Governor Heineman Hosts the Nebraska Career Dream Team

Governor Heineman Hosting the 2008 Career Dream Team Members, Area Directors, Chairman of NAMC, and Executive Director of the Nebraska Dream It. Do It. Campaign.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman hosted a special recognition event on November 18th to celebrate the progress of the Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition’s (NAMC) Dream It. Do It. campaign. The 23 young adults of the 2008 Nebraska Career Dream Team were recognized for their careers in advanced manufacturing and related businesses. These young adults (age 26 and under) were spotlighted during the Spring (College World Series) and Fall (Husker Football) 2008. They were joined by a guest, company leaders, Area Directors, and members of the NAMC Board of Directors. Two Career Dream Team members have been featured during pre-game radio interviews with Jim Rose on the Husker Sports Network before each Husker home football game, and enjoyed the tailgating at the CWS and football game. Their photos are on the Dream It. Do It. web site (www.dreamit-doit.com/Nebraska) and on posters that will be distributed to schools and businesses throughout the state. Governor Heineman, a strong supporter of encouraging young adults to consider good paying careers in manufacturing and related businesses in Nebraska, highlighted facts about Nebraska’s economic growth with existing companies growing and many new companies choosing Nebraska as the place to expand due to “Nebraska Advantage”. This economic growth highlights the importance for young adults to pursue education paths to develop 21st century skills in Nebraska. Governor Heineman referred to our great State as a football team – building a winning team starts with skills – The Dream It. Do It. campaign spotlights young adults in Nebraska companies who have achieved skills through their education paths. Tony Raimondo, Chairman of the NAMC, introduced the next phase of the program inducting the Career Dream Team members onto a Mentoring Team. Certificates were handed out by Tony Raimondo and Dwayne Probyn, Executive Director of Nebraska’s Dream It. Do It. The mentoring team will reach out to students through speaking engagements, radio interviews, career fairs, DVD’s, movie trailers and other means to continue to address the skills gap shortage by helping students understand the education paths to acquire 21st century skills needed. The NAMC is an effective business/education/government/labor partnership with eight Area Directors and growing across the state. Also the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has 15 Dream It. Do It. campaigns nationally, and Nebraska was the first state to launch Dream It. Do It. as a state-wide campaign. Nebraska currently has area directors in Columbus, Omaha, Lincoln, Northeast Nebraska, Hastings, Grand Island, Dawson County, Western Nebraska, and Holdrege. The 2005 Skills Gap Survey by the National Association of Manufacturers and The Manufacturing Institute reported that 81% of manufacturers said they can not find the skilled workers needed to keep their businesses competitive in a global 21st century economy. Manufacturers and related companies agree we have this challenge in Nebraska – we hope you join us. To learn more about the Dream It. Do It. campaign, access www.dreamit-doit/nebraska.com