Lewiston, MN October 31, 2016 – PlastiCert, a 35 year veteran of innovative and quality plastic injection molding design and manufacturing services, was honored to be a part of the recent CEO In the Classroom presentation at Winona Middle School.
PlastiCert President/Owner Craig Porter volunteered to present to WMS 8th graders about what it is like to be a CEO, the pathway of his career, and talk real world numbers about careers, pay, expenses, and planning for your future.
CEO in the Classroom is a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce program geared at helping young adults start to plan their high school academic goals. The Winona Chamber of Commerce chose to engage 8th graders before they go to their high school orientation and begin selecting their course work. This compared to following the predetermined curriculum they had in middle school. The underlying message is to start thinking about your career, looking around at the different careers you see people doing in everyday life and using high school class selection as a means of “experimenting” in those different fields to see if it agrees with you.
“It is a great program to be a part of,” remarked Porter. “The Chamber has a well thought out PowerPoint that steps through class selection, discovering interests, career exploration, asking questions and quite frankly some real world home budget numbers that the kids are a little shocked by. A spotlight on how much money for rent, food, and yes taxes, it takes to get by as a young adult.” The CEO in the Classroom presentation is an interactive exchange. Students are asked about any career ideas they may already have, if they have been generating income already through chores and odd jobs, then what their idea of a “good” monthly income is. “The most common response is $500 – $1,500 a month would make for a nice life. When we show them a realistic young single person’s budget based on nearly $2,900 a month and what that translates into careers that can sustain that, they become a little wide eyed. Augmented with what a minimum wage position pays monthly and the point gets home rather quickly.” They try to minimize the focus on minimum wage jobs and stressing that people have to do what they have to do, but education and experience equals options. The level of those two factors you possess, education and experience, the greater the number of options to leading the type of life reflecting your goals.
As CEOs, they talk about their perspective as a potential employer, and how it relates to the students as eventual job applicants. They let them know that the attendance, homework deadlines, and project goals teachers require them to set, are not unique. As employers, we expect them to be there on time, every day and complete their assignments as agreed. They also emphasize that math and science course are not just about learning math and science but are the foundation of learning to problem solve, something every employer, in this day and age, expects of their employees to contribute to the company. They set up the link to realizing that teachers are not just imparting subject knowledge, but life skills.
About PlastiCert
PlastiCert was founded in 1981 and is a privately held corporation with headquarters and manufacturing in Lewiston Minnesota. Initially a custom molder targeted at the electronics industry, today PlastiCert is a one-stop shop for OEMs and entrepreneurs in telecom, industrial, computer, avionics, medical markets and more. PlastiCert provides both mold development/build and custom plastic injection molding; including insert molding and over molding. Also available are a compliment of value add capabilities including decorating and electro-mechanical assembly. For more information on PlastiCert and the opportunities we present users of custom molded plastic components, visit www.plasticert.com or call 507-523-2300.