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Education & Training Initiatives

The MAGNET Education Initiative aims to solve the image and skills gap issues that face the manufacturing industry in Northeast Ohio.

Education Staff

Judith Crocker
Judith Crocker, Director, Manufacturing & Training, Voice: 216-432-5386

Karen Herpel
Karen Herpel, Manager, Manufacturing Education & Training, Voice: 216-432-5390

To accomplish this aim, MAGNET's Education Initiative staff works directly with education and training institutions, the public workforce system and manufacturers. It also partners with a variety of like-minded community organizations.

Current initiatives include:

Education Council

Jack Schron
Council Chair: Jack Schron, Jr., CEO, Jergens, Inc.

Gretchen Farrell
Council Co-chair: Gretchen Farrell, V.P. Human Resources, Lincoln Electric

MAGNET relies for guidance on its 18-member Education Council. The Council includes educators, manufacturers and representatives from the public workforce system and economic development organizations.

The Education Council seeks to:

  • Align the resources of the region's academic and training institutions with the current and emerging needs of manufacturers
  • Redefine the image of manufacturing for young people, parents, educators and policy makers
  • Grow the pool of individuals pursuing advanced manufacturing careers in Northeast Ohio