August 11, 2016 | View PDF
Aug 11, 2016
This month, the feature article in Business Record Iowa highlights something about which I am quite passionate: the need to build strong partnerships between business and education.
For more than three decades, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation has been working with students, educators and business leaders to help introduce Iowa students to the opportunities available to them in the state.
West Des Moines city and economic development leaders recognize the importance of cultivating small businesses.
That’s what led to a new educational series aimed at helping these companies learn about everything from identifying customers to long-term strategic planning.
Iowa’s business community and educational institutions have created new relationships and partnerships to ensure students and workers have the training and skills necessary to fill high-demand jobs in the state.
In business it is important to maximize productivity, whether it be with equipment or human assets. We all know how important preventive maintenance is for machines and equipment, but often this same philosophy is not taken with a company’s most important asset, its people. I think we would all agree that a company’s most important assets are qualified, healthy employees, who are maximizing their potential every day.
Elevate Advanced Manufacturing partnered with Iowa community colleges to offer educators from across Iowa a four-day program this summer focused on changing the perception of advanced manufacturing and preparing students of all age levels with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace of tomorrow.