"People may have no idea what's made right in their backyard," said Sarah Hartwick, vice president of education and workforce policy at the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. "The purpose of the Makers on the Move bus tour is to bring awareness and celebrate modern manufacturing in Illinois – the incredible products that are made and careers that are available."
The third annual statewide tour kicked off Oct. 4 at Ace Sign Company in Springfield and concluded Oct. 12 at the University of Illinois football game in Champaign, making 40 stops along the way at manufacturing facilities and schools. The IMA jointly sponsors Makers on the Move with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center as part of Manufacturing Month in Illinois. Participants at the tour stops can take photos, sign the bus and network with its occupants.
"We chose to start at Ace because we had a statewide competition for high school students to design our decorative bus wrap, and a student at Capital Area Career Center won," said Hartwick. "Todd (Bringuet, CEO of Ace Sign Co.) reached out and said they could produce and install the bus wrap, so it's nice to do it all locally.
"Some people may still think manufacturing is a dark, dirty and dangerous industry, but Ace is a great example of how manufacturing is today: clean, innovative, high-tech and sustainable," she continued. "Ace has an incredible legacy. They do work for high-level celebrities and clients worldwide."
She cited several other manufacturers in Springfield. "Mel-O-Cream Donuts ships product across the country. LRS: we recognize all they do to support the manufacturing industry. Roland Machinery and others ... a lot of people don't realize the manufacturing that exists in Springfield and the impact those companies have across the world."
Bringuet said Ace is honored to be involved in Makers on the Move. "Some people may know Ace for our bigger projects like the Route 66 Experience at the state fairgrounds but aren't aware that our roots are in the hand-painting of signs that goes back to the carriage-making days here in Springfield in 1887.
"Manufacturing provides products to people in our state, country and all over the world," added Bringuet. "Manufacturing in Illinois is something we're passionate about, and who we are. Right here in Springfield with BUNN, Mel-O-Cream ... so many great manufacturers here and across the state. Manufacturing is an economic engine and provides many opportunities for employment."
Bringuet said that Ace enjoys partnering with CACC and Lincoln Land Community College to make students aware of careers in graphic design, welding, painting, sheet metal work and electrical equipment operation. "We love to showcase to students that there's a lot of different ways to apply these skills in our industry."
Maxwell Lehmann, who attended CACC and graduated from Springfield High School last June, was the winner of the bus design competition. Another CACC student, Layne Rude, currently a senior at Glenwood High School, was a finalist.
"I found out about the contest through IMA and thought it would be a great idea for our students to participate," said Robert Ferriell, who coordinates student and business services at CACC. "The prestige and recognition of having something that special and prominent with your design on it rolling across the state – we think it's great for a first major project coming out of high school."
He said CACC partners with local employers like Ace to provide career exploration and internships for students. He said 1,300 high school juniors and seniors from 24 high schools attend CACC part of the school day to receive hands-on training in a variety of subjects. Enrollment has almost doubled in the past five years, and about half of the programs offer dual credit (high school and college) through LLCC.
Also attending the kickoff was Doug Hoy, director of the industrial maintenance and electrical program at LLCC. "Calling attention to manufacturing in the state helps everybody see the opportunities," said Hoy. "The workforce is aging, so we're trying to bring awareness that there are good opportunities out there where you can make good money by getting into the trades, including manufacturing."
A related effort to Makers on the Move is the Make it in Illinois marketing campaign that launched Oct. 10, targeting students, career changers and those who want to reenter the workforce. "The idea is to celebrate and highlight what working in manufacturing looks like today," said Hartwick.
The future of manufacturing in Illinois is bright, said Hartwick. "The governor has prioritized the EV space, so we have a lot of companies and all the supply chain that is associated with electric vehicles – those are some of our newer and bigger manufacturers. We also have a very strong food vertical within the Illinois manufacturing industry.
"Some really incredible products are made in Illinois."
