Alliance Partners of Industrial Careers Pathway® (ICP) met recently in Denver, Colo., to plan for the future and talk with students from the University of Colorado Denver Business School about the incredibly rewarding careers in industrial distribution.
Presenting to the students were:
Together, these five industry-leading executives talked about their careers and success in the distribution sector and encouraged about 30 students to seek careers in the field. Students asked provocative questions about energy efficiency, bottom line profit management, flexibility of movement within the industry and variety of job opportunities. The presenters, along with other Alliance Partner representatives, were in Denver for the ICP Steering Committee meeting where they discussed ICP’s progress in meeting its goal of creating awareness of industrial distribution among 16–24 year olds.
Alliance Partner Jennifer Rzepka, CAE, Executive Director, NIBA—The Belting Association, attended the meeting along with Jim Smith, Universal Belting Resource, who serves on ICP’s Millennial Advisory Council (MAC). Rzepka commented, "Finding talented and committed employees is one of the most common pain points for NIBA members. As an association, we value the opportunity to spend our time and resources to help shape the future of the industrial distribution workforce through our involvement in Industrial Careers Pathway."
Millennial Advisory Council members and association executives from each of the Alliance Partners also participated in the meeting.
In addition to providing visibility about the incredibly rewarding entry-level careers in industrial distribution, ICP develops and delivers useful programs, services and tools to help industrial distributors recruit, on-board, hire, manage, train and retain Millennial employees. An example is the training program, Elements of Industrial Distribution, which is available at a discount for companies with membership in ICP partner associations. ICP also publishes the ICP Talent Tipsheet, a quick-read eblast that helps employers with retaining and managing Millennial employees.
ICP is a multifaceted North American workforce initiative supported by an alliance of industry associations including American Supply Association, Industrial Supply Association Education Foundation, National Association of Chemical Distributors, National Association of Electrical Distributors Education & Research Foundation, NAHAD—The Association for Hose & Accessories Distribution, NIBA—The Belting Association, and PTDA Foundation. ICP links students and job seekers to career paths in industrial distribution and manufacturing through partnerships with local educators and employers. For more information, visit www.industrialcareerspathway.org/Hire, contact ICP at info@industrialcareerspathway.org or call +1.312.516.2100.