Moraine Park Technical College awarded its annual Business and Industry Partner Awards at a luncheon on the Fond du Lac Campus, April 23. All the nominees were invited to attend and celebrate the College’s valued partnerships of 2023.
The College’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) recognizes five partnership awards each year: Excellence in Partnership, Employer of the Year, Innovation, New Partner of the Year and Workforce Development Champion.
“When it comes to economic development, no one does this alone,” JoAnn Hall, dean of economic workforce and development at Moraine Park, said. “It is a community effort, and it takes all people and all parties coming to the table to make this happen. Workforce challenges are real—we are all facing them each and every day. What has come to fruition today is the recognition of innovation and creativity that has created unique opportunities in our communities, not only for our businesses and organizations, but most importantly for the people we serve on a daily basis.”
Employer of the Year
The Employer of the Year award is given to an employer who has made a significant investment in their staff through a partnership with Moraine Park Technical College. The 2023 award recipient is the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
“At Taycheedah Correctional Institution alone, when our current cohort of eight welders complete their certificates, we will have certified 99 women in welding,” Mary Davies, associate dean of economic workforce development at Moraine Park, said. “These are women who will go back to their communities with a very valuable skill in a high-demand field. This is just one example of the extensive partnership between Moraine Park and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.”
Excellence in Partnership
The Excellence in Partnership award is given to an organization involved in several areas of the college including advisory committees, Foundation donations, Handshake, EWD contracts, and boot camp internships. The 2023 recipient is J.F. Ahern Co.
“A beacon of excellence in our community, J.F. Ahern’s dedication to various facets of our region’s growth and prosperity has been nothing short of exemplary,” Angela Gerlach, EWD business development manager at Moraine Park, said. “J.F. Ahern’s involvement spans across numerous areas within Moraine Park. From their active participation in advisory committees and college events, to their annual architectural technology scholarship for students and various sponsorships, J.F. Ahern demonstrates a full approach to nurturing talent and fostering innovation.”
New Partner of the Year
The New Partner of the Year award is given to an organization that supports Moraine Park through contributions, sponsorships, or involvement for the first time. The 2023 award recipient is the City of Horicon for their partnership throughout the development of the College’s Horicon Regional Center, which is currently under construction.
“Despite several efforts to work with various municipalities and developers to locate our proposed regional fire training center, we were not able to identify a partner solution that met our needs—until we had a conversation with the City of Horicon,” Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald said. “Mayor Josh Maas and his team enthusiastically embraced our proposal and coordinated effectively to meet our timelines and budget. Their fair negotiations and proactive support ensured the project’s success, and we are excited to work with them as an ongoing partner.”
The Horicon Regional Center is scheduled for completion this summer and will welcome its first students in fall 2024. The 28-acre lot will house the 17,937-square-foot building for lab and instructional space and a 3,500-square-foot fire training tower. The new facility will allow live fire conditions, prop burning and controlled fire situations at a lower-risk training experience.
Innovation
The Innovation Award is given to an organization that implemented an innovative solution to a workforce challenge. The 2023 Innovation Award goes to the West Bend School District for making remarkable strides in dual enrollment offerings in the 2022-23 school year.
West Bend High School has demonstrated substantial growth in dual enrollment offerings including courses and programs such as Principles of Information Security, Introduction to Industrial Robotics, Emergency Medical Technician and Nursing Assistant. In the 2022-23 school year, Moraine Park awarded 46 credentials to West Bend High School students, which is expected to rise with new programming on the horizon.
“West Bend School District’s innovative approach is evident in its willingness to think outside the box and continually explore new avenues to enhance student learning,” Lisa Pollard, dean of Moraine Park’s Beaver Dam Campus, said. “For example, their desire and input was vital in creating the new Fire Academy for students. They were integral in promoting the academy to local fire departments, the Washington County Board of Supervisors, and other neighboring high schools to benefit the surrounding local communities. By fostering partnerships between the school, community, and Moraine Park, West Bend High School exemplifies forward-thinking education and is deserving of recognition for its dedication to innovation and excellence.”
Workforce Development Champion
The Workforce Development Champion award is given to an individual focused on improving the skills and retention of personnel in the region and has positively impacted workforce issues around recruitment, training, and career development. The 2023 award recipient is Colleen Lunow, director of Human Resources for Tank Technology.
Lunow first partnered with Moraine Park in 2021 to offer three levels of onsite welding training. Not only were beginning welders offered the training, but workers both on and off the production floor were given the opportunity to train. By opening the training to more Tank Technology employees, the company found some hidden talent from within the organization.
With each passing year, Lunow has spearheaded offering even more training opportunities. In 2023, Lunow, her team and Moraine Park collaborated to build the most diverse training plan to date that included welding, blueprint reading, root cause analysis and project management—all for production staff. The team also committed to offering their own customized supervisory soft skills series that kicked off in February 2024.
