MIDLAND, Mich. — Northwood University and the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) have launched the “FAME/Northwood Leaders and Professionals Inspiration Series” or LPIS, a special partnership between the university and the growing employer education collaborative.
The program, a key component of the Manufacturing Career Pathways Program and Toyota College Partner programs, is designed to connect industry leaders who have demonstrated career success with those still emerging in the profession through an on-going series of targeted seminars. The association says the seminars allow for valuable, open dialogue between these industry veterans and new talent. The programs are held at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. (TEMA) Advance Manufacturing Career Pathways (AMCP) centers across North America.
The first seminar of this series featured presenter Terry Henderson, general manager, administration – human resources and safety, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI). Henderson kicked off the new program with a presentation, “Maximizing Your Career Potential,” at the Toyota NAPSC Building in Georgetown, Kentucky.
“I was excited for this opportunity to share back with the younger and upcoming generation of manufacturing workers the experiences that I have encountered in my own journey. It was very worthwhile,” said Henderson. “Our new and existing team members need the opportunity to get to know, on a personal level, our executive and managerial staff. And we need the opportunity to get to know them.”
“With its longstanding leadership in the automotive industry, Northwood University is the best partner for us to quickly scale activity for this series across North America to our other AMCP locations,” said Dennis Dio Parker, developer of the Advanced Manufacturing Careers Pathways Program. “Simply put, events like this provide another example of how business and educators can work together to make significant impact on employee development and engagement.”
“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to continue our long-term partnership and commitment to Toyota Manufacturing, and now with the many companies joining together to offer the FAME programs through sponsoring the Leaders and Professionals Inspiration Series,” said Northwood University President and CEO Keith Pretty. “The speakers we have at these events are phenomenal individuals that are well-respected and proven industry leaders. Attendees will come away with tangible skills that will remain with them for the rest of their careers.”
While students in the Advanced Manufacturing Engineer (AME) and Advanced Manufacturing Business (AMB) programs are the main participants in this new educational series, active Northwood University students and alumni and employees of FAME member companies also are invited to participate in the sessions.
Although future sessions are still in the development phases, speakers currently slated include high-level officials of FAME companies working at plants across the United States, a lineup that Parker promises will deliver “high-octane connections” for participants.
“This partnership represents a truly unique and valuable opportunity for Northwood University, its students and alumni, and FAME companies,” notes Timothy Nash, Northwood University’s senior vice president for strategic and corporate alliances.
For more information about the FAME/Northwood University Leaders and Professionals Inspiration Series, contact Emily Porter at [email protected] or call 800-622-9000.
