At Jorgensen Conveyors in Mequon, business is booming. The firm, which makes custom-designed conveyor equipment used in the metal-working industry, employs about 120 individuals. It moved from Milwaukee to Mequon in 1985.
“Getting qualified employees is a challenge,” said Marc Jorgensen, president of Jorgensen Conveyors. “It is one of our main issues, especially as a constraint to growth. We are in an environment here where you have to be as creative as possible in finding new workers.
You can’t just sit back and rely on traditional methods.” To build his workforce, Jorgensen got involved with the Ozaukee County Transportation Management Association.
“It has really helped us,” Jorgensen said. “We’ve got about four people each day riding the system. I know it’s helped other businesses even more than us.” The other path Jorgensen took to increase his labor pool was through the Workforce 2010 program, which allows high school students to get apprenticeships at local businesses. A consortium of businesses along with the local high schools developed curricula in the schools and at various worksites to teach students basic skills they need to succeed in the workplace.
In addition, Jorgensen is working with the Milwaukee Area Technical College and the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership to recruit under-employed and unemployed workers, as well as those involved with the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program. In late March, a welder from Jorgensen spoke to a group of about 50 prospective employees about working at Jorgensen.
“We hope to hire about 10 to 12 people as welders through this program,” Jorgensen said.
“It is a nice opportunity for us and them.”
May 1998 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
