Emerson Gantz, welder, signs his contract alongside Caldwell's Amy Garris and Doug Stitt.
Drew Shockley, grinder operator/material handler, signs his contract alongside Caldwell's Amy Garris and Doug Stitt.
Jesus Arrieta, grinder operator, signs his contract alongside Caldwell's Amy Garris and Doug Stitt.
Michael Stitt (far left), configurator engineer at Caldwell, and Amy Garris (far right), who oversees education outreach, welcome the signees.
It was the biggest ever Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA) Signing Day.
Rockford, IL-based The Caldwell Group Inc. welcomed three new employees at its first Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA) Signing Day, held in the conference center at Blackhawk Technical College's Beloit-Janesville, WI, campus.
Caldwell is a member of SMA, a group of manufacturing employers that are focused on creating greater exposure, engagement, and interest in manufacturing jobs and careers for youth and adults alike. This was the fifth year it had held a ceremonial signing day.
Emerson Gantz, welder; Drew Shockley, grinder operator/material handler; and Jesus Arrieta, grinder operator, from Hononegah Community High School in Rockton, IL, signed full-time employment contracts alongside representatives from Caldwell, in the presence of school officials and family members. They were part of a wider cohort of 33 students representing 11 different employers.
Caldwell continues to recognize that connectivity with the education sector is central to attracting the next generation of welders and other workers to U.S. fabrication and is fundamental to production of the company's Rockford-made line of Caldwell-brand below-the-hook lifters, construction lifters, mill duty lifters, and Renfroe-brand clamps.
Shockley and Arrieta's roles largely center on the removal of surface defects, scale, and imperfections from steel products (bars, plates, billets, slabs, or coils) using grinding equipment, either large stationary machines or handheld grinders, depending on the piece. They prepare the steel, so it meets customer specifications before it ships out. Many grinder operators move into welding, machining, or quality inspection positions, and the role often serves as a starting point in manufacturing.
Gantz's journey into the welding job is noteworthy because Doug Stitt, President and CEO at Caldwell, first heard him speaking about his skills on a radio station. Intrigued, Stitt sought him out in person, even as Gantz himself was searching for an entry point into industry. The story highlights a broader truth about workforce development: talent often exists in plain sight, but identifying and connecting it to opportunity can require proactive, human, and sometimes unconventional approaches.
For more information contact:
The Caldwell Group Inc.
4080 Logistics Pkwy.
Rockford, IL 61109
800-628-4263
www.caldwellinc.com