July 13, 2023 (CHICAGO) — MxD has established the MxD Learn Advisory Committee. The committee will drive the execution of the MxD Learn Curriculum and Pathways Integrating Technology and Learning (CAPITAL) strategy and outcomes as well as overall MxD workforce strategy. The Learn Advisory Committee will be tasked with supporting role prioritization for course development and helping drive and refine metrics for the program’s success.
“Input from workforce thought leaders from industry, government, philanthropy, and academia is critical to ensuring the success of the CAPITAL program and other Learn initiatives,” said Lizabeth Stuck, Vice President of MxD Learn. “The Learn Advisory Committee will support MxD Learn in ensuring the current and future workers in manufacturing have the skills and training needed to strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and national security.”
MxD Learn helps communities build a manufacturing workforce of the future. With programs targeting populations from high school to the factory floor, MxD helps companies train and retain skilled workers who are nimble and digitally savvy while the sector faces both a skills gap and a perception challenge.
“More than two million U.S. manufacturing jobs are expected to be unfilled by 2030 due to a skills shortage,” said MxD CEO, Berardino Baratta. “With the Learn Advisory Committee, MxD will be able to continue expanding the impact of our portfolio, which has already reached 400,000 learners, and develop and release additional courses and resources to help close the skills gap.”
Committee members draw from MxD’s partners and ecosystem experts. Additional members will be added to the committee in the coming months.
Jacqueline Allman is Principal Analyst for Outreach and Industry Engagement with Analytic Services Inc. supporting the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program of the Innovation Capability and Modernization Office under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. Allman has more than 30 years of operational experience, business process engineering, and project management providing guidance on standards, policy, and acquisition strategies and implementation. In her current position, Jackie facilitates dialogue between the Department of Defense and the industrial base, to improve collaboration and communication both domestically and globally.
Matt Davis is a Training, Organizational Development, and Community Outreach Manager for ITAMCO, an advanced manufacturing and technology firm based in Indiana. Davis has extensive involvement in the surrounding community including co-chairing the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership and Marshall County Crossroads Workforce and Education Committees. He has also served on the Plymouth High School’s Advisory Board, Triton’s Advisory Council, Kosciusko County’s Intercession Group’s Advisory Board, the Northern Indiana Workforce Board, Lifelong Learning Network of Marshall County, Leadership Marshall County, and the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce in various capacities.
Rebekah Kowalski is the Vice President of Manpower Manufacturing Solutions and is responsible for ManpowerGroup North America’s Manufacturing Sector Strategy, developing talent solutions for the rapidly transforming industry. Her work focuses on developing solutions that help organizations and leaders deal with the implications of both the shortage of rightly skilled workers, and the evolution of roles and skills. Kowalski is the Vice Chair of GPS Education, is on the board of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Foundation, and is a past board member of the Skylight Music Theater and Midwest Energy Research Council.
Emily McGrath is a Senior Fellow and Director of Workforce Policy at The Century Foundation (TCF), leading the organization’s effort to advance workforce policy focused on achieving equitable labor market outcomes for all communities. McGrath has a diverse background that includes experience across government, industry, and education. Prior to working at TCF, McGrath was the director of workforce development at NextFlex, where she led workforce strategy and operations, scaling a range of initiatives to key manufacturing markets across the nation in partnership with manufacturing companies, institutes of higher education, nonprofit community-based organizations, and government agencies.
Paul Mefford is Senior Director, Operations Strategic Initiatives and Change Management at Dow. In a career spanning more than 27 years with Dow, Mefford has followed and built a career in operational roles including production leadership, run plant engineering, six-sigma, learning, operational excellence, change management, process safety, project engineering, and improvement engineering. In previous roles, Mefford was accountable for learning across the entire operations function, creating and managing a full suite of established talent development programs and events for every level from executive leadership to front-line employees that still take place in regions around the globe.
Aneesa Muthana is the CEO and Co-Owner of both M&M Quality Grinding and Pioneer Service Inc., Chicago-area manufacturers specializing in CNC Swiss machining and centerless grinding services for medical, aerospace, military, and industrial products. Muthana is a hands-on leader with more than 30 years of experience in almost every aspect of a production machining environment. Muthana serves on several boards and frequently speaks publicly on themes including diversity, mentorship, continuous improvement, and scaling digital transformation.
To learn more about the CAPITAL Program and The MxD Learn Advisory Committee, visit www.mxdusa.org/focus-areas/workforce-development/.
About MxD
MxD (Manufacturing x Digital) is where innovative manufacturers go to forge their futures. In partnership with the Department of Defense, MxD equips U.S. factories with the digital tools, cybersecurity, and workforce expertise needed to begin building every part better than the last. As a result, our nearly 300 partners increase their productivity, win more business, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing. MxD is also the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing as designated by DoD.
Media Contact:
Mackie Hill, Marketing and Communications Manager, MxD
mackie.hill@mxdusa.org
312.281.6872