WEBVTT
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Well, you got a week to get your kids involved,
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and it's a very worthy cause. This is West Michigan's
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morning News sty Kelly Brett Kata. That's Laurence Smith, the
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00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:12.839
director of Workforce Development to Kent isd is Ryan Grant
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in studio this morning. Ryan, thanks for doing this today.
6
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You're welcome. Good morning everybody.
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Talk to us a little bit about Discover Manufacturing Week
8
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twenty twenty five. How does it work?
9
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Yeah, this is a great opportunity for schools, parents, anybody
10
00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:28.480
that wants to get involved with looking at manufacturing across
11
00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:32.520
West Michigan, a true on site look at what's happening
12
00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:35.479
behind the scenes. And nothing is greater than awareness and
13
00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:38.560
really seeing what's happening in our great manufacturing places across
14
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:39.200
West Michigan.
15
00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:41.079
And we were how many years ago was it that
16
00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:44.560
electro leuct closed in Greenville, and that was like it
17
00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:49.119
manufacturing is and it's back, bigger and better than ever.
18
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Yeah, we're blessed in West Michigan to have such a
19
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strong backbone of manufacturing and it's a great way for
20
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young men and women in the talent pool here in
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West Michigan to stay right here and grow through their careers.
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You know, all of us have hosted students in here
23
00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.959
for job shadow every ones like oh, radio or TV
24
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.480
or whatever the case might be, but they don't always
25
00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:10.840
know how to approach it with these type of jobs,
26
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which are the hottest jobs out there. So I want
27
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to take a one step further. I mean, talk about
28
00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:17.879
the experience the kids will get. But then also if
29
00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.239
you're homeschooled or a different situation, we don't have that
30
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school affilation, they can still contact you.
31
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Right exactly, Brett. And so the opportunity to sign up
32
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through Discovermanufacturing dot Com gives you the access to be
33
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able to go meet those employers or those manufacturing locations.
34
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What students really enjoy is the ability to be on site,
35
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much like your job shadows. They get to see behind
36
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the scenes what's really happening. Right. There's some old stigmas
37
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out there about manufacturing, that it's dirty, that it's grimy.
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You go into these places, they are technology advanced and
39
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there's some of the cleanest places that you will be
40
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with phenomenal breakrooms, right, I mean the full name of
41
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amenities that you have for the employees on these manage
42
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what's a break.
43
00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.519
Yes, yes, you know We've actually done a couple of
44
00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:05.519
interviews about this kind of specific thing.
45
00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:07.280
Agribusiness a part of this.
46
00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:07.920
With you guys.
47
00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:11.800
Yeah, so a great partnership with agribusiness now because that's
48
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about thirty thousand jobs that are in West Michigan alone
49
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based around the technology the manufacturing of food that we
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are servicing across West Michigan, if not the country when
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you look at food production right here in West Michigan.
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So a great ad to discover manufacturing week because of
53
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the jobs that are based within those manufacturing realms of
54
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career paths.
55
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We had one of our kids. I don't think she
56
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ever would have worked, I mean period until she did
57
00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:41.240
an internship and then the light came on. Talk to
58
00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:43.199
us a little bit about the reaction you're getting from
59
00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.439
kids when they're exposed to that.
60
00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:48.680
Yeah, we literally have one hundred percent satisfaction rate amongst
61
00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:51.319
the teachers and students that are participating. And I think
62
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a big reason why is you are on site. You
63
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don't know what you don't know until you see it
64
00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.319
in person, and I think a lot of young men
65
00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.080
and women really enjoy what they're seeing, the hands on
66
00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:05.680
aspect of manufacturing, the production of something is really important
67
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for students these days.
68
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And Ryan from the manufacturers standpoint and these businesses, I
69
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mean there's a lot of pride there, right, They're excited
70
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about this. They want to show off their place. And
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how many times are you driving around West Michigan You're like,
72
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I didn't realize that building was there. Or you know
73
00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:21.759
Old Orchard right next to Spartan Stadium up in Sport,
74
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a huge manufacturer that people just you don't get a
75
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chance to go in the doors and see what it's
76
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all about.
