VIRTUAL
CAREER-CONNECTED LEARNING
Not even a pandemic can stop you from finding the career paths that are right for you. You can still discover your interests, exploring careers, build real-world skills, and start building your career path.
But where do you start? Don’t worry, CTE Foundation is here to help guide you through it by offering virtual career-connected learning experience with local businesses. Take a tour of a facility, discover careers, and learn from personal stories.
Virtual Activities
All events will be streamed live on Zoom and the CTE Foundation YouTube Channel. Please interact with us by commenting and asking questions. Recordings of all activities will be available to view after the live stream.
More activities will be added regularly so check back often.
MFG MONTH
OCTOBER, 2020
MFG Month provides virtual experiences for those exploring careers in manufacturing. It is made possible in partnership with the Sonoma County Economic Development Board (EDB), and the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE).
Manufacturing Demonstration and Interview: "Saving Lives Through Engineering and Manufacturing"
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:10 P.M.
Experience Medtronic through an in-depth look at one of their manufacturing processes followed by a live Q&A session with R&D Engineer Matthew Baldwin.
Panel Discussion: "Interning in the Manufacturing Industry"
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:05 P.M.
What’s it like to start interning at a major tech company right out of high school? Three interns from Keysight Technologies provide insight into what it was like to jump into the manufacturing industry. Their managers will also join to provide context of why this type of internship is a win/win for the intern and the company.
Facility Tour: "Manufacturing with Max Precision"
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Take a live virtual tour of Max Machinery Inc. in Healdsburg, where they engineer, manufacture, and test high-tech precision flow meters. Two representatives from Max Machinery will give us an inside scoop on the processes and equipment they use to engineer this unique product.
Panel Discussion: "Intro to Engineering Careers"
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
An all-female panel of engineers from different backgrounds – including biomedical, agricultural, and electronics – discuss what it means to be an engineer and what kind of education you need to enter an engineering career. Brought to you by SWE (Society of Women Engineers) Golden Gate Section and Community WISE (Women Investing in Stem Equity).
Manufacturing Demonstration: "Manufacturing Small Devices That Make a Big Difference"
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Let’s go behind the scenes at Labcon, a medical device manufacturer in Petaluma, CA. Jim Happ, President of Labcon, will give us a close look and demonstration of a particular assembly line that cost over $2,000,000 and produces 300,000-400,000 medical pipets every day for COVID testing.
Watch Live on YouTube
Watch Live on Zoom
Save to Your Calendar
CONSTRUCTION MONTH
NOVEMBER, 2020
In partnership with the North Coast Builders Exchange
Site Tour: "Take a walk through a Live Construction Site"
Thursday, Nov. 5th, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Explore a live construction site with Oak Grove Construction as they completely rebuild the stadium, baseball and softball fields, track, and basketball courts of Sonoma Valley High School. Join us live to engage with owner Doug Hamilton to ask him any questions along the way.
Watch Live on YouTube
Save to Your Calendar
Tour and Demonstration: "Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication"
Tuesday, Nov. 10th, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Take a look inside the Simpson Sheet Metal facility in Santa Rosa to see how their master fabricators create custom pieces used for homes and commercial buildings.
Watch Live on YouTube
Save to Your Calendar
Site Tour: "Experience a Wine Cave Excavation"
Thursday, Nov. 12th, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Nordby Construction is known for its commercial construction, signature homes, and wine caves. Let’s try to see it all! This activity will allow us to see the construction being done on several different sites, including the unique experience to see a wine cave excavation!
Watch Live on YouTube
Save to Your Calendar
Panel Discussion: "Exploring Careers Through the North Bay Construction Corps"
Thursday, Nov. 19th, 2020 | 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Thinking you might be interested in a construction career? Learn about how the North Bay Construction Corps can help you explore career opportunities while learning the basics of the building trades.
Watch Live on YouTube
Save to Your Calendar
MFG Day becomes MFG Month!
Experience an entire month of virtual activities to help you explore careers in manufacturing.
