Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has appointed Bill Weier, Human Resources Director at Fives Cincinnati, to the newly reconstituted Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB). Weier is one of several new board members representing the state’s manufacturing sector, and he will serve a term that expires June 2018.
The KWIB’s overarching goal is “to build a workforce in Kentucky that companies cannot wait to hire,” according the Governor. The board is to develop recommendations for strategically aligning the state’s workforce, economic and educational systems, business and labor, and elected officials so that workers acquire the skills and credentials that businesses need to compete and create jobs in Kentucky.
Fives is a nationally recognized workforce-development leader that invests heavily in training for all levels of its staff, from trade-school apprentices to senior management. “Staff development is a social issue, an economic issue and a national security issue that we take seriously,” said Weier. “It is vital for companies like Fives, because it takes years to develop the skills and knowledge required to thrive in computer-driven manufacturing. We believe we know what it takes to succeed, and we are anxious to help guide KWIB to its goal.”
Fives starts employee development early by hosting high-school tech campers from area universities. “It’s important to influence career choices early,” said Kevin Lichtenberg, Fives Vice President & General Manager U.S. Operations. The company also participated in the recent White House Upskill Summit, a national initiative launched by President Obama. Fives is currently paying salary and tuition for 12 apprentices who work and attend Gateway Community and Technical College, and the company has invested more than $2 million in the nationally featured program since 2005. “We have valuable experience to share with KWIB, and high hopes for Kentucky workers,” Lichtenberg added.
About Fives in Metal Cutting | Composites:
Fives designs and supplies machine tool and complete manufacturing solutions in a broad range of industrial sectors.
With a strong foundation based upon renowned legacy names such as Cincinnati, Giddings & Lewis, Forest-Liné, Liné Machines and Rouchaud, Fives is recognized as the preeminent provider of outstanding manufacturing solutions which are at the heart of its customers’ performance.
Fives Metal Cutting | Composites dedicated teams – approximately 1200 people in over 15 countries – serve key industrial markets including aerospace, automotive and truck, heavy equipment, oil and gas, rail, wind, energy and general machining. With manufacturing and support operations strategically located worldwide, Fives and its Metal Cutting & Composites businesses offer comprehensive lines of equipment and technologies including automated assembly, laser welding and cutting, turning, milling, composites processing and software with the associated support services (maintenance, spare parts, retrofit, overhauling and upgrading).
About Fives:
Fives is an industrial engineering Group with a heritage of over 200 years of engineering excellence and expertise. Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial groups in various sectors such as aluminum, steel, glass, automotive, logistics, aerospace, cement and energy, in both developing and developed countries.
In all these sectors, Fives designs and manufactures equipment and innovative solutions, which better anticipate and meet the needs of its customers in terms of performance, quality, safety and respect for the environment.
In 2014, Fives achieved a turnover of 1.560 million Euros and employed close to 8,000 people in about thirty countries.
For more information, please visit:
fivesgroup.com or metal-cutting-composites.fivesgroup.com
