Grow Quad Cities: Connecting students, educators and employers
Grow Quad Cities continues to advance work-based learning as a key strategy for increasing students’ awareness of career opportunities across the region. A recent Davenport Central High School student tour to Oertel Metal Works (a McCarthy-Bush Corporation company) and the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Blong Technology Center, both in Davenport, highlighted how strong industry partnerships can make those connections real for local students.
Brian Krzyaniak, President Oertel Metal Works, and Riverbend FAME chapter member, offered students an inside look at the modern manufacturing operations at Oertel and the many careers available in the industry, explaining how manufacturing careers combine both technical skill and problem-solving.
"I believe all businesses should be a partner in the community, and a critical part of this is to work with the next generation to show them what opportunities they have as they start to think about their careers," said Krzyaniak. "I love to see the body language of some of the students when they see what our team does on a daily basis. The earlier we get these opportunities in front of them, the better chance we have that they do their own research through the different channels they watch, like YouTube or Instagram," he added.
During the visit, Krzyaniak walked students through Oertel’s operations and shared how manufacturing careers combine technical skills, problem-solving, and long-term opportunities.
Students asked thoughtful questions throughout the tour, showing strong interest not only in the facility but also in the broader possibilities within manufacturing. Krzyaniak also spoke about the Riverbend FAME program and how it supports hands-on learning, technical training and employer connections. "There is no better time than now for the next generation to get hands-on experience," he said. "As our society has become so driven by technology, many of the younger generation don't have mechanical aptitude. This opens up a lot of doors for those who do want to know how things work and how to fix things on their own."
Following the Oertel visit, the group toured the Blong Technology Center, where conversations continued around FAME and its role in preparing students for high-demand careers.
"At Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Blong Technology Center, advanced manufacturing education is intentionally built around real-world industry engagement," said Sarah Bamberg, Apprenticeship Program Manager at EICC. "Programs like FAME are deeply connected to regional employers through paid work experiences, industry-aligned curriculum and direct input from our regional manufacturing partners. Students don’t just learn theory in a classroom; they apply the skills on the shop floor using the most current equipment, up-to-date industry standards and real production floor quality expectations," she said.
Bamberg said the strong connection to local industry is critical for helping students explore potential career paths and stay engaged in ongoing workforce training. "By seeing how their coursework translates directly into local in-demand jobs, students gain the clarity and confidence needed to continue to grow our workforce. In return, employers benefit from a consistent talent pipeline that is trained to their specific needs," she said.
Together, the student tours to Oertel and The Blong reinforced how education and industry can align to support them as they explore career paths. Both stops tied directly into the goals of the Riverbend FAME program and demonstrated how work-based learning experiences like tours, job shadows, internships and apprenticeships help students better understand their options after graduation.
Jamie McLaughlin, Workforce Specialist, Grow Quad Cities, said, "This tour was supported through the ILDMC grant (Illinois Defense Manufacturing Consortium) and reflects Grow QC’s ongoing commitment to connecting students, educators and employers. We encourage industry leaders interested in hosting work-based learning experiences to connect with Grow to help build the next generation of the region’s workforce."
