PTDA to raise awareness of Industrial Careers Pathway program

Chicago, IL — The Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP) has launched new strategies for 2007 to increase awareness of industrial distribution and promote the rewarding careers available within the industry.

ICP is a major workforce development initiative in the United States and Canada working to help distributors and manufacturers enhance how they hire, train and promote employees. Together with 21 distribution associations, two manufacturers associations and two regional development organizations, the PTDA Foundation-led ICP Partner Alliance is working to:

* Actively promote careers in the industrial distribution channel.

* Develop community college programs to teach business, technical and distribution basics to new and experienced employees.

* Help distributors and manufacturers enhance how they hire, train and promote.

As part of its campaign to increase awareness and promote careers in industrial distribution, new ICP strategies include:

* Portraying education in the industrial distribution field as a tool for accelerated advancement, not to obtain an entry-level, minimum-wage position.

* Promoting supply chain concepts with clearer links between the manufacturer, distributor and end-user.

* Using high-profile end users as examples of the type of customers someone in industrial distribution could work with.

* Better defining the opportunities that exist in industrial distribution with a clear and distinct career path.

* Demonstrating the breadth of the industry, the viability of its future, and the fulfilling and financially-rewarding careers that are available.

In addition, ICP is calling on distributors and manufacturers from all industrial distribution sectors to promote the industry and their companies within their own communities. Channel partners are being asked to help by:

* Talking to local media about the industry and their company

* Sending press releases to the local media about company accomplishments

* Participating in career fairs at local high schools and community colleges

* Publicly celebrating the organization’s milestones

* Hosting a tour or open house at a facility

* Becoming a mentor to a student or someone interested in industrial distribution

* Inviting students from local schools to participate in a job shadow day

* Talking to boards and councils of local employment organizations about industrial distribution and the jobs available

* Visiting business and technical programs at local colleges as a speaker to talk about jobs and why industrial distribution is exciting.

The PTDA Foundation, whose work is funded solely by donations, was founded in 1982 to enhance knowledge, education, professionalism and productivity within the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry.

The Foundation’s core initiative, the Industrial Careers Pathway, is designed to recruit entry-level employees to the industrial distribution channel; develop programs to teach business, technical and distribution basics; and create affordable resources for current employee development.

For more information, visit www.industrialcareerspathway.org.