77
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Yeah, we have a lot of great manufacturers in West
78
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Michigan that have deep roots, that have great passion for
79
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what they're doing. And if you're a parent looking at
80
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the career path for your student, right, I'm a dad,
81
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I want my kids to stay around West Michigan, and
82
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so these are great avenues in which they can grow
83
00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:47.360
into long term careers. Think about HR marketing all that
84
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goes around manufacturing as well, and these are phenomenal companies
85
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that have deep family roots and the ability to have
86
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longevity right here in West Michigan.
87
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So we have parents listening right now.
88
00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:58.639
But if a teacher is listening, can we still get
89
00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:00.280
school signed up for that exactly.
90
00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.599
You still can. October tenth is one of our deadlines
91
00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:05.560
there that we would love to have teachers and staff
92
00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.280
from schools be able to sign up at Discovery Manufacturing
93
00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:12.159
dot com. The event runs from October thirteenth through November
94
00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.400
twenty fifth. We have already over one hundred and fifty
95
00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.319
student tours. You know, you take twenty five students a class,
96
00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:20.319
that's almost three thousand kids that are going to be
97
00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.399
able to see manufacturing on site.
98
00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.399
That's cool to see educators fired up too, That includes you.
99
00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:30.199
Ryan Graham, director of Workforce Development at the Kent ID,
100
00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.519
thank you so much for coming in.
101
00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.279
You are welcome, Thanks for the opportunity.
102
00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.040
Would Radio news Time eight forty one got a couple
103
00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.759
of resumes we want to pass off to you
1
00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.160
Well, you got a week to get your kids involved,
2
00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:06.519
and it's a very worthy cause. This is West Michigan's
3
00:00:06.519 --> 00:00:09.119
morning News sty Kelly Brett Kata. That's Laurence Smith, the
4
00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:12.839
director of Workforce Development to Kent isd is Ryan Grant
5
00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:15.839
in studio this morning. Ryan, thanks for doing this today.
6
00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:17.320
You're welcome. Good morning everybody.
7
00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:20.399
Talk to us a little bit about Discover Manufacturing Week
8
00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:22.600
twenty twenty five. How does it work?
9
00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:25.640
Yeah, this is a great opportunity for schools, parents, anybody
10
00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:28.480
that wants to get involved with looking at manufacturing across
11
00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:32.520
West Michigan, a true on site look at what's happening
12
00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:35.479
behind the scenes. And nothing is greater than awareness and
13
00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:38.560
really seeing what's happening in our great manufacturing places across
14
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:39.200
West Michigan.
15
00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:41.079
And we were how many years ago was it that
16
00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:44.560
electro leuct closed in Greenville, and that was like it
17
00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:49.119
manufacturing is and it's back, bigger and better than ever.
18
00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:51.600
Yeah, we're blessed in West Michigan to have such a
19
00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:55.679
strong backbone of manufacturing and it's a great way for
20
00:00:55.799 --> 00:00:58.039
young men and women in the talent pool here in
21
00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:01.359
West Michigan to stay right here and grow through their careers.
22
00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:03.600
You know, all of us have hosted students in here
23
00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.959
for job shadow every ones like oh, radio or TV
24
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.480
or whatever the case might be, but they don't always
25
00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:10.840
know how to approach it with these type of jobs,
26
00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:13.519
which are the hottest jobs out there. So I want
27
00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:15.239
to take a one step further. I mean, talk about
28
00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:17.879
the experience the kids will get. But then also if
29
00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.239
you're homeschooled or a different situation, we don't have that
30
00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:22.280
school affilation, they can still contact you.
31
00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:24.799
Right exactly, Brett. And so the opportunity to sign up
32
00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:28.319
through Discovermanufacturing dot Com gives you the access to be
33
00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:32.079
able to go meet those employers or those manufacturing locations.
34
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.480
What students really enjoy is the ability to be on site,
35
00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:38.319
much like your job shadows. They get to see behind
36
00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:41.280
the scenes what's really happening. Right. There's some old stigmas
37
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:44.359
out there about manufacturing, that it's dirty, that it's grimy.
