Mar-Bal and Auburn Career Center – Partnering for the Future

Mar-Bal Intern Builds on Success through Certified Production Technician Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A firm believer in maintaining and strengthening the relationship between manufacturers and education, Mar-Bal President and CEO, Scott Balogh worked with other local manufacturers and Brian BontempoSuperintendent of Auburn Career Center in the name of workforce development. Through this collaboration, the Certified Production Technician Program was launched – a Career-Based Intervention offered through three Ohio school districts in Lake and Geauga Counties. 

Since its inception, numerous students have earned their CPT certificate and, in the process, developed highly transferable skills and concepts that are applicable to a variety of work environments. One such student is Matthew Oravecz, a senior currently enrolled at Auburn Career Center and participating in a maintenance internship with Mar-Bal. Matthew works alongside members of our team responsible for daily maintenance of the equipment that ensures we can continually deliver quality products and components to our customers.  

His proficiency has been commended by those that oversee his work, which he attributes to the completion of the CPT program, “The CPT certification has helped me understand a lot of the terminology used in the workforce prior to starting. It has also given me a head start at understanding mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems”.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew’s success is the result of his motivation and diligence combined with the knowledge gained from earning his CPT certificate – a perfect illustration of why the program was created and what can be achieved from the relationships between businesses and schools. 

“We greatly appreciate Scott Balogh and his team at Mar-Bal. They recognize the value of the training at Auburn Career Center and the Certified Production Technician credential. Matthew exemplifies the quality student that career and technical education attracts. He is dedicated, hardworking and is involved in extracurricular activities. When schools partner with local businesses, it creates opportunities and pathways for a great future. Matthew is a wonderful example of this relationship. This not only benefits the individual but also our entire region. We are proud to be a part of that process”. 

Michelle Rodewald, Director of Adult Workforce Education and Business Partnerships at Auburn was also quick to praise Matthew when speaking about the partnership between the Career Center and Mar-Bal, “Matthew is a star student… great attitude, great student overall. He was so motivated to find a good internship and he is so happy at Mar-Bal. I think those qualities combine with the knowledge the Certified Production Technician training gave him (and the training from his course at Auburn) and this really enhanced his knowledge and comfort level getting into the manufacturing industry”. 

The program’s versatility was also addressed by Matthew who stated, “I would definitely recommend the certification to someone who has the intent and interest in pursuing a manufacturing career. The certification introduces you to so many concepts that it is hard not to find something that you enjoy doing”. 

Thanks to the cooperation between education and businesses, the establishment of courses such as the Certified Technician Program can take place, which not only benefits students by providing knowledge and experience needed to succeed, but also the region once they enter the workforce.