SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois manufacturing leaders are traveling across the state for their third annual Makers on the Move bus tour to highlight career opportunities and the industry's impact on the economy.
Manufacturing makes up a third of all jobs in Illinois and generates roughly $600 billion in economic investment annually.
"Whether they're feeding the world, making life-saving drugs, powering our homes and businesses, providing for our nation's defense or helping transport people and product around the world and into space, manufacturers are making the world better every single day," said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association.
Industry leaders celebrated National Manufacturing Day by kicking off their 2,500 mile bus tour inside a historic Springfield business Friday.
Many people know the Ace Sign Company creates magnificent large illuminated signs. However, the company's story started with a German immigrant who moved to Illinois with a dream of painting.
"He took that skill of hand painting and he taught it to many of our family who then advanced that and eventually painting of carriages turned into painting of automobiles," said Todd Bringuet, CEO of Ace Sign Company. "Painting of automobiles transitioned magically into wrapping of buses."
Ace employees created the wrap for the 2024 Makers on the Move tour bus. Maxwell Lehman, a recent graduate of Springfield High School, designed the artwork while studying at the Capital Area Career Center.
"As we stand here inside Ace Sign Company, I can recall at least a dozen students that have transitioned from our programs directly into a position here at Ace from graphic design to production to fabrication to installation," said Robert Ferriell from the Capital Area Career Center.
This was the second year in a row that the Makers on the Move tour kicked off in Springfield. Manufacturing leaders will take the tour bus to companies, facilities, schools and community centers over the next week. The tour will end with an Illini tailgate next Saturday. You can see the full tour schedule by clicking here.
"We really want to showcase great manufacturers," Denzler said. "We also want to attract the next generation, the students that you have here, to let people know that manufacturers are hiring. Whether you are on the factory floor or whether you're in accounting or marketing or design, there are thousands of jobs available in manufacturing today."
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