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Champaign County is expanding

2/13/2023

 
Our area is busy with expansion. With each expansion it means that these manufacturer's see the value in continuing to invest in our community. It also means more investment dollars staying right here. We’ve had 2 manufacturers expand and 2 new developments this past year that brings over $ 50 million dollars to Champaign County. Expansion also means more jobs. We have new commitments of over 80 new jobs with over 2 million dollars in new payroll. The CEP is proud of our local partnerships. Together we are making Champaign County a destination. 

ORBIS: A LEADER IN PLASTIC REUSABLE PACKAGING

9/30/2022

 
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 From planes and trains to the containers we put things in, we in our modern society, we can take for granted the ease of transporting almost anything. Take the plastic containers you see at the grocery store, that carry products from the truck to the shelf. 

There was a time that those containers were unheard of. Then, along came ORBIS and changed how we transport goods. Before plastic, wood was used to help contain and transport goods. In 1895, what is now the Menasha corporation was the largest manufacturer of turned wooden ware.  By the 1950’s, another pioneer by the name of G.B. Lewis became the first designer of plastic reusable containers. In 1974 they came together when Menasha acquired G.B Lewis and renamed LEWISSystems. In 1995 ORBIS came under the Menasha corporation and now we have Orbis Menasha.  Folks who grew up here in Urbana may recognize the LEWISSystem name that we know now as Orbis. Started locally in 1980, what was once LEWISSystem, ORBIS is still the leader in plastic reusable packaging. After recently acquiring the remaining parcels of the old Q3 building, ORBIS plans to expand their facility here in Urbana. They will be hosting a Ground Breaking Ceremony tomorrow at 10:00 am, click here to learn more about this event. ​

ORBIS expansion to begin in Urbana

9/29/2022

 
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ORBIS is expanding in Urbana! Celebrate the groundbreaking on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 10 am – 11 am at its Urbana, Ohio manufacturing plant located at 200 Elm St, Urbana, OH 43078. Attend this ceremony to learn more about this expansion project and hear from business and government leaders.
 
As the North American leader in reusable packaging, ORBIS helps world-class companies move, store, and protect product more sustainably and efficiently. Their experts design a solution based on their customers’ needs and create and deliver reusable packaging program designed for cost-savings and sustainability.
For more information, please contact the Champaign Economic Partnership by September 30, 2022, via phone at 937-653-7200 or email at [email protected].

Design Challenge Celebrates Manufacturing Month

10/16/2019

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October is National Manufacturing Month

The Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) in Urbana hopes to capitalize on the national monthlong celebration with partners in manufacturing and education to showcase and encourage young people to explore career opportunities in the modern era of manufacturing, including holding the second annual Champaign County Design Challenge.

“We are fortunate to have such diversity of manufacturing in Champaign County,” said Marcia Bailey, CEP Director. “We want our young people to understand the career choices that exist in manufacturing and having this opportunity helps them gain first-hand knowledge. We have approximately 3,700 people working in manufacturing in our community and many companies are looking for skilled employees.”

Last year, the CEP, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, Urbana University, and manufacturers from around the area created the inaugural Champaign County Design Challenge. After a successful first year, the design challenge is returning. For the second year in a row, approximately 90 students from Graham, Mechanicsburg, Triad, Urbana, and West Liberty-Salem are participating.

The student teams were challenged to design a mousetrap race car within a series of criteria and constraints under the guidance of an industry mentor. Each school participating can have up to four teams with five students and is open to middle or high school students. For the challenge, the mousetrap car must include five simple machines and four wheels with the goal of the car going 20 feet. The teams cannot purchase or 3D print materials.

The mentors for the teams are Steven Brandeberry from JWP, Zack Zizzo and Stephen Oser from Orbis, Mike Wagner from Navistar, Colin Turcu, Hayden Gephart, and Ethan Hess from KTH, Jeff Helman from Rosewood Machine and Tool, Jacob Schmitt from Ultra-Met, Dan Yohey from Rittal, Tyler Bumbalough from the Urbana City Engineering division, and Steve McCall from Champaign County Engineer.

