President of GE Energy’s Waukesha Gas Engines, was one of the panelists and he spoke frankly about manufacturing and the privilege of employing about 700 Wisconsinites.

In September of 2012, and under Brian’s leadership, GE Energy’s Waukesha Gas Engines had announced the hiring of 115 employees, following a $3.1 million investment into its engineering center.

Brian is a brilliant leader, but his story is not your typical rise-to-the-top story, because Brian didn’t go to college after graduating from high school. As a matter of fact, he didn’t know what to do with his life, until he found the opportunities that manufacturing presented to him—opportunities which he did not hesitate to pursue.
In May 2013, Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin, featured Brian in a video titled “Upward Bound – Wisconsin Manufacturing Careers.” In just a few statements, Brian tells us about his early life, and gives anyone looking into a career in manufacturing the assurance that anything is possible.

Last night, I attended another WCBA meeting, hosted by GE Energy’s Waukesha Gas Engines, which included tours of the engine assembly area and featured the Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin video featuring Brian. I was pleased to connect with Brian again. We had a very good discussion about what each was doing to address the skills gap and looked forward to collaborating in the future.

Community Involvement

September 30, 2013

Precision Plus of Elkhorn Wisconsin Sponsors the Elkhorn Technology and Engineering Club (E-TECH)

Michael Reader

A group of students from Elkhorn High School has established a club called the Elkhorn Technology and Engineering Club (E-TECH). The group’s officers include President Hunter Parks, Vice President Allan Russell, Director of Technology Alex Roberts, Secretary Maria Vigueras, and Treasurer Jessica Flock.

Officers of Elkhorn Area High School’s E-TECH Club visit Precision Plus

The mission of the club is to introduce Elkhorn Area School District youth–from kindergarten through high school–to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Their initial goal was to start a program within their school district where kids could learn about topics such as electronics, motion, and the engineering process through hands-on experiences, such as building robots and electronic devices and participating in competitions.

Their second emphasis was to empower the younger generation to invent and innovate in order to make a path towards a brighter future. Participation in the E-TECH Club fosters an interest in the math and science disciplines and promotes successful strategies for teamwork, problem solving, and sportsmanship.

The group competes in the First Lego League, First Tech Challenge, Gateway College’s Sumo Bot Competition, West Point Bridge Building Competition, and the Future City Project. The club is seeking sponsorship to expand the number of students able to participate in competitions and to expand their involvement to include elementary school students.

Members of the E-TECH Club meet with Mike Reader of Precision Plus and Gary Huss of Hudapack to discuss sponsorship.

At a meeting held at Precision Plus on July 19, 2013, the group met with Mike Reader of Precision Plus Inc. and Gary Huss from Hudapack to inform them of their mission and goals as well as to request sponsorship. Precision Plus and Hudapack both committed $500 as “Gold Sponsors” of the club. The students then took a tour of the Precision Plus facility.

Mike Reader resonated with the goals and aspirations of the students in the E-TECH Club. He added, “The students display great problem-solving skills combined with strong math and science backgrounds. These are the type of young individuals manufacturing needs. Exposing these great minds to the possibilities of manufacturing will certainly contribute to closing the gap.”

Elkhorn Area High School’s E-TECH Club tours
Precision Plus led by Mike Reader.

Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training at Precision Plus, has also committed to help supervise some of the club’s activities. Butters is a former teacher at Elkhorn High School, having taught advanced placement math courses including statistics and calculus, as well as Introduction to Engineering Design, a “Project Lead the Way” course.

Company Updates

September 20, 2013

Precision Plus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin Kicks Off Manufacturing Month With a Plant Tour Open To Everyone

2013, CNC, education, Elkhorn, Gov. Scott Walker, Manufacturing Day, Manufacturing Month, manufacturing., Open House, plant tour, Precision Plus, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

In recent years, the possibility that a career in manufacturing could offer a great future, has become something of a well-kept secret. In spite of the downturn in the economy, jobs in manufacturing abound, but the skills gap continues to widen.

In October of 2012, a nationwide initiative by U.S. manufacturers was launched to showcase this industry which is the backbone of this country. The initiative was called “Manufacturing Day.” This year, the initiative continues to gain momentum. In Wisconsin alone, more than 450,000 careers are in manufacturing, and Governor Scott Walker has officially declared October, “Manufacturing Month.”

The initiative addresses the shortage of skilled professionals from many angles, with a focus on education and awareness.

