Accelerate April 2021 Magazine

WAUKESHA COUNTY BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. | WAUKESHA.ORG SHINING A LIGHT ON MANUFACTURING FOR MORE THAN A DECADE For more than a decade, the Alliance’s annual Manufacturing Voices program has provided the opportunity for industry leaders to shine a light on manufacturing. This year was no exception as business leaders came together virtually to discuss trends and issues facing the manufacturing sector. To kick off the March event, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of the Equality of Opportunity Initiative Latricia Boone discussed the workforce shortage manufacturers are facing across the nation, and the important role diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) efforts play in attracting and retaining talent. Latricia referenced recent data showing companies that are more diverse and inclusive are also more profitable and successful. With a growing skills gap, more open jobs and a shrinking pool of candidates, DE&I initiatives are not just about opportunity but also about a critical need to expand the current pool of talent to keep up with demands. Boone said it is time to think differently about the future of our workforce. While the majority of manufacturing businesses were deemed essential and continued performing critical work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the manufacturing industry continues to face challenges – primarily with attracting and retaining talent. This year's virtual program hosted two panels of manufacturing executives to discuss workforce, company culture, economic indicators, and more. Chief Operating Officer for The Angelus Corporation Paul Dieck discussed how the past year has impacted culture within the organization. With a sprawling new headquarters in Waukesha, The Angelus Corporation looks forward to getting all staff back in the office to resume in-person dialogue and collaboration. Celebrating 50 years in business, Angelus has a strong legacy of employee community which has been challenging to replicate in a remote setting. Michael Esser Jr., vice president of finance and accounting for Dielectric Manufacturing, described how communication and employee engagements have been key to maintaining company culture. With a wide range of employee tenure, the organization has worked hard to bring everyone together through internal events - which have proven successful in mitigating the differences between generations. 16