Sullair, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions since 1965, is working to inspire the next generation to explore career paths in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Sullair is the first company in LaPorte County to team up with Edge Factor, a resource for educators providing teaching resources for students, to introduce local 3rd-12th graders to career opportunities in industrial settings.
“With a tightened labor market, workforce development is one of our top initiatives,” said Charlie Takeuchi, Executive Vice President and COO of Sullair. “It is important to introduce students to career options at an early age to ensure we have a continuous pipeline of qualified workers well into the future.”
Sullair will highlight five careers found at the Michigan City campus with interviews from current employees working in product management, engineering, human resources, purchasing and assembly. One interview will also introduce students to the Sullair internship program available to college students. Each career path will feature five short touchpoint videos detailing what each position is, how it relates to STEAM and what it’s like to work at Sullair.
“Sullair has a unique opportunity to ignite the next generation and get them excited about careers they can find in the local community,” said Kelly Molchan, Talent Acquisition & Employee Engagement Specialist at Sullair. “We look forward to introducing students to the many career paths available at Sullair. With our acquisition by Hitachi, students have even more opportunities for a global role right in their backyard.”
STEAM education has become part of the regular curriculum for many school districts as a way to help students learn how to think critically — a crucial skill to working in these career paths. Careers in STEAM are widely viewed as a means to boost innovation and bolster national economies.
“We are pleased to have Sullair onboard with Edge Factor,” said Larissa Hofman, Vice President at Edge Factor. “Students will have the opportunity to learn about career pathways at one of LaPorte County’s largest manufacturers. We will work together to help connect Sullair to thousands of students ready to explore local STEAM careers through Edge Factor’s Touchpoint system.”
The videos will be available to local educators who have a subscription to EdgeFactor.com. Edge Factor empowers communities with story-driven tools to tackle workforce development, inspire students, reach parents, and build relationships between local schools and businesses.
To learn more about Edge Factor and how to subscribe, visit www.edgefactor.com.