October 6, 2025 • 4 mins
Ryan Graham, Director of Workforce Development with the Kent ISD joins us to discuss Discover Manufacturing Week 2025.
More information can be found here: https://www.discover-manufacturing.com/discover-manufacturing-week
More information can be found here: https://www.discover-manufacturing.com/discover-manufacturing-week
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, you got a week to get your kids involved,
and it's a very worthy cause. This is West Michigan's
morning News sty Kelly Brett Kata. That's Laurence Smith, the
director of Workforce Development to Kent isd is Ryan Grant
in studio this morning. Ryan, thanks for doing this today.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
You're welcome. Good morning everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Talk to us a little bit about Discover Manufacturing Week
twenty twenty five. How does it work?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, this is a great opportunity for schools, parents, anybody
that wants to get involved with looking at manufacturing across
West Michigan, a true on site look at what's happening
behind the scenes. And nothing is greater than awareness and
really seeing what's happening in our great manufacturing places across
West Michigan.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
And we were how many years ago was it that
electro leuct closed in Greenville, and that was like it
manufacturing is and it's back, bigger and better than ever.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, we're blessed in West Michigan to have such a
strong backbone of manufacturing and it's a great way for
young men and women in the talent pool here in
West Michigan to stay right here and grow through their careers.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
You know, all of us have hosted students in here
for job shadow every ones like oh, radio or TV
or whatever the case might be, but they don't always
know how to approach it with these type of jobs,
which are the hottest jobs out there. So I want
to take a one step further. I mean, talk about
the experience the kids will get. But then also if
you're homeschooled or a different situation, we don't have that
school affilation, they can still contact you.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Right exactly, Brett. And so the opportunity to sign up
through Discovermanufacturing dot Com gives you the access to be
able to go meet those employers or those manufacturing locations.
What students really enjoy is the ability to be on site,
much like your job shadows. They get to see behind
the scenes what's really happening. Right. There's some old stigmas
out there about manufacturing, that it's dirty, that it's grimy.
(01:44):
You go into these places, they are technology advanced and
there's some of the cleanest places that you will be
with phenomenal breakrooms, right, I mean the full name of
amenities that you have for the employees on these manage
what's a break.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yes, yes, you know We've actually done a couple of
interviews about this kind of specific thing.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Agribusiness a part of this.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
With you guys.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, so a great partnership with agribusiness now because that's
about thirty thousand jobs that are in West Michigan alone
based around the technology the manufacturing of food that we
are servicing across West Michigan, if not the country when
you look at food production right here in West Michigan.
So a great ad to discover manufacturing week because of
(02:28):
the jobs that are based within those manufacturing realms of
career paths.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
We had one of our kids. I don't think she
ever would have worked, I mean period until she did
an internship and then the light came on. Talk to
us a little bit about the reaction you're getting from
kids when they're exposed to that.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, we literally have one hundred percent satisfaction rate amongst
the teachers and students that are participating. And I think
a big reason why is you are on site. You
don't know what you don't know until you see it
in person, and I think a lot of young men
and women really enjoy what they're seeing, the hands on
aspect of manufacturing, the production of something is really important
(03:05):
for students these days.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And Ryan from the manufacturers standpoint and these businesses, I
mean there's a lot of pride there, right, They're excited
about this. They want to show off their place. And
how many times are you driving around West Michigan You're like,
I didn't realize that building was there. Or you know
Old Orchard right next to Spartan Stadium up in Sport,
a huge manufacturer that people just you don't get a
chance to go in the doors and see what it's
all about.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, we have a lot of great manufacturers in West
Michigan that have deep roots, that have great passion for
what they're doing. And if you're a parent looking at
the career path for your student, right, I'm a dad,
I want my kids to stay around West Michigan, and
so these are great avenues in which they can grow
into long term careers. Think about HR marketing all that
(03:47):
goes around manufacturing as well, and these are phenomenal companies
that have deep family roots and the ability to have
longevity right here in West Michigan.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So we have parents listening right now.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
But if a teacher is listening, can we still get
school signed up for that exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
You still can. October tenth is one of our deadlines
there that we would love to have teachers and staff
from schools be able to sign up at Discovery Manufacturing
dot com. The event runs from October thirteenth through November
twenty fifth. We have already over one hundred and fifty
student tours. You know, you take twenty five students a class,
that's almost three thousand kids that are going to be
(04:20):
able to see manufacturing on site.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
That's cool to see educators fired up too, That includes you.
