'Dream It' campaign provides career path

By Jim Osborn/josborn@columbustelegram.com

COLUMBUS - James Hopkins is a poster boy for following a career path that the “Dream It, Do It” campaign hopes will ignite a passion in students to pursue a future in manufacturing.

The 2001 graduate of Columbus High School could serve as a model for students seeking to match their interests with their career choices, said Jon Misfeldt, public relations coordinator for the program that champions job opportunities available in advanced manufacturing.

“We want students to find what they're passionate about, find what they're good at and make that a career choice,'' Misfeldt told Columbus Middle School careers/industrial technology classes on Tuesday.

After Hopkins graduated from CHS, he attended a two-year program at Southeast Community College in Milford, learning about manufacturing machine tools. While attending SCC, he worked during internships at Behlen Mfg. Co. and was offered a job after graduation.

After just a few years, Hopkins has quickly advanced up the ranks of the Columbus manufacturer's work force. He is now a team leader on the company's second shift, earning nearly $20 an hour as his responsibilities and pay have increased.

Manufacturers are looking for workers with bright minds who are willing to put in the effort to continue learning and training to fill the skilled jobs of today and tomorrow, said Misfeldt, pointing to Hopkins as an example that other students could mirror.

“Dream It, Do It” reaches out to high school and community college students in Columbus, Lincoln and Omaha. The manufacturing coalition, partnering with manufacturers and community colleges, is now launching the program across the state.

Tony Raimondo, chairman and CEO of Behlen and chairman of the Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition, helped unveil “Dream It, Do It” in September.

The Nebraska program is patterned after a program undertaken last year in Kansas City, Mo., that has resulted in a sharp upturn in community college enrollments in fields related to manufacturing.

There are a lot of careers and great jobs that don't require four years of college, Misfeldt said. “The options are limitless.”