The TechEd Podcast

The University of Wisconsin-Stout prioritizes applied learning, career-focused education and collaboration, leading to a 97%+ placement rate for its students!The model of a polytechnic university is truly unique and is perhaps the best way to prepare our students for today's highly skilled careers. In this episode, we're talking with UW-Stout's Chancellor Dr. Katherine Frank and Interim Provost Glendali Rodriguez to learn what drives the university's initiatives and what makes them so successful. STEM and technical educators will gain great insights from this episode, covering topics like:The advantage a polytechnic education has for a student's career pathwayHow to solve the tech ed teacher shortageHow to develop incredible partnerships with employersThe keys to strong collaboration with other academic institutionsThe value of experiential and applied learningWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

The Fender brand is synonymous with all things rock n' roll. But what does it actually take to build a Fender guitar? In a fascinating discussion with Ed Magee, Executive Vice President of Operations at Fender, we talk about how the worlds of music and manufacturing collide in more ways than meets the eye.And Ed's role goes beyond the manufacturing process. He's a strong advocate for building our STEM and technical trades workforce, for training and employing veterans, and for increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the manufacturing workforce. Perhaps most of all, he's committed to providing hands-on music education to students through his work as Co-President of the Fender Play Foundation.Music, technology and education enthusiasts alike will love this episode, where we talk about:Where creativity comes into play for both manufacturing and musicHow building a guitar is such a unique process in the world of manufacturingCombining IIoT and advanced technologies with the art of master crafting wood guitarsWatching artists like the Rolling Stones interact with Fender's master buildersThe goal to reach 1 million students nationwide through the Fender Play Foundation by 2030We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

In part two of our series with Chancellor Mark Mone and Provost Johannes Britz of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, we're talking all about research. UWM is one of the few universities in the nation with the R1 distinction - the highest level designation for research activity a university can attain. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to maintain this distinction and some of the research projects being carried out at UWM that are serving the region. You'll learn about:Partnering with other institutions on research projectsIIoT, smart manufacturing and the Connected Systems InstituteHow the Maggi Sue will enable more research on Lake Michigan than ever beforeThe importance of technology and connectivityWhy organizations like Rockwell, Dell, Cisco and WE Energies have backed UWM's researchWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

How can education meet the needs of diverse student populations, particularly those in urban regions? In this two-part series, we're joined by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone and Provost Johannes Britz to look at how universities can face the socio-economic challenges of their communities while providing top-tier academic experiences to students.In this first episode, we focus on the challenge of leading a university in the most diverse, and also most segregated, city in the state. UWM's leadership has launched incredible initiatives to serve all its students, its community and its extensive alumni base in Milwaukee.How UWM has made Milwaukee a great place to learn, work and liveWhy mental toughness matters in higher educationWhat it means to be a university for the community and from the communityWhat UWM is doing to promote diversity, equity and inclusionWhat we can learn from higher education in other countries and culturesFacing the COVID challenge on an urban campusWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

Digitization, Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things...no matter what you call it, our current era is seeing more disruption across every economic sector than ever before, changing the way we produce,  deliver and consume goods. Financial services are no exception.BMO Financial Group has been on the forefront of digital banking for decades, but the last year has prompted exponential innovation in products, services, customer relationships, and even how their employees work.During the pandemic, the organization used technology to shift the way customers' needs were met, all while remaining true to BMO's core mission. During this episode, BMO U.S. Chief Executive David Casper and Head of North American Treasury & Payment Solutions Brett Pitts provide insights into this new world of digital finance. In this episode, we discuss:How BMO shifted their workforce and services online during a pandemic yearWhere BMO's corporate customers are investing in digitizationHow to leverage AI and data to make better business decisionsWhat banking will look like in 2031How schools should prepare students for careers of tomorrowCareer opportunities in financial services that exist thanks to digitizationWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

