Oswego County students explored diverse career options within the manufacturing industry during the CiTi BOCES Manufacturing Day Expo.

Located at the CiTi BOCES Mexico Campus, students were able to learn about various professions and cutting-edge technologies through one-on-one conversations with industry representatives, live demonstrations and hands-on activities.

The Manufacturing Day Expo is part of CiTi BOCES’ ongoing Career Connection Series, aimed at providing students with career exploration and workforce development opportunities.

"Interest in our expos continues to grow as more industry partners see the value in connecting with prospective students, and vice versa" said Martin J. Pasternak, CTE Student Support Coordinator. "Last year we had 32 industry representatives and around 800 students; this year we've expanded to 39 representatives and approximately 1,200 students."

Among the new industry representatives was Michael Drescher, Senior Vice President of deLima Coffee Co., Inc., who explained the importance of participating in these events. “As competition for skilled employees grows and manufacturing systems become increasingly complex, it’s clear that fostering early connections with future talent is crucial,” he said. “Events like this allow deLima to not only engage with potential employees but also contribute to their understanding of career opportunities in the industry.”

The organizations and manufacturers present for the expo were: Novelis, Women in Novelis, Huhtamaki, EJ USA, Inc., GA Braun Inc., CNY Fabrication, Nucor, C&S Companies, Davis-Standard, Universal Metal Works, Fulton Thermal Corp., DL Manufacturing, Paul DeLima Coffee, Omni Services, JMA Wireless, Constellation Energy, Micron Technology, N.E.T & Die, Inc., Schneider Packaging, Bluefors Cryocooler, SRC Inc., Swagelok, Alfred State Tech., MACNY/PEB, Suny Oswego ECE, Suny Oswego, D&W Diesel, OCWNY, CiTi – P-TECH, CiTi CTE, OCC – T.E. & C., CiTi Adult Ed, International Wire, CCC (AMI), On Point for College and Northwestern Ohio. 

The next event in the Career Connection Series is the Agriculture Day Expo, which will celebrate the vital role of farming and agriculture in the local economy. This will take place on Friday, October 25. 

For more information about CiTi BOCES’ Career Connection Series and to register for a future event, please visit Career Connection Series Home.

Middle and high school students from every Oswego County district and multiple CiTi BOCES programs recently attended the Manufacturing Day Expo held at the CiTi BOCES Mexico campus.

Students were able to learn about the industry and its diverse career paths by engaging with 32 different local manufacturers who were present for the event.

One of the manufacturers in attendance was Felix Schoeller out of Pulaski. Their HR Manager Jessica Kolenda said “We participate in these events because they are mutually beneficial to our company and to the students. We are given a chance to market our name and brand while explaining that there are amazing career opportunities with great wages and benefits in our hometowns.”

The expo was well attended and included a visit from Senator Mark Walczyk who represents northern Oswego County in the 49th Senate District. Walczyk spent his time meeting with participants and watching unique demonstrations from industry.

Brian Heffron, Administrator of Workforce Development and Community Relations at CiTi BOCES oversaw the event and said “Today’s success affirms the optimism and excitement surrounding our youths’ interest in having a crucial role in an industry that is the anchor to our region’s economic growth and prosperity.”

The Manufacturing Day Expo is one of several career exploration and workforce development opportunities that CiTi is providing all students in Oswego County as part of its Career Connection Series. The next event being Agricultural Day, an event celebrating the farming and agriculture industry.

The following organizations and manufacturers attended the expo: Women in STEM, Novelis, Huhtamaki, Ralph W. Earl Co. Inc., G.A. Braun Inc., CNY Fabrication, NUCOR Steel, Bluefors, Felix Schoeller, Healthway, SUNY Oswego, Onondaga Community College, Cayuga Community College, Onpoint, P-TECH, MACNY, Universal Metal Works, Fulton Companies, Lockheed Martin, EJ USA, Schneider Packaging, DL Manufacturing, NET & Die, CTE, Swagelok, SRC Engineering, Constellation Energy, C&S, Davis-Standard, CiTi Adult Education, OCWNY and International Wire.