Signalfire Teams with Area Businesses and Economic Development Agencies to Develop Videos Addressing Manufacturing Skills Gap

DELAVAN, WI, February 25, 2013 (Press-News.org) Signalfire, LLC, a Delavan-based digital creative agency, produced three web videos promoting manufacturing as an exciting career choice for middle school and high school students. The two-minute web videos were produced in conjunction with Walworth County Job Center, Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA), Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation (LGEDC), Alliant Energy, and Wisconsin's Dream It! Do It! Program and with cooperation from Brunk Industries and Yunker of Lake Geneva.

The National Association of Manufactures sponsors Dream It! Do It!, a national recruitment strategy. The program emphasizes manufacturing as an industry providing high-paying, high-quality careers. Supported by the Wisconsin Technical College system, the Milwaukee region in Southeastern Wisconsin is serving as a pilot program ahead of state-wide implementation.

"Wisconsin manufacturing faces a serious workforce challenge," says Marilyn Putz, Director of Walworth County Job Center, "the jobs are becoming available, but the available workforce requires training and education to perform them. We want to show the next generation of workers they can step into great paying, rewarding jobs with fast growing, local companies. While Dream It! Do It! gives us the framework, we wanted to find a way to share this important story."

"Area manufacturing businesses are seeing growth and have great jobs coming available," explains Mike Van Den Boch, Executive Director of Walworth County Economic Development Alliance. "When we discovered the Dream It! Do It! program, we wanted a way to tell the story right. While working with Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation on their website, we worked with Signalfire and knew they were the right people to tackle a project like this video."

"We were flattered to be approached by both the Job Center and WCEDA for a project of this importance," says Matthew Olson, President of Signalfire. "Digital storytelling, from written web content such as blogs, to online video is an area we excel in. Having a chance to help highlight these incredible opportunities is fantastic both for area manufacturers and the next generation of workers."

"Connecting Lake Geneva-area manufacturers with a young workforce was easier than we had anticipated," stated Joe Cardiff, Executive Director of Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation. "When we described the project, Brunk Industries and Yunker quickly got onboard."

Signalfire quickly developed a script and story concept, then brought in Drywater Productions of Janesville to handle the shoot and editing. After location scouting and interviewing key personnel from each business, shooting commenced.

"The right planning and the right coordination can save precious hours of production time," says Susan Geye, Creative Operations Manager at Signalfire. "Involving Drywater in our creative process and planning improved the process from the start."

"At both Brunk and Yunker we were able to get the video and interviews done in one day with a minimal intrusion to their production," says Stephen Pickering of Drywater Productions. "The stories from each participant and each company paint an incredible picture of the future."

Once shooting, editing, and sound were complete, Signalfire coordinated the review process with all the major stakeholders of the process. After additional editing, the videos were set for delivery.

"We're thrilled to see these videos reach their audiences in schools and through other vocational programs," says Signalfire's Olson. "From initial conception through final cuts, the process has been a fantastic experience for all the organizations and businesses involved."

Currently, Signalfire is preparing to shoot additional videos for the Dream It! Do It! program in Walworth County and will hopefully involve Kenosha County businesses as well. You can find the videos on the web via the Walworth County Job Center, Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation, or Signalfire. The videos will be posted on the Dream It! Do It! website in the coming weeks.

Signalfire is a creatively driven full-service branding and marketing agency that specializes in strategic brand management, web development, email marketing, content marketing, and social media management. Signalfire succeeds through understanding client needs, creating effective solutions, and working together to ensure long-term success. For further information, please contact us at (262)725-4500 or visit http://www.signalfire.us