Event an example of 'collaboration in action

ELYRIA — The Greater Sandusky Partnership, in partnership with hosting sponsor Lorain County Community College, successfully orchestrated Manufacturing Day 2.0, a day dedicated to innovation, collaboration and workforce development for the region's manufacturing sector. Partners in the program included MAGNET Ohio, ONE Lorain County, the Child Care Resource Center, North Point Educational Service Center, the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce and Terra State Community College. Building on insights from the first Manufacturing Day, which occurred in July, this follow-up event brought together industry leaders, educators and community partners to address regional priorities shaping the future of manufacturing. The event featured presentations from several leaders and educators in the industry: • Michael O'Donnell, chief operating officer of consulting at MAGNET, addressed strategies for developing employees into effective leaders. • Ashley Spangler, the career readiness coordinator at North Point Educational Service Center, outlined ways educators could expose students to careers in manufacturing, including through virtual reality headsets that the center provides to classrooms within its territory: Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties. • Tracy Green, vice president of strategic and institutional development, and Cynthia Kushner, director of school, workforce and community partnerships at Lorain County Community College, spoke about educational and training opportunities available at Lorain County Community College to address the skills gap and provide the next generation with the necessary skills to enter the industry. Guided campus tours of the applied tech and training spaces were offered to attendees during the event. Childcare remains a major barrier for manufacturing employees. Jennifer Dodge, executive director at the Child Care Resource Center, spoke about ongoing conversations on childcare solutions, including on-site or near-site centers and unique business partnerships. "In the Firelands region and beyond, we're proving that innovative childcare solutions from micro centers to business partnerships — can rebuild the workforce from the ground up," Dodge said. The event concluded with a presentation from Matt Lasko, chief development officer for the Greater Sandusky Partnership. Lasko highlighted that manufacturing investment remains strong in the region due to access to land, utilities, fresh water and transportation infrastructure. He also outlined the next steps, including continued regional manufacturer engagement, development of workforce strategies and leveraging existing partnerships and best practices inside and outside the region. "The Manufacturing 2.0 event was a powerful example of collaboration in action, bringing together education, industry and community partners to shape the future of our regional workforce," said Janice Lapina, director of continuing education at Lorain County Community College. "Events like this remind us that innovation begins when people come together around a shared purpose," Lapina said.