“The goal of the design challenge is to expose students to local manufacturers, interact with professionals, and use their creativity to complete a project,” said Allison Koch, Ohio Hi-Point Satellite Supervisor. “The groups are being judged on their collaboration and their ability to explain their successes and challenges.”

The teams compete at their school district and the winning team from each school district advance to the countylevel competition held at Urbana University on November 1. All participants are invited to listen to the finalists present each team’s design to the judges.

During the event, students are also able to participate in a tradeshow with local manufacturers.

“Design thinking happens at the intersection of art and science. Designers direct our lifestyle, create our products, and shape the environments where we live, work, and play,” said Dr. Christopher Washington, Executive Vice President and CEO of Urbana University. “Urbana University is proud to host the Champaign County Design Challenge event for young designers in our region.”

The Champaign County Design Challenge trophy is currently housed at last year’s winning school, Triad High School.

For more information about manufacturing programs for students, please visit www.ohiohipoint.com or www.urbana.edu.
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ORBIS Holds Signing Event

5/16/2019

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ORBIS Signing Day
Caty Shoemaker, seated at center, signs her employment contract as an intern at ORBIS in Urbana. Seated at left is her manager, Laura Reed, materials manager, and seated at right is Shoemaker’s fiancé, Sam McGill. Standing from left are Dan Szklany, ORBIS plant manager; Maegan O’Connor, human resources representative; Tom Walker, scheduler; Sharon Cook, buyer/planner; Shelley Fuller, plant scheduler; Julie McGill, Sam McGill’s mother; Judy and Rodney McGill, McGill’s aunt and uncle; Cindy and Perry Shoemaker, Shoemaker’s parents; Jill O’Neal, Caty Shoemaker’s sister; Dean Ortlieb, Urbana fire chief and a cousin of the Shoemaker family; Karen Chuvalas of Urbana University; Ashley Cook, business liaison of the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP); and CEP Director Marcia Bailey.
The Orbis manufacturing facility in Urbana held a May 10 signing ceremony for an Urbana University senior who has begun a scheduling and purchasing internship at the company, which makes reusable plastic containers, pallets, dunnage and bulk systems for industrial customers.

Caty Shoemaker, a West Liberty-Salem High School graduate who will graduate in December from Urbana University, was joined for the signing ceremony by ORBIS leaders, representatives of the university and Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP), and family members, including her sister Jill O’Neal, a former member of the ORBIS team and now human resources operations manager at Weidmann Electrical Technology in Urbana and a member of the CEP Board.

The ceremony, patterned after signing ceremonies that colleges conduct for new student athletes, was coordinated with ORBIS by Ashley Cook, business liaison of the CEP.

Shoemaker is majoring in strategic management and minoring in accounting and marketing at Urbana University, a branch campus of Franklin University.

Karen Chuvalas, business development manager of the university’s UrbanaWORKS program, said that Christopher Washington, executive vice president and CEO of the university, is developing relationships with local companies to establish internships and co-ops. He wants all students to complete an internship or co-op before graduating.

Bundy Baking Solutions held a signing ceremony a week before for three local students who have joined their workforce.
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CEP, Businesses, Schools Developing Local Workforce

4/19/2019

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Mike Yauger
Mike Yauger, apprenticeship and training coordinator of Iron Workers Local 290, Tipp City, talks with a student and his father at the Workforce Extravaganza job fair held in March at West Liberty-Salem High School. The event, for all Champaign County high school students, featured 21 employers and job training programs.
The Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) and Champaign County schools and businesses are working together in several ways to help local employers meet their workforce needs and prepare students for rewarding careers.

“To succeed in the marketplace, local employers need more qualified candidates for job openings and to replace retiring employees,” said CEP Director Marcia Bailey. “To accomplish this, we’re working to better prepare students for these opportunities.”

She added, “By developing a strong workforce, we set up our community for growth and economic success, attracting new businesses and enabling existing businesses to grow and create jobs.”

