Workforce Happenings

December 17, 2021 several State Legislators, members of the Governor’s office, as well as members from the State Board of Education had the opportunity to engage with West AlabamaWorks! pathway to success by experiencing Modern Manufacturing and the process of the program during a visit to Brookwood Career Technical Annex. During the visit, guests experienced our partnerships with career technical education while touring the facility’s Career Tech Programs, including the Pilot Program for Modern Manufacturing.

State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Eric Mackey expressed his experience via twitter.

Brady Fomby, a recent graduate from the Modern Manufacturing Program (MMP) at Brookwood High School, is now enrolled in the mechatronics apprenticeship program with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI).

“I'm going through this program now with Mercedes paying for my college, paying me to work, and I'm going to get a guaranteed job at the end of this that's going to be paying extremely well,” said Fomby. “They (Mercedes GLE) are built extremely well. We got to see that that there are no corners cut and it gives you a really good opportunity to do a lot of problem solving especially putting it back together.”

So far in 2021 there have been 13 tour visits to Brookwood’s Career Tech Annex, Modern Manufacturing Program of 123 Modern Manufacturing students and 112 logistics students.

Others in attendance, Alabama State Representative Alan Baker, Alabama State Board of Education Belinda McRae, President-Shelton State Community College Brad Newman, Circuit Judge Jessica Sanders, Career and Technical Education Director Jimmy Hull, Alabama State Representative Kyle South, Interim executive director of the newly established Alabama Stem Council Lee Meadows, Education Policy Advisor & Coordinator Governor’s Office of Education & Workforce Transformation Nick Moore, Alabama State Representative Terri Collins, Career and Technical School Administrator at Brookwood Career Tech Tripp Marshall, Alabama state senator Gerald Allen, Tuscaloosa County Commissioner Jerry Tingle, Senior Manager at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Chip Fuqua, Vice President Human Resources at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Rolf Wrona, and President & Chief Executive Officer at Mercedes-Benz U.S International Michael Goebel among many others.

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Recently, Tuscaloosa County was named #3 in the country for Best Places to Work in Manufacturing by Smart Asset.

The modern automotive industry is huge. In the United States it is the largest single manufacturing enterprise in terms of total value of products, value added by manufacture, and number of wage earners employed. Modern manufacturing is enabling car designers to reach new heights and push innovation when it comes to the automotive world.