Throughout October, virtual tours, interviews, and other experiences will be streamed live via Zoom and YouTube Live. See the calendar above for more details on live activities.
When there isn’t a live activity to watch, there are several pre-recorded interviews and discussions with manufacturing industry partners that will help you explore the endless opportunities within the local manufacturing industry.
DISCUSSION: How COVID will change future careers
with Keysight Technologies
Two executives from Keysight Technologies discuss how the company has adjusted to COVID and how it will change future careers. Learn about the new sets of skills necessary to succeed in your career.
MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
YAS NEUBERGER, R&D ENGINEER
MEDTRONIC
Yas’ love for Star Trek sparked her interest in engineering and science. Seeing people make a positive impact on the universe through science and discovery led her to believe she too can make a difference. Following her dream, Yas is now an R&D Engineer and helps develop life-saving medical technology.
FOOD & BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING
ROSA FLORES, QUALITY SUPERVISOR
MANZANA PRODUCTS
Starting in an entry-level position in 2012, Rosa Flores worked hard and worked her way up to become the Quality Supervisor at Manzana Products. Hear about the skills and dedication needed to be successful in this kind of career.
MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
PETER MICHENFELDER, OPERATIONS MANAGER
MAX MACHINERY
Hear how a job in theatrical carpentry led Peter to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. Now, Peter manages operations at Max Machinery where they design and develop incredibly precise instruments used by organizations around the world.
MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
CHRISTINE NEE, ENGINEERING MANAGER
MEDTRONIC
With locations in over 160 countries, Christine moved from Medtronic in Ireland to Medtronic here in Sonoma County! Hear Christine’s story and learn what it takes to be an Engineering Manager at a global medical device manufacturer.
FOOD & BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING
PATRICK BARKSDALE,
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR
TRADITIONAL MEDICINALS
Patrick studies computer science but always loved to work on machines. So, he followed his passion and started working under senior mechanics. Today, Patrick maintains some of the most unique manufacturing equipment in the world.
MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
MATT CHARLES, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
MOLYWORKS
MolyWorks has designed a zero-carbon solution to metal waste by converting scrap metal into a product that can be used to 3D print completely new parts. We interview Matt Charles, CTO of MolyWorks, on this innovative idea, the technology, and career opportunities within the company.
A CLOSER LOOK: Converting Scrap Metal Into New Parts
at MolyWorks
Check out the future of 3D printing technology! MolyWorks is a manufacturing company in Cloverdale, CA that has designed a zero-carbon solution to metal waste. Their technology takes old junk scrap metal and 3D prints it into completely new parts, reducing the need for destructive metal mining and increasing metal waste.
MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING
SCOTT WEITZE, LEAD SCIENTIST & LAB MANAGER
LABCON
Hear the inside scoop of what it takes to run a science lab at one of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers. Scott talks about his career, his background, and why he takes such pride in his work – especially during a pandemic.
MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
LEYLA HASHEMI, R&D ENGINEERING MANAGER
KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES
Leyla leads a team of thirteen engineers that create microcircuits for some of the world’s most innovative technology. In this interview, she talks about her career path and how she found her home at Keysight Technologies, a leading tech company located here in the North Bay.
FOOD & BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING
LUIS MAZUL, PRODUCTION MANAGER
MANZANA PRODUCTS
With an interest in food and an inquisitive mind, Luis Mazul, pursued a food science career. Now, Luis leads a large team as a Production Manager at Manzana Products.
MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
KILLIAN RIDDELL, REGULATORY AFFAIRS
MEDTRONIC
There are several rules and regulations to follow in order to keep your products and your customers safe. It’s the job of the Regulatory Affairs Specialist to make sure the organization adheres to those regulations. Killian describes the many facets of regulatory affairs and speaks about his love for this rewarding career.
Keep Exploring!
Watch interviews from those in the industry.
Exploring careers means learning from those that do the job every day. Check out a list of virtual interviews from representatives in manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, marketing, construction, healthcare, aviation, and much more.