Precision Plus is delighted to actively participate in this endeavor. To kick off Manufacturing Month, Precision Plus is hosting an Open House at its premises located at 840 Koopman Rd. in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on Thursday, October 3rd starting with an information presentation at 6:30 pm and a plant tour at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited.

On Friday, October 4th, Precision Plus will host several high school groups for tours and information on manufacturing.

As always, Precision Plus welcomes individuals, groups and organizations to tour our facilities. Please contact Barry Butters, Director of Education & Training at (262) 743-1700 to schedule a time, or email him at buttersb@preplus.com.

Community Involvement Company Updates

September 19, 2013

Precision Plus Invites Walworth County High Schools in Wisconsin To Attend A Plant Tour to Celebrate Manufacturing Day

2013, Certified Power, dream it do it, dreamitdoit, education, Elkhorn, Gateway Technical College, high school, Inc. Hudapack Metal Treating, Manufacturing Day 2013, MedPlast, October 4, plant tour, Precision Plus, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

On Friday, October 4, 2013, and to celebrate the 2nd Annual National Manufacturing Day, Precision Plus of Elkhorn, Wisconsin will host local high school groups for a plant tour and informal conversation about the manufacturing industry and its career opportunities. Please contact Barry Butters, Director of Education & Training at (262) 743-1700 for more information, or email him at buttersb@preplus.com.

Employee Spotlights Industry News

September 18, 2013

Precision Plus Welcomes Barry R. Butters as Director of Education and Training

academics, Barry R. Butters, Director of Education & Training, education, Elkhorn, lectures, manufacturing., Precision Plus, primary, program, secondary, skills gap, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

Precision Plus’ Efforts to Fill the Skills Gap: Third Installment.

In a continuing effort to stay ahead of a widening manufacturing skills gap, Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus has hired Barry Butters as Director of Education and Training.

Butters has been in the education field for 27years, teaching mathematics and engineering courses as well as serving as a high school principal. He has taught every course in the high school math curriculum including both Advanced Placement Calculus AB & BC and Advanced Placement Statistics. Butters has also taught Statistics at George Williams College. More recently, he began teaching a course called “Introduction to Engineering Design,” which is an engineering course in the “Project Lead The Way” curriculum. Project Lead The Way is a national Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program aimed to increase the numbers of engineers in the USA. The course work is designed to get high school students involved in real engineering work at a younger age and to attract more students to the engineering field. “I will be using best practice in education to bring employees up to speed as quickly as possible through a variety of training techniques,” said Butters.

Butters’ duties at Precision Plus include: new employee training for those with no machining experience, cross-training existing employees, developing educational platforms for the various CNC machines and measuring tools, and acting as ambassador for the manufacturing industry. Reader has repurposed a room at Precision Plus to serve as a classroom to conduct training. Butters has lofty goals for the training at Precision Plus His intentions are for the classroom to be used for:

To give employees, interns and students an opportunity to obtain certifications from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC)
To establish Precision Plusas a testing center for MSSC certifications.
To teach employees, interns, and students the mathematics related to the machining industry.
To teach employees, interns, and students blueprint reading, including geometric dimensioning and tolerance.
To teach employees, interns and students the skills necessary to use measuring devices including all kinds of micrometers, drop indicators, gages, calipers, optical comparators, roundness testers, automated optical systems such as OASIS, and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs).
To train employees, interns and students in the use of the Part Maker program.
To train employees, interns and students in the use of 3D CAD software.
To offer a CNC Lathe class to local high schools students.
To offer the Project Lead the Way course Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) and Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) at Precision Plus for local high school students. The courses could be offered in the evenings as necessary.

Barry Butters, Director of Education & Training, speaks to a second grade class at Westside Elementary School class about the field of CNC Machining and Engineering.

Butters’ efforts to get manufacturing and its opportunities on the minds of the community and young people include organizing an open house to mark National Manufacturing Day. The open house will be held on Thursday, October 3^rd at 6:30 pm and is open to all. On Friday, October 4^th, National Manufacturing Day, Precision Plus will offer tours of its facility to local high school students.

In 2012, Mike Reader kicked off the first annual career panel, held at Elkhorn Area High School. “Our mission is to continue to expand this opportunity, and I think it speaks volumes to Mike Reader’s vision that manufacturers need to take an active role in promoting their own industry,” said Butters.

Butters will be visiting area schools to speak to students about manufacturing and promoting its opportunities. Most recently he visited a second grade class at Westside Elementary School.

You can reach Barry Butters at buttersb@preplus.com. He is willing to take any suggestions or simply talk about what is being accomplished at Precision Plus

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Tag : Elkhorn