Three new chapters to be created
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2015) — Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME) is expanding into a statewide organization.
KY FAME is a partnership of manufacturers that have teamed up to address the shortage of technically skilled workers needed in advanced manufacturing. KY FAME offers an innovative, apprentice-style education and training program designed to create one of the most highly skilled workforces in the world.
Program participants attend classes two days per week at their local community college and work an additional 24 hours per week for a sponsoring employer. Upon completion of the program, students receive an associate degree in Applied Sciences, and, with the practical skills gained during their paid work experience, most begin full-time employment with the sponsor. Others may decide to further their technical education to obtain an engineering degree.
“KY FAME provides tremendous benefits to both students and companies,” Beshear said. “This is a great opportunity for our state’s youth to gain the hands-on experience needed to achieve quality careers and gives companies a stronger workforce to choose from — both of which are very important components in growing our state’s economy. I’m excited to see KY FAME expand, and I look forward to the federation creating a statewide workforce that’s second to none.”
In addition to the Bluegrass (Central Kentucky) chapter, KY FAME is creating three new chapters in Greater Louisville, northern Kentucky and Elizabethtown/Lincoln Trail regions, with an ultimate goal of expanding throughout the entire state.
To facilitate the statewide expansion of the program, Gov. Beshear is announed the creation of the KY FAME statewide board of directors. The board will work with communities and other companies to develop KY FAME chapters and programming throughout Kentucky.
Board members are:
- Kim Menke, Toyota (Georgetown)
- Terry McMichael, 3M (Cynthiana)
- Tom Hudson, nth/works(Louisville)
- Mike Hirsch, ZF Steering (Florence)
- Kurt Krug, INOAC (Springfield/Bardstown)
- Peter Feil, Stober Drives (Maysville)
- TBD, Kellogg (Pikeville)
- Donnie Slagle, Toyotetsu (Somerset)
- Gregory Head, Kobe Aluminum (Bowling Green)
- Mary Beth Hudson, Wacker Chemical (Calvert City)
- Farrah Corbett, Premium Allied Tool (Owensboro)
- Erik Dunnigan, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
- Greg Higdon, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
- Dianne Leveridge, Kentucky Community & Technical College System
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