For the City Times

Stevens Point book printer hopes to build interest in STEM and manufacturing careers

Stevens Point, Wisconsin (June 25, 2019) – Worzalla, an employee-owned printing company specializing in high-quality custom products including children’s books and coffee table books, recently hosted a group of local middle and high school students at its book manufacturing facility to show them how a book is made and discuss modern manufacturing career opportunities. Organized by Mid-State Technical College, the Summer Manufacturing Camp event aims to introduce middle and high school students to career choices in today’s manufacturing industry, as well as the basic STEM concepts and skills required.

“We are always happy to have students visit Worzalla and learn about the exciting career opportunities available at our local book manufacturing facility,” said Brianne Petruzalek, Director of Human Resources at Worzalla. “At Worzalla, there are many different opportunities requiring a diverse range of skill sets including the production of products but also managing people and building teams, identifying technology solutions, creative services, and graphic arts, client services, and much more.”

Participating students of Summer Manufacturing Camp had the opportunity to explore hands-on skills common to several manufacturing trades and processes through state-of-the-art facilities; use computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing software to design a product; interact with team members, local manufacturing business leaders, and entrepreneurs to increase their understanding of the modern manufacturing environment; and participate in tours of regional manufacturing facilities.

While visiting Worzalla, students received a tour of the book manufacturing facility, were introduced to several longtime Worzalla employees, and had an opportunity to see the different steps, processes, and people involved in the craft of creating a book.  Additionally, on the first day of camp, Worzalla’s Finishing Manager, Jamie Kemnitz, attended lunch with the students at Mid-State’s Stevens Point Campus to provide them an introduction to Worzalla and the exciting world of print.

An eighth grader named Brayden from D. C. Everest Middle School in Weston, Wisconsin, said that his favorite part about the tour was seeing how the printers worked at Worzalla. He was surprised at how they worked, after having previously thought that “it would be like a regular printer.”

In addition to Worzalla, students also visited Gamber Johnson, Worth Company, Steel King, and West Bancroft Customs. Summer Manufacturing Camp is a Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT) event. NBT is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International® (FMA).

For more information on open career opportunities at Worzalla, visit worzalla.com.