Gateway Technical College has created such a strong bond between education and area manufacturers that it has helped Southeastern Wisconsin businesses and education to compete against others in the industry across the nation.

So said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on a visit to the college’s SC Johnson iMET Center on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in celebration of October as Manufacturing Month.

“There’s such a great connection between jobs, the places where jobs are at and Gateway Technical College,” said Evers. “It’s important to make sure our system of education connects with the expectations of the workforce, and that’s one of the reasons Southeast Wisconsin has seen growth in these industries.”

Evers toured the college’s Sturtevant-based center, talking to staff and students about their work in such areas as robotics, precision measuring, CNC labs and the center’s simulated manufacturing lab. There’s a great need for manufacturing skills training in today’s workforce, and college staff told the governor that Gateway provides students with the education needed to be job-ready after earning their diploma or degree.

Gateway Technical College President and CEO Veronique Tran pointed out that the college has deep roots in manufacturing training, dating back to its founding 115 years ago.

“As we celebrate Manufacturing Month and Gateway celebrates its 115th anniversary, we know that Gateway has been there the entire time, working with our students and industry partners to make sure we provide the best training possible,” said Tran. 

“It was an honor to welcome Governor Evers to Gateway and showcase the talented students, dedicated faculty and industry-connected training that help power our region’s manufacturing workforce. As technologies and workforce needs evolve, we remain committed to equipping students with the technical knowledge, hands-on experience and adaptable skills they need to succeed, while partnering with employers to strengthen their existing workforce. We appreciate Governor Evers’ recognition of the vital role technical colleges play in supporting Wisconsin’s economic vitality and future.”

Wisconsin is a national leader in manufacturing, with more than 470,000 manufacturing jobs across nearly 9,000 companies, making Wisconsin a national leader for manufacturing employment per capita.