Raimondo getting word out on ‘Dream Team'

COLUMBUS - A Columbus industrial leader believes shining a spotlight on a Nebraska Career Dream Team will help win over the state's young people to the dynamic career opportunities available in advanced manufacturing.

The Nebraska Dream Team, which recognizes young adults pursuing promising careers in advanced manufacturing, is aimed at attracting the interest of students and their parents about employment opportunities, said Tony Raimondo, chairman and CEO of Behlen Mfg. Co. in Columbus.

Members of the Career Dream Team will appear in interviews that will air on the Husker Sports Network during Nebraska home football games this fall.

“We want to reach young kids and their parents when they will be listening,'' said Raimondo, who also heads the Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition.

The Dream Team is a part of “Dream It. Do It,” which the Behlen executive helped launch in the state nearly a year ago.

Shining a light on the Dream Team during Husker broadcasts will make high school and community college students aware of the challenging and creative career opportunities available in manufacturing, Raimondo said.

Reaching students' parents is a “big part of the equation,” he said.

Chris Joneson, 21, of Papillion, was selected this week 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.

Joneson was named to the Dream Team this week in Lincoln during a press conference attended by Gov. Dave Heineman and Raimondo launching the “Dream It. Do It” campaign.

“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,'' Heineman said during the press conference.

“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,” he said.

“Dream It, Do It” and the new Dream Team are aimed at addressing the image of manufacturing as a career and to take on the current skills gap between what students leave school with and what employers need in the workplace.

The program seeks to bridge the skills gap while promoting a partnership with educators to ensure that students graduate with the skills and training needed for tomorrow's manufacturing careers.

Raimondo said many young people leave high school and enter college with little or no idea of what type of career they want to pursue following their education.

The Dream Team sends the message to community college and four-year university students that the future careers in science, technology, engineering and math are available in advanced manufacturing, Raimondo said.

The majority of the careers in the regional economy will be coming in advanced manufacturing fields and young people with “employable skills” will find bright futures when they graduate, he said.

“We want to match young peoples' interests with these high-tech careers.”