Workforce development is a major focus of the CEP, she said. Following are examples of how the CEP and its partners are strengthening the local workforce:
  • CEP business liaison: The CEP and Ohio Hi-Point Career Center created this part-time position with the financial support of the Champaign County Human Resources Manufacturers Council, DP&L, Clark State Community College and FASTLANE.

Business Liaison Ashley Cook, who teaches Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s Supply Chain Management program at Urbana High School, coordinates activities that bring schools, students and businesses together throughout Champaign County. This includes job fairs, in-school presentations by businesses and spreading the word about internships, job shadowing opportunities and job openings.

Nancee Starkey, human resources generalist at Bundy Baking Solutions, said that Cook helped her set up presentations at Graham, Urbana and Triad high schools. She added that a few Graham seniors are working second shift at Bundy while they finish their studies.
  • Manufacturing videos: Cook is overseeing creation of videos that feature local manufacturers and their employees to show students and others the skilled, high-tech jobs available locally. So far, videos have been produced for Bundy Baking Solutions, the Hall Company, Orbis Corporation, Rittal, Ultra-met and Weidmann Electrical Technology. The videos can be viewed on the Champaign Economic Partnership YouTube channel.
  • Business Advisory Council: The CEP participates in the Champaign County Business Advisory Council, which brings schools and businesses together to develop curriculum to help students gain skills needed for in-demand careers.
  • Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Programs at Local Schools: This includes the Advanced Manufacturing Program in its third year at Triad Local Schools. This program will be added at Urbana and Graham high schools in the next school year to help prepare students for manufacturing careers and advanced training.
  • Ohio Hi-Point has offered its Biomedical program at Graham High School since 2005 and will be working more closely with Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital, said Debbie Wortman, Ohio Hi-Point satellite director. Ohio Hi-Point also offers Informational Technology at Graham, covering interactive media, coding and programming, and Supply Chain Management at Urbana High School.
  • Internships: More local manufacturers are offering students internships. Janet Ruhe, human resources representative at Orbis Corporation in Urbana, said that an Urbana University student has begun a materials internship at the company. Another Urbana University student who interned there last year was hired after graduation to work as a marketing and sales representative in Orbis’s corporate office.

Ruhe added that Triad High School graduate Zack Zizzo, who was in the Ohio Hi-Point Advanced Manufacturing program, is now working at Orbis as a paid intern while he completes the two-year mechanical engineering technology program at Clark State Community College – with tuition assistance from Orbis. He will continue working at Orbis after he graduates in June.

Ruhe said that Orbis met Zizzo at a local Manufacturing Day event where he presented a 3D printing project he worked on at Triad.
  • Job Signing Ceremonies: To celebrate interns joining local companies, the CEP is partnering with the companies to hold signing ceremonies, similar to those that colleges have for student athletes who join their programs. Ceremonies will soon be held for two interns at Bundy Baking Solutions and one at Orbis Corporation, while more will be planned.
  • Urbana University UrbanaWORKS Program: Urbana University, a branch campus of Franklin University, partners with area employers and chambers of commerce through the UrbanaWORKS program, which is designed to help strengthen the local workforce. Karen Chuvalas, UrbanaWORKS business development manager, said the partnership program offers businesses:
  • A tuition discount for employees to continue their education, online at Franklin University
  • Renewable scholarships for children of employees to attend Urbana University full time

Also, Urbana University is working with employers to:
  • Create internships and co-op programs to give students practical work experience and to help businesses find good employees
  • Develop curriculum to prepare students for manufacturing technologies
  • Provide on-site and online education programs customized to meet their workforce training needs
  • Community Job Connect: This online job board, developed by the CEP, allows Champaign County employers to post jobs at communityjobconnect.com. The CEP will be updating the site and moving it onto the CEP website, CEPOhio.com.
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Preparing New Generation for Local Jobs

9/6/2017

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ORBIS Manufacturing Jobs
Paul Hermann, process engineer at ORBIS Corporation, observes Zack Zizzo, an intern at ORBIS, program a CNC machine at the facility.
A local initiative – to prepare Champaign County students for in-demand manufacturing careers and help supply the skilled employees local manufacturers need – is beginning to pay off.

