Great Lakes Family of Companies Makes $10,000 Donation to Support Skilled Trades Training

October 14, 2024

Great Lakes Fusion invited the Shiawassee RESD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Heavy Equipment students to their Vernon site on Wednesday, October 9, in celebration of Manufacturing Day. CTE students were provided with a walking tour of the Great Lakes facility, where students learned about the different types of roles and services within the organization. After the facility tour, Great Lakes staff provided one-on-one training to the CTE students, allowing each the opportunity to ride on multiple pieces of equipment, including an off-road haul truck, a mini excavator, and a skid steer. Bryan Marks, owner of Great Lakes Fusion, also extended an open invitation to the high school CTE students stating his company would welcome their return for job shadows, co-op work, and apprenticeships.

Just before the CTE students loaded the school bus to return to the Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center, Great Lakes Fusion presented the Shiawassee RESD with a donation for $10,000 to the Great Lakes Family Trades Fund. This endowed fund with the Shiawassee Community Foundation was created on May 4, 2023, by Great Lakes Fusion for the purpose of supporting skilled trades programs at the Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center. This is the second $10,000 donation Great Lakes Fusion has made to this endowed fund for the benefit of Shiawassee RESD skilled trades CTE programming in the last 18 months.

Charmian Fletcher, Associate Superintendent/GTE Director, stated, "We are so grateful for the ongoing, active support of CTE programming by Great Lakes Fusion, including their participating on our CTE Advisory Committees, hosting student field trip opportunities, attending career center events, and providing generous financial support." The Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center (CCRC), was purchased and renovated in the months after the community passed the August 2023 CTE millage. In addition to Heavy Equipment training, the CCRC provides onsite CTE programming for high school juniors and seniors in Electrical, Health Science, Public Safety, and Teaching Cadet. A high school CTE Welding program operates in partnership with Baker College on the Owosso campus.

The Great Lakes Family of Companies presents a donation to representatives of Shiawassee RESD after providing tours to students for Manufacturing Day.

Great Lakes Fusion invited the Shiawassee RESD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Heavy Equipment students to their Vernon site on Wednesday, October 9, in celebration of Manufacturing Day. CTE students were provided with a walking tour of the Great Lakes facility, where students learned about the different types of roles and services within the organization. After the facility tour, Great Lakes staff provided one-on-one training to the CTE students, allowing each the opportunity to ride on multiple pieces of equipment, including an off-road haul truck, a mini excavator, and a skid steer. Bryan Marks, owner of Great Lakes Fusion, also extended an open invitation to the high school CTE students stating his company would welcome their return for job shadows, co-op work, and apprenticeships.

Just before the CTE students loaded the school bus to return to the Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center, Great Lakes Fusion presented the Shiawassee RESD with a donation for $10,000 to the Great Lakes Family Trades Fund. This endowed fund with the Shiawassee Community Foundation was created on May 4, 2023, by Great Lakes Fusion for the purpose of supporting skilled trades programs at the Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center. This is the second $10,000 donation Great Lakes Fusion has made to this endowed fund for the benefit of Shiawassee RESD skilled trades CTE programming in the last 18 months.

Charmian Fletcher, Associate Superintendent/GTE Director, stated, "We are so grateful for the ongoing, active support of CTE programming by Great Lakes Fusion, including their participating on our CTE Advisory Committees, hosting student field trip opportunities, attending career center events, and providing generous financial support." The Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center (CCRC), was purchased and renovated in the months after the community passed the August 2023 CTE millage. In addition to Heavy Equipment training, the CCRC provides onsite CTE programming for high school juniors and seniors in Electrical, Health Science, Public Safety, and Teaching Cadet. A high school CTE Welding program operates in partnership with Baker College on the Owosso campus.