Business & Community

The LISD TECH Center is proud to be a central player in creating the next generation of skilled workers. The LISD is also an active participant in county-wide collaborative efforts to create a consistent and reliable talent pipeline for Lenawee County employers.

The LISD TECH Center actively seeks out partnerships, learning opportunities, and other projects with local, regional, and statewide businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations.

2024 Date and Employer Registration

This year's event is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 8:30 - 10:30 AM.

Employer Registration Link

Overview

The Reverse Job Fair (RJF) is an LISD TECH Center event held every spring that introduces soon-to-be graduating students in manufacturing, construction, or automotive career pathways to local and regional employers looking for talent. Participating students are currently enrolled in a LISD TECH Center program, including:

  • Machining & Computer Aided Manufacturing
  • Welding Technology
  • Automotive Services Technology
  • Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing

What is a Reverse Job Fair?

At most job fairs, employers set up booths and prospective employees look to find which companies offer the best jobs. At the Reverse Job Fair, LISD TECH Center students will be seated at a table with resumes, info cards, and work samples in front of them, while prospective employers look to find who offers the most for their company. If requested, students also have the opportunity to take employers back to their lab or classroom to discuss and demonstrate the processes they went through to produce the weld, part, design, drawing, or other work sample.

What Types of Students Participate?

Many of the participating students are seniors, just a few weeks from graduation. Some are seeking immediate employment, while others are entering college in the fall but are looking for work experience through summer employment. Participating juniors are eager to find summer employment, internships, and co-ops.

Manufacturing Day logo

Manufacturing Day® is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers and occurs on the first Friday in October. Manufacturing Day addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.

Manufacuring Day® website

Lenawee Manufacturing Day

2018

Lenawee's 3rd Manufacturing Day was another success, with 400 students from across Lenawee County touring two area companies and talking with industry experts. 20 total area companies were host sites this year, including IDIDIT, Rare Tool, Axis Engineering, Glycon, Kirchhoff, Ross Design, Watts Water, Rima, Hi-Lex, Kamco, General Broach, L&W, Uckele, Hardwoods of Michigan, Heinen Avionics, Anderson Development, Inteva, Aget, Wacker Chemical, Adrian Precision, Adrian Steel, and Martinrea. More Information on the 2018 Manufacturing Day.

Students touring manufacturing company

2017

2017 marked the second year of Lenawee County participation in Manufacturing Day, with about 400 students visiting local companies, nearly double the number of 2016. 23 area companies held tours and engaged students online through MI Bright Future.

Each student who participated in Manufacturing Day toured and talked with two different local companies before enjoying a lunch with peers and industry representatives. The activity, which was designed to only take half a school day, was supported by follow-up discussions in the classroom, as well as researching and using message boards to communicate with companies through MI Bright Future.

Participating companies included: Adrian Precision Machining, Adrian Steel, Aerospace Services & Products, Aget Manufacturing, Anderson Development, Axis Engineering, Ervin Industries, General Broach Company, Glycon Corp, HMI Hardwoods, Ididit Inc, Inteva Products, Kamco Industries, KIRCHHOFF Automotive, L&W Engineering, Martinrea International, Meridian Mechatronics, Plastic Omnium, Rare Tool Inc, Rima Manufacturing Company, Wacker Chemical Corporation, Venchurs, and W2Fuel.

The events planned for Lenawee County were planned by the LISD TECH Center, Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry, Lenawee Now, MI Bright Future, and Michigan Works! Southeast.

Students outside manufacturing plant

Additional Resources

Distinguished Alumni - An award given to former LISD TECH Center (formerly Lenawee Vo-Tech) students will have demonstrated excellence and success in their careers and are involved in the community.

ALIGN Lenawee - The LISD is an active participant in this county-wide initiative to inspire middle and high school students to explore manufacturing and other professional trades.