THE FOLLOWING IS A WATCHFIRE SIGNS RELEASE
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association visited Watchfire Signs during its Makers on the Move bus tour highlighting the state’s innovative manufacturers to celebrate Manufacturing Month. Watchfire employees, including President and CEO Steve Harriott, signed the bus. Arlen Kerst, a welder at Watchfire for 10 years, gave an inspirational speech about how he learned a trade at Watchfire and much more, including character, humility, integrity and the value of working with your hands. “If we can cultivate those values in high schools and in colleges of Illinois and communicate to and encourage the young people of our communities that they are capable of so much more than what they think, that there’s purpose in the work of their hands, we will no doubt raise up the next generation to be successful in the trades of manufacturing,” he said.