Technical and community colleges are vital to our economic prosperity. They provide skills-based training for students to enter high-demand careers, a pipeline of talent to our businesses, and a resource for reskilling our workforce.As President of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), Dr. Morna Foy is on a mission to optimize the impact of technical colleges in the state. While each college independently serves the unique needs of its region, the WTCS brings them all together with a focused vision: to strengthen Wisconsin's economy.How does the WTCS accomplish this? We dive into those details in this episode, where you'll learn about:Why mission-driven strategies are the best way to create alignmentHow the state is using dual credit and credit transfer to provide more options to studentsHow Wisconsin is leading the nation in registered and youth apprenticeshipsWhy industry-recognized certifications are going to be a major factor for education in the coming yearsWhat economic sectors are seeing the most disruption in 2021How to align technical college programs to workforce needsWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

Rockwell Automation is a global leader in industrial automation, smart manufacturing and the development of technologies that are revolutionizing the world of work. Leading the organization as Chairman and CEO is Blake Moret, our guest for this episode of the podcast. In its 118-year history, Rockwell has made itself a household name - not just because they're always on the forefront of technological innovation, but also because they've developed a culture and workforce that values its people.In this episode, Blake discusses both the technology and the human aspects of Rockwell Automation. You'll hear all about:How digitization will impact manufacturing in the coming yearsCutting edge technologies you should keep an eye onCareer opportunities of the future brought about by Industry 4.0 in fields like data science, cloud computing, and artificial intelligenceRockwell's support of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA)Efforts to upskill the workforce for advanced manufacturing careersThe one thing he'd change for educationWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

"The upskilling of the American workforce is the seminal issue of our time." This key point is delivered time and again by Mr. Nick Pinchuk, Chairman and CEO of Snap-on, our guest for this episode of The TechEd Podcast. Nick's message is so important for manufacturers and technical educators alike: skilled workers are the heroes of our time, and our tech ed students will be the heroes of tomorrow.In this episode, you'll hear inspiring and motivating thoughts on topics like:How skilled workers were the heroes of the pandemic, keeping everything running so we could remain safeThe wrong way to talk about manufacturing work (and what to understand instead)What the American Dream really is and why manufacturing gets us thereThe jobs of today vs. the jobs of tomorrowHow to change the perception of Tech Ed as the "consolation prize"What educators must prepare for as they plan for the futureWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

Dr. Bryan Albrecht is a name known worldwide in technical education. He leads one of the top technical colleges in the country as its President and CEO. Under his leadership, Gateway Technical College has been called a model school, an innovator, and a leadership college. Gateway is unparalleled in so many ways - its strength of strategic partnerships with regional employers and educators, its incredible foundation and support of students, and especially the way it continually creates and evolves its programs to meet the needs of the workforce.In this episode, we're getting an inside look into how Bryan does it all. We're asking the questions you've always wanted the answers to, like:How did you know Industry 4.0 was "the next big thing" before anyone else?Why do you believe Foxconn's future in Wisconsin is a bright one?What is the biggest threat to the future success of technical education?Would you ever serve your state or nation in a government role?How does someone with your level of success find work-life balance?and many, many more!Love the episode? Subscribe...leave a review... & share!We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

"Kids and grownups love it so...the happy world of HARIBO!" We're all familiar with the famous goldbears from HARIBO, a 100-year-old company that prides itself on crafting every gummy with quality and joy. Wes Saber, Executive Vice President and CFO of HARIBO of America, shares how the company is living out this people-centered mission in its first-ever North American facility. The company has invested incredible resources into the community, school districts, higher education and nonprofit organizations...even before they broke ground in December 2020!In this episode, Wes tells us why they've made this investment. It's great information every manufacturer can benefit from. You'll hear insights about:What attracted HARIBO to Pleasant Prairie, WisconsinHow manufacturers can be proactive in marketing their advanced manufacturing career opportunities with regional schoolsThe gold standard for investing back into a communityEngaging every type of learner - from K-12, to adult learners, to veteransThe types of advanced manufacturing and distribution technology in their German facility, and what we might see in North AmericaLove the episode? Subscribe...leave a review... & share!We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn