{"id":160771,"date":"2025-08-15T09:57:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=160771"},"modified":"2025-08-15T09:57:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:57:08","slug":"sparking-creativity-and-innovation-at-lake-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2025\/08\/15\/sparking-creativity-and-innovation-at-lake-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Sparking creativity and innovation at Lake Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>T<\/span>he Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center at Wright State University\u2013Lake Campus<\/a> is a valued resource for employers throughout West Central Ohio.<\/p>\n

For years, the Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center (WDBEC) has provided talent development, continuing education, and small business development services. Offering a range of courses to improve computer, leadership, and technical skills, the center provides professional development opportunities and resources relevant to business and individual needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe WDBEC provides lifelong learning opportunities for individuals to continue their education throughout their careers. We are an educational bridge between the university and our region,\u201d said the center\u2019s director, Tammy Eilerman.<\/p>\n

Connecting students to career paths<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The WDBEC partners with the Mercer County Educational Service Center and Auglaize County schools to offer a pre-apprenticeship program in manufacturing. High school seniors take classes through the WDBEC while attending their home school and working at a local manufacturer or business part time. Students can earn a certificate of pre-apprenticeship through ApprenticeOhio and the Certified Manufacturing Associate credential. The program is currently funded through a grant from the West Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has made my career goals more achievable,\u201d said Jay Schroeder, a participant in the pre-apprenticeship program. \u201cSince I am able to work, I am learning and getting valuable experience to prepare myself for my future career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teaching skills in advanced manufacturing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The WDBEC offers SkillsTrac, an advanced manufacturing program designed to help businesses, technicians, and students develop the skills they need to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair automated systems.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith SkillsTrac, you choose only the sections you need, so you can develop the training that best suits you,\u201d said Eilerman. \u201cSkillsTrac combines online classes with hands-on labs, giving you the training you need without disrupting your work or school schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Training in cutting-edge technologies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Thanks to a RAPIDS (Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills) grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Lake Campus is becoming equipped for the needs of the future regional workforce.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWe have invested in cutting-edge technologies \u2014 AI robotics, electric vehicle training, virtual welding, and advanced manufacturing systems \u2014 to ensure our community remains at the forefront of industry innovation,\u201d said Eilerman. \u201cThis critical investment empowers us to expand our programs to meet the needs of the region\u2019s businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

WDBEC was also awarded a grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to offer courses in precision machining and computer numerical control.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this funding, we are able to offer courses at no cost to the participants,\u201d said Eilerman. \u201cWe offer precision machining in the evenings, two nights a week, to both current students and community members.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Helping small businesses flourish<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The WDBEC has partnered with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College to offer small business advising at Lake Campus. For over 30 years, the Ohio Small Business Development Center has accelerated business growth, helped create jobs, and provided consulting to existing and new start-up businesses.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>The services provided range from free, one-on-one business advising to marketing strategy development to loan-packaging guidance.<\/p>\n

Sparking creativity and innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The WDBEC also spearheaded the creation of LakerSpace, a hub where students and community members can transform ideas into tangible items. Equipped with a diverse array of tools and technologies ranging from 3D printers and laser cutters to sewing machines, the LakerSpace cultivates the spirit of creativity and problem-solving, enabling participants to develop new skills and bring their imaginative projects to life.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published in the 2025 issue of the Wright State Magazine. Read more stories at wright.edu\/magazine<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center at the Lake Campus is a valued resource for employers throughout West Central Ohio. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":160779,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722,733,4309,725,731,4827,715],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-alumni","category-alumni-association","category-home-news-sidebar","category-lake-campus","category-magazine","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160771"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160962,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160771\/revisions\/160962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}