How can we connect with the next generation to help fill the Milwaukee region's talent pipeline? 
Bring together local businesses and students to spark an interest in a potential career.

Through the generous support of the Wisconsin Regional Career Pathways Perkins Reserve and our continued partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), we have an opportunity to develop and engage in regional career-based learning experiences that support MKE (County) school districts.

The kick-off will be an in-person career exposure opportunity highlighting high quality careers in (5) high demand industries: IT, Advanced Manufacturing, Business/Finance, Patient Care and Construction. This experience will target MPS 10th graders, followed by a career mentoring event focused on those five regional career pathways. We intend to highlight careers beyond the industry specific by opening it up to any career of interest that could be found within one of those industries.

The date(s) for the career conversations event with be Wednesday, April 27th and Thursday, April 28th from 10am -1pm at The Avenue 275 Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee. We're seeking dynamic and diverse young professionals as career coaches in a one-time 15-minute conversation focused on student’s interest areas, future career aspirations and academic career plans. Each mentor (or pair of mentors) would visit with 3-5 students at a time, cycling groups three times within a 2-hour time frame. The event will kick off with a welcome presentation and culminate with a networking lunch with the students (mentor attendance optional).

We are eager for this to be an impactful experience, helping to guide students to further coursework/electives in 11th grade in their industry of interest, culminating in a career-based learning experience their senior year.

SIGN UP TO BE A MENTOR

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Read below for more on MMAC and MPS' introductory program,
which reached more than 15,000 students between 2014 - 2020.

MMAC’s Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE) has partnered with
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to host behind-the-scenes tours for 7th graders - exposing them to potential local jobs and careers. #COSBEspark

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HOW THE TOURS WORK
Open your doors to 25-35 students and their teachers to give them insights into what your business does, the types of jobs available in your company and the skills needed to do those jobs.
 
OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS

• Your company is matched to selected schools by MPS.
• MPS connects you with the classroom teacher (via email) to discuss achieving the best learning experience possible for the students.
• A COSBE representative will contact you to provide best practices and tools/information for your tour.
• Follow up in the classroom after the tour to further develop relationships with the students.

Small Business Champions:

Corporate Champions:

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"The key to the success of our businesses is building a future pipeline of skilled, adaptive and productive lifelong learners.”
- Jeff Clark
President/CEO of Waukesha Metal Products

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"Today you'll see things that you're learning in math,
science and reading apply to the real world."
Former MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver

The COSBE Be the Spark program was launched in 2014 with 25 businesses providing tours for 921 students. This past school year, those numbers increased to 75+ business and 3,800 students.

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JOIN THE LIST OF COMPANIES OPENING THEIR DOORS...

                                     Bold companies have hosted three or more tours each school year.

88NINE RADIO MILWAUKEE
ALLIS ROLLER
ANDIS COMPANY
APPLE LEISURE GROUP
AW2 LOGISTICS
BADGER METER
BERGHAMMER CONSTRUCTION BEVCO ENGINEERING COMPANY
BEYOND VISION
BRIGGS & STRATTON
BRIOHN BUILDING
CARMA LABORATORIES
CENTRAL OFFICE SYSTEMS CHARTER MANUFACTURING
CHR. HANSEN
COAKLEY BROTHERS
COVANTA ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
CRAMER-KRASSELT
CREATIVE BUSINESS INTERIORS CULTIVATE COMMUNICATIONS DERSE
DESERT AIRE
DIRECT SUPPLY
DISCOVERY WORLD
DOUGLAS DYNAMICS
EPPSTEIN UHEN ARCHITECTS EQUIPS
EXHIBIT SYSTEMS
GENMET

GOOD KARMA BRANDS-ESPN MKE
GRUNAU
HASTINGS AIR ENERGY
HAYES PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS
HEALICS
HELLERMANNTYTON
HUNGER TASK FORCE
INNOVATIVE SIGNS
JAMES IMAGING SYSTEMS
KAHLER SLATER
LUTHER MANOR
M3 INSURANCE
MAJIC PRODUCTIONS
MANPOWERGROUP
MARCUS CORPORATION
MARCUS THEATRES
MAX WEISS
METAL-ERA
MMAC
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM
MOORE CONSTRUCTION
MORTENSON CONSTRUCTION
PIEPER ELECTRIC
PLUM MEDIA
POBLOCKI SIGN COMPANY
POWER TEST
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS

REICH TOOL & DESIGN
RIVER RUN COMPUTERS
SCHROEDER SOLUTIONS
SIKICH
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
SPAULDING CLINICAL RESEARCH
STAINLESS FOUNDRY & ENGINEERING
STRATTEC SECURITY CORP.
SUPERIOR SUPPORT RESOURCES
TAILORED LABEL PRODUCTS
TOP FLOOR
TRG MARKETING
UNITED WAY OF GREATER MILWAUKEE &
WAUKESHA COUNTY
VEOLIA WATER MILWAUKEE
VERLO MATTRESS
VJS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
WAUKESHA METAL PRODUCTS
WEC ENERGY GROUP
WENTHE-DAVIDSON ENGINEERING
WEST ALLIS BLUE
WESTERN STATES ENVELOPE & LABEL
WISCONSIN STEEL AND TUBE
WIXON
XYMOX TECHNOLOGIES

Contact us today!

ALEXIS DEBLITZ

Director, Talent Pipeline Programs
414/287-4130 | adeblitz@mmac.org