The City of Anderson hosted the first Manufacturers' Roundtable that focused on the educational and workforce needs of the community and employers. One of Anderson’s newest companies, Keihin, hosted the Roundtable at the Flagship Enterprise Center. Mayor Kevin Smith and Eric Doden, President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), welcomed industry representatives, local educators, and community leaders.

Industry representatives from Nestle, ELSA, HDP, GTI, Hy-Pro Filtration, S&S Steel, Kennedy Tool and Die, Mo-Fab, Ertl Enterprises, SES, Inc., Go Electric, Inc., Keihin, Precision Strip, Prairie Farms were in attendance. These representatives spoke to Anderson-area educators about their products and processes and what skills are necessary to be successful in those industries and what skills are difficult to find. Representatives from Anderson Community School Corporation, Ivy Tech, Purdue, Anderson University, Liberty Christian, Anderson Preparatory Academy, the Impact Center, Work One, and the Excel Center were in attendance to hear the needs of employers. The industry spoke in frank terms of what they need from their employees and how educators and the community at large can help prepare students, young and old, for the jobs in today’s marketplace.

"We are pleased to welcome this group of industry, academic, and community leaders to discuss education and the impact it has on our workforce,” said Mayor Smith. “Anderson is focused on helping all of our area schools prepare our citizens for the jobs of today. Bringing industry and educators together today made the first step toward fostering a greater understanding of how these two integral parts of our community can work together. "

"Anderson has been a great partner with the IEDC and this roundtable is an example of Anderson's focus on the needs of industry. The IEDC whole-heartedly supports the efforts of Anderson and communities around the state as we look for ways to match education with the needs of those industries that have invested so much in Indiana,” stated Eric Doden, President of the IEDC.

Today’s Manufacturers' Roundtable is a first step in a long process of bridging the communication gap surrounding training and education in our community. This Roundtable was the first of four meetings to be held throughout 2014. While the focus of each of the meetings will be different, the overarching goal of fostering communication between employers and our community remains the same.