On Wednesday, April 24, the sun was shining over the Onalaska Omni Center in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and the energy was high. A much-anticipated event was finally here.
Inside, countless local businesses and companies awaited, filling not just one but two packed arenas. 'Build My Future,' a national industry showcase connecting employers and technical colleges with soon-to-be workforce candidates, was here for its second year in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, hosted by the La Crosse Area Builders Association (LABA). While seemingly typical of any other career fair on the surface, 'Build My Future' is far from your typical career day.
Setting the Standards With Exhibitors
So, just how much can a career fair set itself apart from the rest?
To begin, doing so successfully starts early on and behind the scenes. At this event, all exhibitors wishing to attend submitted a hands-on activity for approval that would consistently engage the entire day's worth of students and serve as a bouncing board to learn more. It was a pre-requisite that set the standard. The activities could be educational displays, equipment operations, or learning labs. They did not need to be directly related to the construction industry so long as they supported the local trades community and contributed to the mission of the event and LABA. The possibilities felt endless, ranging in everything from constructing drywall to cementing, building take-home items to operating heavy machinery, and so much more. Together, they laid the foundation.
The Results
As you walked through these doors, gone were any ideas of a career fair where students nervously meander around or attend only because they have to or where employers stand behind booths hoping to draw a few interested students in with giveaways.
Instead, imagine two arenas full of students, over 1,300 to be exact, who made the conscious choice to attend and thus excitedly moved from exhibitor to exhibitor, participating in every activity, actively asking questions, and simply staying engaged. Employers connected with them at every corner, guiding them through projects they might not have otherwise ever been exposed to and helping create lasting memories.
Better yet? While our skilled trades industry recognizes that it is generally male-dominated, this event attracted both male and female students, with no disparity in which gender was more or less involved. Every teenager walking around the Onalaska Omni Center that day was equal, regardless of background or gender, and everyone had innumerable opportunities to network comfortably and explore the trades.
This was a one-of-a-kind interactive industry showcase.
Team Titan La Crosse Knows How to Show Up
With two exhibit spaces and a returning team, Titan Machinery La Crosse showed up to year two of 'Build My Future' Driftless Area with incredible energy and excitement for what Derrek Jacobson, Titan Machinery La Crosse Service Manager, described as
"an amazing event, and one of our favorites to attend."
The team set up both an indoor interactive booth space and an outdoor equipment operation space. The indoor booth, worked by Service Manager Derrek Jacobson, Service Technician Tyler Buchner, and General Manager Ryan Kennedy, was well-equipped with information on our Titan career development programs, popular Titan Machinery swag prizes, and three handmade electrical circuit boards, each increasing in difficulty and presenting students the opportunity to troubleshoot. In the five hours students were present, not a single moment passed where this booth wasn't filled with students.
Meanwhile, Equipment Sales Consultants Zach Wellman and Luke Servais were keeping equally busy out back with a consistent line of students waiting to test their operation skills in the CASE CX26C Mini Excavator! From students who had never stepped foot inside a cab to those who operated as if it was second nature, everyone worked to pick up two buckets and place them into garbage cans on each side with as much efficiency as possible.
Just as impressively, when students needed a brain break, Team Titan even provided them that, with cornhole boards and quick bags games that got a full day's use.
The Mission
It goes without saying that Titan Machinery is proud to support the mission of the La Crosse Area Builders Association through 'Build My Future' as a sponsor, exhibitor, and even day-of volunteer.
Our Goal: Create a self-sustaining program that supports workforce development for LABA members, builders, associates, and community businesses.
Titan Machinery La Crosse General Manager Ryan Kennedy additionally shares that,
At Titan Machinery in La Crosse, Wisconsin, we try to get as much visibility as possible for both the CASE Construction name and Titan Machinery. We make sure our customers and the general population know that at Titan Machinery, we want to be part of the community and give back locally by attending all area events and showing off what we can offer.
To the La Crosse Area Builders Association, the 'Build My Future' team, Onalaska Omni Center, Driftless Area educators and companies, event staff, and volunteers — THANK YOU from #TeamTitan for a successful event! We look forward to many years with you ahead!
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