The Business Insider has mapped the issue of tech jobs in search of talent. They break it down by region and show how many tech jobs need to be filled per 10,000 residents, and even track the changes from March to May of 2013. Click here for the full article.

A shortage of technology workers is a problem for employers from coast-to-coast. The Fox Cities Regional Partnership is working to help solve this problem for employers in our area. Do you have tech jobs that need to be filled? Are you a worker looking for a job that utilizes your high-tech skills? Tell us your story in the comments below!

The post Fox Cities: Can’t Hire Tech Workers Fast Enough appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.

Pictured from left: Tom Bates,- Appleton North High School, Andy Preissner – A to Z Machine, Jeff Lang – OMNI Resources

This collaborative effort is taking off!  Last week at the Fox Cities Chamber’s BizBlend, a breakfast for news and networking gathering, a group of dedicated and excited professionals helped put in perspective the importance of this web based resource that’s brought to light the need for communication and collaboration between business and educators.

Jeff Lang, Solutions Group Managing Director at OMNI Resources said “this website allows student’s entrance to exciting career options available right here in the valley.  Students at the 8^th grade career fair were very surprised by the cool ‘careers behind the $0.99 App’ that our company offers.”

OMNI Resources has been with this project from its inception.  In the fall of 2012, the Competitive Workforce Alliance identified a need to streamline the outreach process for both businesses and schools.   That’s when Patty Milka, Director, Competitive Workforce at the Fox Cities Chamber reached out to Jeff Lang in hopes that they could build the framework for the concept she developed.  Realizing the niche this website could fill and the endless possibilities for collaboration that it held, they came on board and this joint effort took off.  OMNI Resources has been instrumental in building the website that has become Connect A Career.

Tom Bates, an Appleton North High School teacher, has been testing the website this semester with a group of students, “The Connect a Career Website is a huge time saver in the classroom and it puts the needs of the educator in direct touch with the needs of the business.”  This testing process will perfect the website before it goes live for the 2013-2014 school year.

If you are a business or educator  interested in participating, please contact Patty Milka at pmilka@foxcitieschamber.com or 734-7101.

The post Connect A Career Highlights the Power of Partnership appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.

A to Z Machine recently held its 2^nd Annual Youth Apprentice Parents Night which provided an opportunity for parents to better understand of the complexities of the CNC machining skilled trades as well as earnings and career options.

Andy Preissner, HR & Safety Manager at A to Z Machine stated that “We have been partnering with various high schools throughout the area to increase visibility and exposure of the opportunities within skilled trades (CNC Machining, welding, etc.) We think Youth Apprenticeship is valuable because it provides direct experience and exposure for students who are interested in the CNC Machine trade. This is a great opportunity for students to spend a year or more of school learning and experiencing the trade, and figure out if it is right for them, while we (A to Z Machine Co.) get some time to see if we would like to hire them on once they graduate. We are utilizing this program to not only develop our own CNC Machinists, but to also increase exposure for the field. Instead of accepting status quo and succumbing to the constant news that less and less individuals are pursuing skilled trades, we are proactively working to develop the professionals of tomorrow. Manufacturing is not what it once was and we need highly skilled and passionate individuals to join our team and help our business grow. This is an excellent opportunity to change the perception of manufacturing one student at a time.”

Manufacturing is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Youth Apprenticeship Programs.   This will serve an array of businesses and students within the Fox Cities.  “Connect a Career,” a resource from The Competitive Workforce Alliance, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce will serve as a platform for business and students to post/view these invaluable work-based learning opportunities. For more information regarding how you can get involved with “Connect A Career,” contact Patty Milka, Director of Competitive Workforce. pmilka@foxcitieschamber.com or 920-734-7101

For information specific to Youth Apprenticeships, please contact Tania Kilpatrick, Regional Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator at CESA 6.  tkilpatrick@cesa6.org or 920-236-0531

The post “Connect A Career” Provides Platform For Youth Apprenticeships appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.