Zack Zizzo, a 2017 Triad High School graduate, is among those already seeing the benefits. So is Dan Szklany, plant manager of ORBIS Corporation in Urbana.

​ORBIS recently hired Zizzo as a paid intern. And while he works, ORBIS is providing Zizzo tuition assistance for the two-year mechanical engineering technology program at Clark State Community College. That comes with the promise of a job at ORBIS after graduation.

Szklany says ORBIS will benefit from Zizzo’s internship. “We’ll have a new employee who has the skills we need to succeed and who understands our culture.” He adds, smiling, “and has new ideas to bring to the plant.”

Zizzo came to ORBIS endorsed by Todd Bodey, who teaches Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s Advanced Manufacturing program, which began at Triad High School in 2015, at the start of Zizzo’s junior year.

Before going into education, Bodey worked for a variety of companies, including Honeywell Aerospace in Urbana, so he knows what manufacturers look for in employees.

Advanced manufacturing program
The Advanced Manufacturing program at Triad is a product of a manufacturing workforce partnership formed by the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP), Champaign County’s economic development agency. The CEP worked with local manufacturers to form the Champaign County Manufacturing Human Resources Council. Local schools have also been brought into the partnership to help find ways to prepare students for skilled jobs that manufacturers are having difficulty filling.

Debbie Wortman, Ohio Hi-Point’s satellite director, got involved in the partnership. She said that representatives of local manufacturers told her, “We really need to do something to create a more prepared workforce. This can’t wait.”
And that’s how the Triad Advanced Manufacturing program came to be.

Zizzo is the second Triad Advanced Manufacturing student to intern with a local manufacturer. Kaleb Kaylor interned at the Hall Company in Urbana in the summer of 2016, after graduating from Triad and before beginning studies at Wright State University.

Bodey said 52 students are enrolled this school year in the three courses offered in the Advanced Manufacturing program – Manufacturing Operations for first-year students, Computer Integrated Manufacturing for second-year students and CNC Technologies for third-year students. Next school year, the fourth year of the program, Robotics will be added to the curriculum. And the program includes introductory classes for middle school students.

Many Advanced Manufacturing students will go directly from high school to manufacturing jobs, while others like Zizzo and Kaylor will obtain additional training and education.

Additional successes
Champaign County’s manufacturing workforce partnership has been promoting manufacturing careers in additional ways that include:
  • Inventors Camp, held the past three years at the Champaign Family YMCA, to introduce children, ages 6 to 12, to manufacturing through hands-on activities and presentations by representatives of local manufacturing companies.
  • A display at the Champaign County Fair, featuring local manufacturers and their products and job opportunities.
  • Manufacturing Day activities for local high school students, including tours of local manufacturing facilities and presentations by manufacturers at Urbana University. This year’s Manufacturing Day will be held Oct. 6.
  • Community Job Connect, an online job posting and search website that features Champaign County-based jobs, including internships for students. The site, communityjobconnect.com, resulted from the manufacturing workforce partnership but is for all types of jobs and employers, not exclusively manufacturing. The site can also be accessed on CEP's website on the Jobs tab here.

Part of the challenge in preparing a new generation for manufacturing careers, Szklany said, is helping students and their parents “understand that modern manufacturing is a great place to build a career, and plants are driving innovation. We’ve got great, talented employees who are working with new kinds of technology all the time.”

“It’s not factory work,” adds Zizzo, who has been working in machine maintenance and programming CNC machines at ORBIS. And when he graduates from Clark State, he’ll have two career paths to choose from at ORBIS, Szklany said: preventive machine maintenance or engineering/project management.

Marcia Bailey, director of the Champaign Economic Partnership, said that manufacturing jobs can provide a good living. “The Dayton Development Coalition just reported that annual manufacturing salaries in Champaign County are averaging $64,000 in the third quarter of 2017.”
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CEP Office Location:
1512 South US Highway 68, Bay 14,
Urbana, Ohio 43078

Mailing Address: 
PO Box 268, Urbana Ohio 43078
937-653-7200
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