38
00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:48.319
You go into these places, they are technology advanced and
39
00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.439
there's some of the cleanest places that you will be
40
00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:54.040
with phenomenal breakrooms, right, I mean the full name of
41
00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:57.480
amenities that you have for the employees on these manage
42
00:01:58.200 --> 00:01:59.000
what's a break.
43
00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.519
Yes, yes, you know We've actually done a couple of
44
00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:05.519
interviews about this kind of specific thing.
45
00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:07.280
Agribusiness a part of this.
46
00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:07.920
With you guys.
47
00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:11.800
Yeah, so a great partnership with agribusiness now because that's
48
00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.919
about thirty thousand jobs that are in West Michigan alone
49
00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.360
based around the technology the manufacturing of food that we
50
00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:22.159
are servicing across West Michigan, if not the country when
51
00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:24.479
you look at food production right here in West Michigan.
52
00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:28.039
So a great ad to discover manufacturing week because of
53
00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.680
the jobs that are based within those manufacturing realms of
54
00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:32.360
career paths.
55
00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:34.599
We had one of our kids. I don't think she
56
00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:38.080
ever would have worked, I mean period until she did
57
00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:41.240
an internship and then the light came on. Talk to
58
00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:43.199
us a little bit about the reaction you're getting from
59
00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.439
kids when they're exposed to that.
60
00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:48.680
Yeah, we literally have one hundred percent satisfaction rate amongst
61
00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:51.319
the teachers and students that are participating. And I think
62
00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:54.000
a big reason why is you are on site. You
63
00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:56.199
don't know what you don't know until you see it
64
00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.319
in person, and I think a lot of young men
65
00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.080
and women really enjoy what they're seeing, the hands on
66
00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:05.680
aspect of manufacturing, the production of something is really important
67
00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:06.719
for students these days.
68
00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:10.120
And Ryan from the manufacturers standpoint and these businesses, I
69
00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:12.319
mean there's a lot of pride there, right, They're excited
70
00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:14.520
about this. They want to show off their place. And
71
00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:16.639
how many times are you driving around West Michigan You're like,
72
00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:18.840
I didn't realize that building was there. Or you know
73
00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:21.759
Old Orchard right next to Spartan Stadium up in Sport,
74
00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.960
a huge manufacturer that people just you don't get a
75
00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.400
chance to go in the doors and see what it's
76
00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:26.840
all about.
77
00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:29.080
Yeah, we have a lot of great manufacturers in West
78
00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:32.000
Michigan that have deep roots, that have great passion for
79
00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:34.479
what they're doing. And if you're a parent looking at
80
00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.879
the career path for your student, right, I'm a dad,
81
00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.560
I want my kids to stay around West Michigan, and
82
00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:42.520
so these are great avenues in which they can grow
83
00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:47.360
into long term careers. Think about HR marketing all that
84
00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:50.960
goes around manufacturing as well, and these are phenomenal companies
85
00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.680
that have deep family roots and the ability to have
86
00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:55.439
longevity right here in West Michigan.
87
00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.039
So we have parents listening right now.
88
00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:58.639
But if a teacher is listening, can we still get
89
00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:00.280
school signed up for that exactly.
90
00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.599
You still can. October tenth is one of our deadlines
91
00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:05.560
there that we would love to have teachers and staff
92
00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.280
from schools be able to sign up at Discovery Manufacturing
93
00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:12.159
dot com. The event runs from October thirteenth through November
94
00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.400
twenty fifth. We have already over one hundred and fifty
95
00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.319
student tours. You know, you take twenty five students a class,
96
00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:20.319
that's almost three thousand kids that are going to be
97
00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.399
able to see manufacturing on site.
98
00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.399
That's cool to see educators fired up too, That includes you.
99
00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:30.199
Ryan Graham, director of Workforce Development at the Kent ID,
100
00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.519
thank you so much for coming in.
101
00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.279
You are welcome, Thanks for the opportunity.
102
00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.040
Would Radio news Time eight forty one got a couple
103
00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.759
of resumes we want to pass off to you
