Advanced Manufacturing, Innovative Partnerships, Advanced Communities: The Chicago Experience

GCI Innovate Chicago Lecture Series

“Advanced Manufacturing, Innovative Partnerships, Advanced Communities: The Chicago Experience”

Panel Discussion with:
Erica Swinney
Program Director
Manufacturing Renaissance

Bill Vogel
Industry Coordinator
Manufacturing Renaissance
serving Austin Polytecnical Academy

Wednesday, October 30, 2013
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Great Cities Institute
412 South Peoria Street
Suite 400, CUPPA Hall
Chicago, IL 60607

For over 30 years Manufacturing Renaissance (MR) has been in the economic development trenches of Chicago working with and doing research on behalf of local community and labor groups to understand what drove the loss of thousands of manufacturing companies and the jobs they sustained. More importantly to understanding the problem, MR has been on the leading edge on developing solutions to how to make Chicago a leader in today’s global, knowledge-based economy. Come hear the story of how the results of this work has lead to founding the internationally-recognizedcareer program at Austin Polytechnical Academy (APA) on Chicago’s Westside and a suite of other projects related to fostering community-driven economic development.

Erica Swinney has worked for Manufacturing Renaissance as Program Director serving Austin Polytechnical Academy, a Chicago Public High School since 2008. Erica is responsible for developing and managing Austin Polytech’s internationally-recognized manufacturing career program which includes over a dozen career-preparation activities. She also works closely with the students on a variety of leadership programs related to careers, entrepreneurship, and community development. Erica’s key initiatives include: a student-run manufacturing business MECH Creations, Sustainability Leadership Club, SkillsUSA chapter, and Patent Law Savvy workshop.

Bill Vogel has been in Manufacturing for over 50 years. Mid-career Bill parlayed his business knowledge into purchasing his own manufacturing company, DeCardy. He started volunteering at Austin Polytech, a school he had played a role in founding and which was dedicated to preparing students for leadership roles in the manufacturing companies of the future. He was asked to join the Manufacturing Renaissance staff and became Austin Polytech’s Industrial Coordinator because of his expereince in the manufacturing industry and knowledge of skills needed for students to obtain jobs.

To request disability accomodations, please contact Christiana Kinder, Great Cities Institute, (312) 996-8700, christia@uic.edu

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