Ryan Graham, director of Workforce Development at the Kent ID,
thank you so much for coming in.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
You are welcome, Thanks for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Would Radio news Time eight forty one got a couple
of resumes we want to pass off to you
Well, you got a week to get your kids involved,
and it's a very worthy cause. This is West Michigan's
morning News sty Kelly Brett Kata. That's Laurence Smith, the
director of Workforce Development to Kent isd is Ryan Grant
in studio this morning. Ryan, thanks for doing this today.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
You're welcome. Good morning everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Talk to us a little bit about Discover Manufacturing Week
twenty twenty five. How does it work?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, this is a great opportunity for schools, parents, anybody
that wants to get involved with looking at manufacturing across
West Michigan, a true on site look at what's happening
behind the scenes. And nothing is greater than awareness and
really seeing what's happening in our great manufacturing places across
West Michigan.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
And we were how many years ago was it that
electro leuct closed in Greenville, and that was like it
manufacturing is and it's back, bigger and better than ever.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, we're blessed in West Michigan to have such a
strong backbone of manufacturing and it's a great way for
young men and women in the talent pool here in
West Michigan to stay right here and grow through their careers.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
You know, all of us have hosted students in here
for job shadow every ones like oh, radio or TV
or whatever the case might be, but they don't always
know how to approach it with these type of jobs,
which are the hottest jobs out there. So I want
to take a one step further. I mean, talk about
the experience the kids will get. But then also if
you're homeschooled or a different situation, we don't have that
school affilation, they can still contact you.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Right exactly, Brett. And so the opportunity to sign up
through Discovermanufacturing dot Com gives you the access to be
able to go meet those employers or those manufacturing locations.
What students really enjoy is the ability to be on site,
much like your job shadows. They get to see behind
the scenes what's really happening. Right. There's some old stigmas
out there about manufacturing, that it's dirty, that it's grimy.
(01:44):
You go into these places, they are technology advanced and
there's some of the cleanest places that you will be
with phenomenal breakrooms, right, I mean the full name of
amenities that you have for the employees on these manage
what's a break.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yes, yes, you know We've actually done a couple of
interviews about this kind of specific thing.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Agribusiness a part of this.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
With you guys.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, so a great partnership with agribusiness now because that's
about thirty thousand jobs that are in West Michigan alone
based around the technology the manufacturing of food that we
are servicing across West Michigan, if not the country when
you look at food production right here in West Michigan.
So a great ad to discover manufacturing week because of
(02:28):
the jobs that are based within those manufacturing realms of
career paths.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
We had one of our kids. I don't think she
ever would have worked, I mean period until she did
an internship and then the light came on. Talk to
us a little bit about the reaction you're getting from
kids when they're exposed to that.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, we literally have one hundred percent satisfaction rate amongst
the teachers and students that are participating. And I think
a big reason why is you are on site. You
don't know what you don't know until you see it
in person, and I think a lot of young men
and women really enjoy what they're seeing, the hands on
aspect of manufacturing, the production of something is really important
(03:05):
for students these days.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And Ryan from the manufacturers standpoint and these businesses, I
mean there's a lot of pride there, right, They're excited
about this. They want to show off their place. And
how many times are you driving around West Michigan You're like,
I didn't realize that building was there. Or you know
Old Orchard right next to Spartan Stadium up in Sport,
a huge manufacturer that people just you don't get a
chance to go in the doors and see what it's
all about.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, we have a lot of great manufacturers in West
Michigan that have deep roots, that have great passion for
what they're doing. And if you're a parent looking at
the career path for your student, right, I'm a dad,
I want my kids to stay around West Michigan, and
so these are great avenues in which they can grow
into long term careers. Think about HR marketing all that
(03:47):
goes around manufacturing as well, and these are phenomenal companies
that have deep family roots and the ability to have
longevity right here in West Michigan.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So we have parents listening right now.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
But if a teacher is listening, can we still get
school signed up for that exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
You still can. October tenth is one of our deadlines
there that we would love to have teachers and staff
from schools be able to sign up at Discovery Manufacturing
dot com. The event runs from October thirteenth through November
twenty fifth. We have already over one hundred and fifty
student tours. You know, you take twenty five students a class,
that's almost three thousand kids that are going to be
(04:20):
able to see manufacturing on site.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
That's cool to see educators fired up too, That includes you.
Ryan Graham, director of Workforce Development at the Kent ID,
thank you so much for coming in.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
You are welcome, Thanks for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Would Radio news Time eight forty one got a couple
of resumes we want to pass off to you
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