Oshkosh, WI - Sen. Ron Johnson this week marked the beginning of Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin, which runs through October. He made these remarks about the celebration: 

“The purpose of Wisconsin Manufacturing Month is to highlight how much manufacturing contributes to our state — especially how manufacturing offers well-paid jobs across a wide range of skill levels and interests. It is encouraging to see Wisconsin education officials joining state agencies and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce in spreading this message during the month. We need to overcome the attitude that work in manufacturing is second-class and that working in the skilled trades is undesirable. All work has value and provides the dignity of earning one’s own success.  From my 31 years as a manufacturer, working with skilled, dedicated Wisconsin employees, I can attest that careers in manufacturing are a great way to make a living.” 

Among the events the senator took part in this past week: 

• A roundtable on issues facing manufacturers and the nation, featuring members of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s network for ethnically diverse enterprises, The Business Council, and the Mid-West Energy Research Consortium, on Monday. 

• A celebration of Manufacturing Month at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, including a “Made Here” Manufacturing Showcase at the college’s Kohler Center for Manufacturing Excellence, on Wednesday. Sen. Johnson joined Gov. Scott Walker as well as leaders from industry and government at the event. 

• A roundtable focused on accelerating diversity in American manufacturing, on Friday. The event was the inaugural Innovation Café strategic planning meeting hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Manufacturing Diversity Institute, at Milwaukee’s Century City II building in the 30th St. Corridor. 

• An in-person Q&A with members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce about challenges facing the nation and Wisconsin manufacturers, on Tuesday. The presentation was also made available by video to WMC members statewide. 

• A tour of GE Healthcare in Madison, with a Q&A sessions with employees, on Tuesday. 

• A tour of Old Wisconsin Sausage in Sheboygan, with a Q&A sessions with employees, on Wednesday. 

• A tour of Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, on Wednesday, and a meeting and Q&A sessions with the company’s employees. 

• A tour of Super Steel on Milwaukee’s northwest side, on Friday. The senator met with company employees and with students from area high schools and technical colleges. 

• A tour of Kondex Corp. in Lomira, on Friday, with a presentation and Q&A for Kondex employees and for middle- and high-school students from Lomira. 

The senator’s events to mark Manufacturing Month will continue next week, including: 

• Tours and meetings with employees of MacLean-Fogg in Whitewater, Precision Plus in Elkhorn and TG3 Electronics in Kenosha. 

• A roundtable with the Wausau Chamber of Commerce. 

Please note: Not all events are open to the media, please contact our office for more information. 

Stay tuned for more events as the month unfolds.  

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