EFCO Finishing in Menomonee Falls, WI is partnering with GPS Education Partners to build its industry talent pools and future workforces using the unique youth apprenticeship program designed by GPSEd.
This is a model that has been successful for many other Wisconsin businesses in the 20 years it has been around, and matches motivated student workers with promising technical careers and career paths. Students will also be allowed to take on different roles and responsibilities at EFCO, all while earning their high school diploma.
“It is with much excitement and great anticipation that we welcome EFCO Finishing into the GPSEd stable,” says Dan Bryant, GPSEd’s Partner Services Manager. “We are always eager to partner with companies who offer numerous training opportunities in their respective manufacturing processes, but also who take an interest in developing young people to take on viable careers. EFCO’s family-centered culture and unique training experiences should make for a most fruitful training ground for our students.”
GPSEd is a community-based nonprofit organization and one of the largest statewide Department of Workforce Development Youth Apprenticeship Programs in Wisconsin. The GPSEd community-based education model is a catalyst to building strategic partnerships with education, business and community entities. These partnerships enable GPSEd to accelerate student preparation in technical careers through powerful, credentialed work-based learning solutions. Founded in 2000, GPSEd is deeply committed to designing, building and executing Work-based Learning solutions that address the needs of businesses who are ready to close the skills gap by developing tomorrow's workforce with today's youth.
EFCO Finishing is currently in the third generation of family ownership. It was started in 1945 by two brothers, Elmer and Don Schultz as the Eldon Finishing Company. True to its makeup as a family business, EFCO is proud to announce that the first student through the program will be Ryan Budgins, son of co-owner Mike Budgins. Ryan will be starting his senior year, and at the completion of the program, will have his diploma from Germantown High School. Ryan will focus on industrial maintenance as well as other duties at EFCO, and brings youth and an enthusiasm to learn, which everyone at EFCO is excited about.
“I look forward to teaching young prospective individuals the importance of manufacturing in our society," Mike Budgins says. "Young individuals see or use multiple different products in their everyday life. They never think what it takes for that product to be created and the amount of imaginary thinking to produce the product. It is one thing to come up with an idea of a new product and another to think about how to create that idea into something you can hold. The GPSEd program will give EFCO Finishing the opportunity to develop young minds on how important a role they can take in adding to society.”
