Custom Direct, Inc.

If you are lucky enough to have enthusiastic team members, how do you share their incredible perspective on manufacturing careers with current high school students, and grow your workforce?   Approaching workforce challenges from an even broader perspective, how do we, as an industry, promote the tremendous manufacturing career opportunities that exist for high school graduates, while we have a national culture focused on college as the predominant path to a successful career? To address this issue head-on, we are delighted to collaborate with Illinois Manufacturers' Association in providing an ongoing workforce feature article in their quarterly magazine, The Illinois Manufacturer. Each article will feature two Manufacturing Mavericks, their internship experience, and the outstanding companies they work for who are providing unique workforce solutions for companies of all sizes. The current article features the incredible Mavericks and workforce programs of Ace Metal Crafts Company, and BTM Industries Inc. To read the first article in the series, turn to https://lnkd.in/giQekdnp #acemetalcraftscompany #btmindustries #seeyourselfinmanufacturing #internships #manufacturingcareers

Are you looking for a proven website-driven strategy to grow your workforce? Look no further, as the WORKFORCE GROWTH ONLINE: Leveraging the Power of your Website to Grow your Workforce is TOMORROW from 11:30am-12:30pm! Be sure to give your recruitment efforts the best possible support: an engaging website where prospective team members learn what you do, and how you do it — then enjoy the application submissions! Register: https://bit.ly/3Ts4f8e #madeinil #manufacturing #illinoismanufacturers #workforce #website #onlineapplications #hiring

Happy International Women’s Day, #IWD2024, as we celebrate the incredible achievements, resilience and strength of women worldwide. I celebrate Nancy O'Leary and Kristen Cudden, Custom Direct leaders who are SERIOUS about helping our #manufacturing clients grow - and are equally serious when it comes to bringing joy and energy to our workplace! Thanks for ALL you do!

The first round of voting is now open for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s 2024 “Makers Madness” – a bracket-style contest in which voters will decide what product is The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. Visit makersmadnessil.com and vote (up to FIVE VOTES per day) for CHRIS DUNCAN CUSTOM RACE CARS to advance to the Top 16! #MakersMadnessIL

Welcome to the 2024 Celebration of Manufacturing Mavericks! We are delighted to begin the new year with Brian, a Tool & Die Apprentice at OTTO Engineering, Inc. Brian has chosen his manufacturing career, "Because it grants me the privilege of utilizing a combination of my soft skills, mechanical acumen, and craftsmanship to yield results. These outcomes evoke a strong sense of pride and assure me a prosperous future." Brian goes on to say, "My manufacturing career has made a difference because I get to be a part of a long-standing tradition of community and workmanship, which, when put together, forms a meaningful and effective team capable of anything. The amount of knowledge to gain in this field is undoubtedly infinite. The scale of skills and applications is so vast. I will work for many decades, learning something new every day.” OTTO Engineering, Inc.  designs and manufactures a full line of control switches and audio accessories. As a vertically integrated manufacturer with in-house injection molding, stamping, CNC machining, cable assembly and cable overmolding capabilities, Otto offers a robust apprenticeship program. Hands-on learning is a vital aspect of the Otto Apprenticeship program -- ensuring team members like Brian build the skillset required for his Tool & Die responsibilities. Congratulations, Brian -- and OTTO Engineering, Inc.! To learn more about today's Manufacturing Maverick, visit: manufacturingmavericks.com #seeyourselfinmanufacturing #ottoengineering #apprenticeships #workforce

We have an incredible kick-off to the New Year with a brand new Manufacturing Mavericks website! Be sure to check out the new, expanded details and filtering capabilities on our Mavericks, which will be especially helpful as we celebrate Mavericks from across the country throughout this year. In fact, we have a new Maverick we are announcing later today. We will continue to add to our Resources page, which provides great insight and contact information for internships/apprenticeships, colleges, and associations which have helped our Mavericks begin their manufacturing careers. While October, Manufacturing Month, will remain focused on those newly out of high school, we are expanding our Maverick celebration for the remaining 11 months of the year and will introduce some incredible manufacturers who may not have made a direct path to their manufacturing careers. To say they have amazing stories to tell is an understatement. Enough chit-chat, here's the NEW Manufacturing Mavericks website: https://lnkd.in/gqRZuhPZ #manufacturingmavericks #seeyourselfinmanufacturing #workforce #apprenticeships #internships #manufacturing