FAMTEN = Bringing New Talent to NFPA Members

By Eric Lanke, NFPA President/CEO

Coming in 2018, FAMTEN is the Fluid Power and Applied Mechatronics Training and Employment Network, and its focus will be on developing and introducing NFPA members to new technical talent entering the fluid power job market. FAMTEN will do this by stacking four necessary program components in a single community:

• A middle school outreach program to raise fluid power education awareness;
• A high school education program to develop initial competencies;
• A two-year tech school degree program to deliver the skill sets NFPA members are looking for; and
• A network of industry partners with facilities near the community to provide mentorship to students and jobs to graduates.

We’re pleased to report that Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) in suburban Milwaukee has been selected as the first FAMTEN tech school. Due to its proximity to the NFPA office and its dedication to implementing fluid power curriculum, we believe WCTC will be our first, best opportunity to create a successful FAMTEN Hub. NFPA has many members with facilities in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois who can benefit greatly from the partnership with WCTC. Once the program is launched, NFPA members in the region will be able to network directly with fluid power students who will soon be entering the job market.

Our long-term strategic goal is to build 12 of these FAMTEN Hubs in important fluid power communities around the country. The vision is to identify where NFPA members have manufacturing or assembly facilities and to align our expansion plans with education partners in those communities. It is an ambitious goal, and we won’t be able to make it a reality without ongoing donations from our members to the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation. With those donations, we plan to get company representatives engaged on our Tech School Education Committee, which will play a critical role in directing and supporting this program.

If your company is currently a Silver or Gold level donor through the NFPA Foundation’s giving society, the Pascal Society, your company has already been asked to place someone on this committee. If you are currently a Bronze level donor, this may be the best time to consider upgrading your company to the Silver level and make the most of your involvement with NFPA.

We look forward to launching the FAMTEN Hub at WCTC in 2018 and seeing what kind of successes and challenges come along with it as we develop the plan for other FAMTEN communities. With your support and participation, more FAMTEN Hubs across the country will connect more members to the talent they are looking for to help drive the future of their businesses.