October was manufacturing month in Illinois, and around Morrison, we’re always excited to work with our local community to lead them into careers within our industry.
To celebrate Manufacturing Month 2020, a select number of companies were chosen to highlight their significance in the manufacturing industry. Morrison’s CEO, Nancy Wilson, accepted the award and proclamation from the governor of Illinois, given to her by the mayor of Glenwood, Illinois.
But Manufacturing Month doesn’t have to stop come November 1st! There are ways to get involved year-round. Here’s just a few ways we’ve found to help unite the future workforce to careers in manufacturing that may spark ideas for our fellow manufacturers.
1. Get involved with your local universities.
Morrison’s Take: MFG Day 2020 and Governors State University “Tours”
On the first Friday in October, companies celebrate Manufacturing Day to show the way a modern manufacturing company functions and encourage other companies to overcome their challenges by opening their doors to those in their community to help their company grow and future generations thrive. On October 2nd this year, the typical day-long event was done a little more creatively.
Morrison hosted a virtual tour of our facility and showed in depth videos of what it is Morrison does as a manufacturing company. About 100 high school and college students through local high schools and Governors State University participated in this event and were able to ask questions such as what they should be studying to start a career in manufacturing. They were able to get real answers from professionals in the industry: our experts at Morrison.
2. Hire and promote interns.
Morrison’s Take: Our Internship Program 
Morrison has always put education at the forefront of their business, believing that the combination of right people provided with the right education can lead to overall success. That’s why Morrison’s internship program spans across all departments and accepts applicants year-round. This summer, Morrison was happy to have brought on 7 interns studying a variety of subjects, and a few more joined the team in October.
3. Get involved with community organizations dedicated to helping citizens find careers they love.
Morrison’s Take: Continued Involvement with OAI
OAI, Opportunity Advancement Innovations in Workforce Development, works to provide training and education to underserved communities facing higher rates of unemployment and stronger barriers to entry into many industries. With their help, Morrison has been put in touch with interns interested in careers in the manufacturing industry, and so far, in two cases those interns were then hired on full time.
To learn more about the training and education opportunities from OAI, click here.
