Each year, the Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) collaborates with multiple regional institutions of higher learning by creating events to address the negative perceptions of manufacturing. One of these events was recently hosted at UVA-Wise, a University of Virginia Outpost located in Wise County, Virginia. As a residential liberal arts college in SWVA, it currently offers over 30 college majors.

The college currently has over 2,000 students enrolled and many of them are first generation college students. As a regional leader in economic development, the institution has been active in finding new ways to advance health, education, and economic prosperity in southwest Virginia through initiatives such as GO Virginia.

One such avenue for exploration has been for students to engage with the manufacturing sector for potential careers. Currently, there are hundreds of job openings within the manufacturing sector of Southwest Virginia.

This year, SVAM and the Career Discovery and Planning group from UVA-Wise invited representatives from Strongwell, Tadano Mantis, Komatsu, and Tempur-Sealy to discuss opportunities with business and accounting majors about careers within manufacturing. Panelists shared their personal journeys and the other fellow UVA-Wise Alumni have played within their represented company.

Representatives discussed social responsibility initiatives, opportunity growth, job benefits, travel, and cost of living versus other regions.

Strongwell would like to thank the participating companies, UVA Wise’s Career Discovery and Planning group, and SVAM for the opportunity to discuss career readiness and community growth.