(Above) L to R: DACC VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Carl Bridges, Skyepack CEO Eric Davis, Vermilion Advantage CEO Tim Dudley, Vermilion Advantage Chamber Director Nicole Van Hyfte, VVEDS Executive Director Nick Chatterton.
Nearly 18 months ago, Tim Dudley and Nicole Van Hyfte from Vermilion Advantage were in Lafayette, Indiana; where they heard about a locally based company and their relationship with the Lafayette community. That company was Skyepack. As Skyepack CEO Eric Davis explains, he worked nine years in K through 12 education himself, and saw lots of students that did not go to a four year college, or perhaps did without any career path in mind. And he realized, something was missing.
Skyepack CEO Eric Davis
AUDIO: We have high wage – high demand jobs that remain unfilled. One of the things that we wanted to do as a company was start to create those connections between K-12, those employers, the educators, the students, and their parents.
Vermilion Advantage Executive Director Tim Dudley thought right away, this is what Vermilion County needs. A way to raise talented workers, let them know exactly where they could be working as adults, and give them the skills.
AUDIO: What’s going on here in Vermilion County? Not just general things like “how to be rocket scientist” or “how to be a laborer generally;” it’s about what’s going on right here. They can learn about our companies.
And as of Monday October 3rd, the program was officially launched, right at the start of October’s Manufacturing Month. Vermilion Advantage Chamber Director Nicole Van Hyfte says the program will begin with Skyepack teaching local students, through videos and follow up fieldtrips, what local industries are all about.
AUDIO: Students and parents will learn about well paying jobs that students can step into right outside of high school graduation. And then if they choose to, they have opportunities to have their education paid for.
And those local continuing education opportunities certainly ring true for a couple local entities. Nick Chatterton is Executive Director of VVEDS, a duel credit technical education program out at DACC, remembered by some as the old VOTEC program.
VVEDS Executive Director Nick Chatterton
AUDIO: Our hope is that the students that are looking at this will say “oh, that’s my grandpa.” Or, you know, “I know somebody that works there.” And make that connection, and hopefully be able to grow our own and sustain the industry that we have in Vermilion County; and hopefully someday, expand it.
And also present was Danville Area Community College Vice-President of Academic Affairs Dr. Carl Bridges.
AUDIO: What I am most excited about in this opportunity is that is it going to get our students in our community to understand the options that are available to them here in Vermilion County.
The Skyepack program in Vermilion County will at first be for those in 8th grade through high school. Schools signed up so far are Danville High School, Hoopeston Area High School, and Westville Junior High. The participating local manufacturers thus far as TK Crankshaft, TK Dynamic Components, Danville Metal Stamping, Fiberteq, Watchfire Signs, Greenwood Inc, and Hyster-Yale.
The plan is to eventually teach younger kids in the area about these opportunities; and well as go beyond local manufacturing and get local health care involved, as well as local education, retail, and more. For any teacher, school, or school district in Vermilion County that wants to learn more about getting involved with Skyepack, you can contact Nicole Van Hyfte at Vermilion Advantage at 217-442-6201.
