Gov. Heineman Helps Launch 2007 Nebraska Career Dream Team

Press Release

Gov. Heineman Helps Launch 2007 Nebraska Career Dream Team

Gov. Dave Heineman helped launch the Nebraska Career Dream Team, highlighting the opportunities for young people in Nebraska to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing. As part of Nebraska's ‘Dream It. Do It.' campaign, the Career Dream Team will spotlight young workers employed in this field.

The ‘Dream It. Do It.' campaign stresses the importance of educating a skilled workforce to help retain the state's workforce in the manufacturing sector and help strengthen Nebraska's economy and future competitiveness. Announced last fall, Nebraska is the only state to have launched ‘Dream It. Do It.' as a statewide campaign.

"I'm pleased to help support Nebraska's Dream It. Do It. campaign," Gov. Heineman said. "Our young people need to know that manufacturing has evolved beyond the assembly line into a career that offers room for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. This campaign is an effort to appeal to today's bright and motivated students and open their eyes to the many opportunities this field has to offer in our state."

Chris Joneson, 21, of Papillion, has been selected as the first Career Dream Team member. Joneson is an associate drafter for Valmont Industries. The team will be made up of young adults, 26 and younger who have chosen a career in manufacturing and related-businesses. Members of the Career Dream Team will appear in interviews aired on the Husker Sports Network during home football games this fall.

Tony Raimondo, Chairman of Behlen Manufacturing Co. and Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition (NAMC) head, said, "This campaign is a way to reach out and help young adults, parents and educators understand the important role advanced manufacturing plays in the Nebraska's continued competitiveness in the global marketplace. To attract some of our state's finest talent to this industry, we must help younger generations know about the rewarding and challenging careers utilizing advanced technologies here in our state."

The campaign also encourages companies to partner with schools to develop and refine curriculums as a way to reduce the skills gap in new workers. Several of the state's educational leaders and state agencies are involved with NAMC, including the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska Community College Association, and the Nebraska Departments of Education, Workforce Development and Economic Development.

Pete Kotsiopulos, Vice President for University Affairs at the University of Nebraska with responsibility for economic development initiatives, said, "This type of partnership helps fortify the state's economic growth and development goals. The ‘Dream It. Do It.' campaign is a solid collaboration between academics, government and the world of business. We share the same goals. We want to join together and encourage young people to become interested in a broad variety of career paths that include the fields of manufacturing and technology."

Education Commissioner Doug Christensen said, "Nebraska students should be encouraged to consider the new and exciting career possibilities available today in the manufacturing field. Manufacturing is no longer a field of low-skill occupations and assembly-line workers. Today's manufacturing careers are 21st Century and high tech, requiring new levels of intellectual ability and creativity. These jobs offer exciting possibilities and they are available today right here in Nebraska."

The campaign was developed by The Manufacturing Institute, the education and research arm of the National Association of Manufacturers, in response to studies projecting that the U.S. could face a severe shortage of skilled workers by 2010. The 2005 Skills Gap Survey reported that 81 percent of manufacturers were having trouble finding the skilled workers needed to keep their businesses competitive.

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