The Fox Cities Chamber, Competitive Workforce Development program works closely with schools to ensure that this event gives students the opportunity they need to align their interests and potential career choices with the appropriate high school courses.

For more information or to see how you can be part of this event next year, please contact Patty Milka at the Fox Cities Chamber:  (920) 734-7101 or pmilka@foxcitieschamber.com.

The post 8th Graders Inspired at the 7th Annual Career Fair appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.

3^rd Annual Fox Cities Future 15 Young Professionals Awards

Nominations are now open!  Click here to nominate a young professional today!

The deadline to nominate is Friday, February 8^th, 2013

Pulse Young Professionals, a program of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and The Post-Crescent will honor 15 local young professionals who excel within their places of employment and in the community. This year’s Future 15 young professional awards will be held at UW-Fox Valley’s Communication Arts Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Appleton Trophy & Engraving and UW-Fox Valley are sponsoring this year’s program.

Take a minute to nominate someone for the Future 15 Young Professional Awards today!  Self-nominations are also encouraged. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, February 8, 2013.  Those nominated will receive an application that is to be completed by Thursday, February 21, 2013.

Evaluation:

Criteria to be considered for Future 15 Young Professionals:

–   YP must be in his/her company for a minimum of 2 years

–    YP must live or work in the Fox Cities

–    YP should be active in community service

–    Applications for each nominee must be completed by the  nominated person and then submitted

–    If selected as a recipient, must agree to be profiled in a special  section for The Post-Crescent as well   as a video to be shown at the awards event and on postcrescent.com.

–   Previous winners are not eligible to reapply for a minimum of three years

Submitted applications will be reviewed by a pre-screening committee of past Future 15 winners, who will narrow down the applications to 25 professionals. Then a panel of judges consisting of area business leaders will review these 25 applications and select the top 15 young professionals in the Fox Cities. Professionals’ names will be removed from their applications before they are shared with the pre-screening committee and panel of judges. The scores will account for 90% of the overall score.

The public will also have the opportunity to get involved.  The top 25 applicants will provide a brief bio and photo of themselves that will be used for the voting page on postcrescent.com. This online vote will take place for a week in mid-March.   The public will be able to vote on who they think should be chosen as one of the Future 15. The overall score will be comprised of 10% from the online vote and 90% from the judges’ scores.

* Fox Cities includes Outagamie and Calumet Counties; Neenah and Menasha Area.

The post appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.

The coverage of the event highlights what was evident to those in attendance: business leaders from many industry sectors see inclusion and equality for people in the LGBT community as a smart business move. Of course we want the Fox Cities to be a welcoming community for all of our friends and neighbors, but company Presidents and CEOs have embraced policy changes — like same-sex partner health benefits — as good business practices.

The event emcee, Tim Galloway, CEO of Galloway Co., shared his personal experience of having gay relatives. If those family members sought employment at the family business they would likely make an exception so their partners could be covered. Rather than make that the “exception” his company is going to make that the rule.

Inclusion is good business. To learn more or find out about events sponsored by INCLUDE check out their page on Facebook.

The post Fox Cities Businesses want to INCLUDE the LGBT Community appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.

The article lays out the new vision that Anderson puts forth for how 3D printing and other technology will allow for “industrial artisans” to imagine, design, create, and market new niche products to people all around the world.

While his penchant for optimism certainly pervades the new book, Anderson’s vision for the future represents a tantalizing opportunity for revitalizing American manufacturing.  When a creative craftsman can design and build a unique product and market it to the globe, all from his desktop, the sky is the limit!  And given the powerful tools available from FVTC’s D.J. Bordini Business & Industry Center the future could start here in the Fox Valley.

What kind of products do you think would be possible in this new future of manufacturing?

The post New Vision of the Future of Manufacturing appeared first on Fox Cities Chamber Blog.