Blackhawk Technical College joined the Wisconsin Technical College System Board on Tuesday, March 15 in recognizing Frito-Lay North American, Inc., with the Futuremaker Partner Award.
The Futuremaker Partner Award is presented four times a year by the WTCS Board to recognize the unique, long-standing connections between the state’s employers and local technical colleges.
“Frito-Lay’s commitment to Blackhawk Technical College through their involvement in employer advisory committees, support of the IDEAL Opportunity Sponsorship Program, and their development of the Mentorship Training program for mentors in the apprenticeship program shows consistent strong support for the college, the students and the community,” said Rodney Pasch, Wisconsin Technical College System Board President. “The relationship Blackhawk Technical College has forged with Frito-Lay is an exemplary model of how Wisconsin’s technical colleges work with local employers to provide the skilled workforce needed to thrive in Wisconsin.”
Frito-Lay has placed Blackhawk in the spotlight as a critical catalyst for the region's economic success, said Dr. Tracy Pierner, President of Blackhawk.
“Blackhawk Technical College is very fortunate to have an industry partner, such as Frito-Lay, to understand the actual value of partnership. Frito-Lay and its employees are exceptional champions of BTC and the value of a technical college education,” Pierner said.
Frito-Lay serves on many advisory committees, providing critical input and support to Blackhawk programs. They are frequent visitors to campus, promoting job opportunities and highlighting how a Blackhawk education prepares students to launch their careers. Additionally, they provide financial support to students enrolled in BTC through earn and learn programs, including internship and apprenticeship programs.
Frito-Lay also contributes monetary support of the college through donations to the BTC Foundation and an investment into internship programs that lead high school students to the talent pipeline in our region.
Frito-Lay also stepped up in the fall of 2020 to be the first lead donor for the long-term sustainability of the IDEAL Opportunity Scholarship Program, which focuses on assisting underrepresented populations with resources financially and matching the students in the program with an employer that will provide an internship experience with the long-term goal of hiring students full-time.
In addition, Frito-Lay has partnered with the BTC Workforce and Community Development (WCD) team to offer customized Leadership Development training for their employees. And the company also partnered with BTC to develop the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA), a new organization that serves as a regional catalyst for talent recruitment and development in advanced manufacturing through collective efforts, initiatives and partnerships.
A new collaboration is taking shape between Frito-Lay and BTC's Truck Driving program. This collaboration will assist in developing a driver training program for new Frito-Lay drivers.
“Our success hinges upon the growth and development of our teams. The programs Blackhawk offers provide our employees with the necessary knowledge and skillsets to not only succeed in our environment, but to thrive in their daily lives as well. We truly appreciate the partnership and look forward to collaborating with BTC for years to come,” said Dan Washkoviak, Beloit Frito-Lay Site Director.
