Mentor High Hosts Manufacturing Expo

Before Thursday, Mentor High School students couldn't recall a time when multiple manufacturers and colleges came to their place of learning to teach them about the possibilities after graduation.

The cafeteria was the site of the first-ever "Think Manufacturing" expo, presented by the Lake County Chambers of Commerce and the Alliance for Working Together. About 20 businesses and three colleges set up booths and gave students a glimpse into Lake County manufacturing and reassurance that the industry has plenty of open spots within its job market.

"I think this is rather interesting," Mentor junior Mario Znaor said. "I like how Mentor High School is showing you that there are jobs out there. I'm really happy with this."

Manufacturers went into the event hoping to convince students that their industry is thriving as the largest sector in the county and can only continue to do so if more students choose that path after school. Those businesses received a boost from schools like Auburn Career Center, which collaborates on internships with several of the firms who were at the expo. Aside from displaying their own CNC pendant machinery, Auburn personnel advised students, particularly seniors, on which companies were hiring and what they would need to get into their doors.

"We could say, 'this company would hire you, this company could potentially pay for your school,'" said. Michelle Rodewald, Auburn's business partnership coordinator. "I think it's been great, we had a lot of people stop by."

Kevin Malecek and Karen Tercek, executive directors of the Mentor and Willoughby chambers of commerce, respectively, were pleased with the turnout of 65 students, considering it was a first-year event on an 80-plus-degree day.

"Manufacturers were saying they did events elsewhere, but found more interest here," Tercek said. "For a first-time event, I'm thrilled."

Area businesses and schools didn't expect to change the perception of the industry with just one event, but they appreciated the exposure to future graduates in the process of making tough decisions.

"Manufacturing goes unnoticed to a lot of the students," said Sara Spence, whose family operates Spence Technologies, a CNC precision machining firm in Willoughby. "We had a lot of people come up and say, 'what is CNC machining?' You explain it to them and you kind of see their faces light up like, 'I can do this.'

"That's rewarding for me, that we're reaching out to people like that. I wish there were more programs like this." 

Here are some Mentor companies who participated in the event:

• Competitive Carbride
• Component Repair Technologies
• Fredon Corp.
• Libra Industries
• Mold Masters International
• Polychem
• Roll Kraft
• Thermotion
• Volk Optical