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Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development News Release
Wednesday, May 26, 2004 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman	News Media Contact Rose Lynch   608/266-6753 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Employers Recognized at Workforce Development Conference

Seventeen Wisconsin companies receive Exemplary Employer Awards in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – On behalf of Governor Jim Doyle, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman presented seventeen Wisconsin companies with Exemplary Employer Awards at the 11th Annual Governor’s Workforce Development Conference at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Milwaukee.

"The awards honor some of Wisconsin’s finest employers, namely those who have demonstrated exemplary employment and workforce-support practices," said Governor Jim Doyle. "Lieutenant Governor Lawton and I commend and recognize these companies for their wholehearted dedication to the working men and women of Wisconsin."

Exemplary Employer Award recipients met one or more award criteria that focused on this year’s conference theme, Grow Wisconsin: An Economic Imperative. Recipients were recognized for making special accommodations for handicapped staff; encouraging employee training or enhancing progressive retention strategies; hiring and retaining a diverse workforce; providing opportunities to high-risk populations and/or implementing progressive human resource/personnel policies that enhance the overall skill level of Wisconsin's workforce.

"These companies are recognized because of their dedication and commitment to further develop and sustain the workforce," said DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman. "It is an honor to recognize these individual companies for their efforts in building Wisconsin’s workforce by investing in the citizens of Wisconsin, our most important resource."

Companies receiving an Exemplary Employer Awards

• AmericInn in Merrill, working with the Department of Workforce Development’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, hired 6 individuals at AmericInn’s integrated and community-oriented facility through the Supported Employment Program.
• Ashley Furniture in Arcadia, for the last decade, has employed over 100 customers of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation who have varying degrees of disability, including some with severe barriers to employment.
•  Aurora Health Care, Inc. and Covenant Healthcare Systems, Inc. of Milwaukee, created a Surgical Technology Training Program for 25 entry-level, low-wage hospital workers. Twenty graduated and were hired as surgical technicians within the two healthcare facilities. The program has begun its second year with a class of 20.
• Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, has recalled 202 employees and hired 132 new employees after using a federal Earmark Grant, they implemented a pre-employment training program to provide the skill sets new employees need to begin employment at higher wages and with more job opportunities.

Governor’s Exemplary Employer Awards

• Beckart Environmental, Inc. in Kenosha supports a Biotechnology Youth Apprenticeship Program, which provides young people with new opportunities and the company’s employees take personal interest in the success of the students to make sure they have the science skills needed to continue their education.
• Partnering with the West Central WI Workforce Development Board and the Northwest Manufacturing Outreach Center, BioDiagnostics, Inc., in River Falls, attained the International Organization of Standardization or I-S-O certification, which resulted in the company retaining 20 jobs; creating 4 additional jobs, as well as increasing sales.
• Blackstone Consulting, Inc. in Fort McCoy received their third Exemplary Employer Award by hiring over 25 formerly homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless veterans. In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans’ Assistance Foundation, Blackstone placed these veterans in employment positions with the Department of Defense at Ft. McCoy.
• Culver’s of Wisconsin, headquartered in Prairie du Sac, has significantly grown in Wisconsin due to their employment and training practices. Culver’s intense and innovative mentoring strategies provide opportunities for success to many promising restaurateurs who might otherwise struggle in a highly competitive industry.
• A small, rural business, Curtiss Metal Connection, Inc., in Curtiss, responsible for machining and welding parts for manufacturers in Wisconsin and Minnesota created a workplace that accommodates people with disabilities and maximizes their potential.
• Milwaukee’s Direct Supply, Inc., created over 150 new professional jobs in the past 3 years and plans to add 100 more in the next 12-18 months. Direct Supply has over 50 interns, who will fill full-time positions at Direct Supply upon graduation.
• Harley Davidson Motor Company in Menomonee Falls participates in Wisconsin’s Apprenticeship Program, the Governor’s Workforce Shortage Taskforce, the Apprenticeship Advisory Council, and State Apprenticeship Advisory Committees for Machine Tooling, Maintenance Mechanics, and Industrial Electricians.
• Hatco Corporation in Sturgeon Bay, used a federal grant to train 200 employees in a manufacturing process called Demand Flow Technology, which increased productivity by 16% and a 60% improvement in manufacturing lead time.
• In response to health care worker shortages last year Ministry Health Care in Milwaukee, contributed $500,000 to several technical colleges. This year they are contributing $400,000 to address current and future needs for trained professionals coming out of the technical colleges.
• SC Johnson, A Family Company in Racine was nominated by The Wisconsin Technical College System for their innovative LINK program. LINK offers training opportunities to employees, serves as a model for employee development and recognizes the benefits of lifelong learning.
• Waukesha Electric Systems partnered with the Waukesha County Workforce Development Center to expand its outreach and recruiting capacity. This partnership provides opportunities for locally dislocated workers while also meeting that employer’s needs.
• US Bank in Milwaukee provides guidance and leadership to financially educate employees working with organizations, and other financial institutions to provide low-cost banking products to those entering or re-entering the workforce. A partner in the Milwaukee Asset Building Coalition, US Bank stresses "Build Wealth-Not Debt" through counseling and education.

This annual conference is the hallmark of employment and training efforts for workforce development professionals and businesses across the State of Wisconsin. This year’s conference theme, "Grow Wisconsin: An Economic Imperative" ensures that we continue to focus our collective energy and resources on enhancing our human capital and the programs and services created to assist and support families and the economy of Wisconsin.

For more information about the Governor’s Workforce Development Conference, visit the conference web site at http://www.gwdc.net.

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Content Contact: Rose Lynch