I will admit I was a little nervous about approaching contributors for this month’s cover story. I had this idea for leaders on the ground to speak directly from experience about the impact on Wisconsin of the federal government’s trade and tariff strategies, but I wasn’t confident they’d be willing to tackle the topic — or even respond to my request, if I’m being perfectly honest. But our Wisconsin manufacturing community is awesome, and I’m happy to say that every single guest contributor I asked to participate gave me an enthusiastic yes and thanked me for the opportunity to speak their minds and share their best insights.
This special issue is the fruition of this idea. Turn to page 9 and read a collection of six essays on trade and tariffs that range from an academic analysis of trade theory to a decision-making table for exporters to a CEO’s expression of frustration with how things have played out. I hope you’ll find their perspectives at least thought-provoking, if not instructive, and I appreciate the opportunity to include their important voices in IOM.
Also in this month’s issue, contributor Nikki Kallio dives deeper into the recent news that youth apprenticeship in our state has reached another all-time high. In 1991, Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to offer a youth apprenticeship program and for each of the last four years the state has set participation records, including in manufacturing, which had 1,510 YAs working in the state this past school year. Flip to page 17 for more insights on this increasingly important talent pipeline.
Summer is a great time to do a little light reading, so here’s hoping you’ll stash some back issues of Insight and IOM in your beach bag. And yardwork goes by faster with a podcast in your earbuds. May I suggest NEW Manufacturing Insights, the podcast I co-host with NEW Manufacturing Alliance Executive Director Ann Franz? The show is available on all podcast platforms, and the episodes are quick listens. This month on the podcast we look forward to hearing more from one of our cover story essayists, Jennifer Clement of CLA, as well as one of the employers featured in the youth apprenticeship story, Jake Schulz of Therma-Tron-X.
When it comes to business in Northeast Wisconsin, there’s always more to talk about — and we’d love to hear what resonates with you. Insight is currently in the process of conducting a readership survey, and we’d love for all of our IOM readers to participate. Head to research.net/r/014068 to share your feedback, and you could win a $150 restaurant gift card.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to chatting with you soon!
Cheers,
